M.E. Exposed

The diehard Jamaican that I am, for many years had bun a big blazin’ fire pon anyting dat name soca.  As Caribbean music goes, my feet and waist instinctively move to the beats of reggae and dancehall music.  Of course I’m just being overly dramatic, because as a child I grew up to the sounds of Byron Lee and Sparrow, and loved the musical and lyrical genius of that art form.  As a teen I went into rebellion against soca, but then at University I met many people from islands such as Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, St. Vincent etc., who loved soca, in the same way I loved my Jamaican music.  The moral of this intro is that the blazin’ fire was def outed as said Jamaican broke his carnival virginity at Trini Carnival 2012 last week.  This wasn’t a gentle love affair either.  I played 2 days of Mas and went to fetes like a kid who just discovered the joys of partying.  Bleaching (aka hard partying with little sleep/rest inbetween) like I haven’t in a while and dancing like mad man…This was an experience I’ll never forget.

Let’s start with the BADS of carnival.  Outside of the blazin’ hole burned through my pocket, my stomach didn’t seem to want to settle in the early days of the trip.  I blamed it on imbibing a little too much spirits at fete #1, but I had started to think the spicy doubles were doing a number on my stomach lining as well.  As much as I like doubles, I started to lay off of ‘em towards the later part of the trip. 

Well that’s it for the bads.  The GOODS were many.  I was staying in the apartment of a friend of a friend, and so were about 4 other people, so it was a house full of interesting and vibrant Caribbean people, all on vacay, and all looking to have a good time.  Transport was covered by the many kind friends we have in Trinidad, and the rest was just pure bleaching and bacchanal. 

I went to Tribe Ignite, Soca Monarch, Scorch, Diamond Vale Breakfast Party and played Mas with Fantasy for 2 days.  Highlights definitely include Diamond Vale (somewhat like Frenchmen in Jamaica, and Day 1 of Mas).  You shoulda seen me all decked out in costume with my little skinny body outta door.  These pictures have not surfaced, and probably never will. 

All in all the women were extremely beautiful, the food good, the music infectious, and my feet sore from all the walking and dancing.  There were moments when I thought if I heard that same song again I’m going to blow my brains out, but by the end, the songs and I had become one, and I actually have listened to them since returning home.  They bring smiles to my face as I think of random memories from the Twin Island Republic.

In summary I give the 50th Anniversary of Trinidad Carnival a 8 out of 10.  I had a great time, and I’d definitely do it again!  I recommend doing it at least once in your life.

Blessed love,

M.E.

My appreciation for you is really more than words can express, so to thank you I have not only 1 love offering, but 2!!

1. Here is a cover of one of my favourite Usher songs, ‘Here I Stand’, with a FREE download of the cover from my Soundcloud :D

2. Guess what?? The full version of my duet with Aisha Davis (co-written by yours truly), ‘Love of A Lifetime’, is available for purchase and download from all major online music distributors (iTunes, Amazon, eMusic etc.), in its full ‘one-drop’ glory.  So excited!! - My first ever song up on iTunes :D

Have a mushy, love-filled Valentine’s Day for us both, and I really hope you enjoy.

Blessed love,

M.E.

As musicians there is no denying that there is a part of us that seeks approval, especially in the beginning of the journey.  We hope people will like our voices, our songs and our performances, and also hope they will come and adorn us with compliments.  Well compliments don’t come easily in this game, especially in Jamaica.

The strange irony is that the outsider has no clue about how insecure the performer often is.  Over my years of performing I’ve discovered that fans are often very afraid that the performer thinks highly of themselves, which makes them very cautious about approaching the musical animal, which is not always the case.  And rightly so, because how could someone so confident on stage be a humble and simple person?  Well they exist, but like the animal kingdom, many different types exist, so the fan must thread with caution.  Diva/Divo musician can be real.

In my mind I’m usually so hard on my performances that I come off the stage and sometimes hold my head down avoiding eye contact.  That way I don’t have to face the looks of false approval, or what I think is false approval.  People say nothing usually in 2 instances - They were blown away, or they really thought it was just ok.  It really is my safe way out of possibly being disliked, which really is ok as long as it’s not the majority.  The best is “You looked like you had fun.”  Full stop and awkward silence…As you wait for a statement as it relates to your voice, lol.  Those kill me the most. 

So I encourage you to remain musically confident.  Don’t let what you think was the worse performance of your life take over whatever life is left, because trust me, someone probably liked it, and maybe liked it a whole lot too, but was afraid to tell you.  Remain focused, with your eye on the prize, and a heart full of gratitude for your gift that you are able to share with many.  Many of my insecurities have been washed away by eternal gratitude that I get to do what I love, and make a living off of it.  There really is no more to say.  Keep focused and keep doing what you are doing…the benefits will come with hard word and dedication, and a true sharing of self.

This is M.E. signing out…Blessed love.

Growing up in Jamaica with Bob Marley pretty much a fixture of my musical life as I know it, I never understood his impact until I was older and until I left the country.  Then I saw how people responded to the power of not just his reggae music, but the genre of reggae music.

I personally want to wish Bob Marley a blessed earthstrong, and we miss his presence on the earth, but I’m sure he is still singing in another world.  I particularly have to extend my gratitude because many a Bob Marley song has guided me to places I never imagined I would go - Berklee Performance Center stage at the prestigious Berklee College of Music (Boston), Final round of un-televised X Factor auditions in NJ, the final round of Amateur Night at the Apollo in Harlem, NY, the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival small and main stage, and to many other stages across Jamaica and the USA.  To Bob I say thank you once again on this day, your birthday, and I share with you some of my most memorable Bob Marley experiences:

Singers Night, Berklee Performance Center - Turn Your Lights Down Low

JA Jazz & Blues 2010 - Could You Be Loved (Arranged by Djenne Greaves, Mario Evon and Ellan Neil)

Ashford & Simpson’s Sugar Bar, NY - Redemption Song (ft. Serghio Jansen on guitar)

Redemption Song - Bob Marley (Mario Evon ft. Serghio Jansen) from Mario Evon on Vimeo.

Thanks Bob, and big up yuself every time!