Young Saint Lucian artists and other regional performers are being offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take their vocal and lyrical talents to a higher stage – with prospects for recording on the wider, global music scene.
Voices is an initiative by RICHÈS KARAYIB – a Martinique-based project designed to develop a business environment in the cultural sector in the Greater Caribbean.
According to a spokesperson, the venture also aims to deepen cultural cooperation between the Caribbean and its diaspora by promoting the richness of the Caribbean around Arts, Culture and Crafts; thereby creating a showcase that responds to the world’s interest in the Caribbean.
Local singers are being encouraged to take part in the Voices Challenge, which gives the winner an opportunity to be featured on an album by Caribbean artists to be distributed and promoted across Europe later this year.
The challenge is open to singers of any genre of music between the ages of 18 and 35.
Richés Karayib is led by Assis WI, OMDAC and Sa Kai Malade Karaibes Ltd and is jointly funded by the INTERREG-CARAIBES programme, through the European Regional Economic Development Fund. Saint Lucia partners collaborating with the producers are They Often Cry Outreach TOCO – A Taj Weeks Foundation, Caribbean One TV, Bacchanal International and Alliance Franҫaise.
“This initial idea started by Richés Karayib is meant to unite the Caribbean, through voice, because we are not properly united. And everyone is doing their own thing individually, on different islands,” Taj told VOICE.
He added, “So if we can get a collective album that represents a large part of the Caribbean, at least you can start the process.”
Speaking about his contribution to the venture, Taj stated that TOCO’s overarching philosophy and “what we do is about uplifting children (youths) and their condition, and we thought it was a great idea to we jumped on board.”
He explained that the competition started in Martinique, last December, with Saint Lucia following in January, Anguilla in February and Barbados, Jamaica and other countries will also host their respective events.
This first edition of the Voice Challenge includes ten Caribbean countries: Martinique, Guadeloupe, Dominica, Saint-Lucia, Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, Haiti, Jamaica, Anguilla and Saint-Martin.
The Saint Lucia leg of the talent search runs from January 16 to 29. Singers are invited to send demos through the website www.richeskarayib.com.
The deadline for submissions is January 22. From these submissions, nine finalists will be selected to participate in a live audition on January 29 at the Gros Islet Human Resources Center from 5 to 9 p.m. A southern location will be announced for the Southwest auditions.
The selection and mentoring panel will be led by Taj Weekes – songwriter, singer and multi-recorded artist.
Describing the concept of the competition, he explained, from January 16 to 23, 23 singers will present their songs online; from January 23 to 27, artists will perform “personal” sessions; and the final will be held at the Gros Islet Human Resources Center on January 29.
The Saint Lucian finalist will participate in a regional song showcase in Martinique this August and will be featured in the Caribbean music compilation for international distribution and promotion.
Taj said the “only catch” in the competition is that singers are allowed to perform ‘cover songs’ during the competition, but they will have to submit an original tune when “it comes to recording in Martinique”.
And, he added, “If the person can’t write an original song, I’ll guide them to write an original song.”
The Saint Lucia component of RICHÈS KARAYIB Voices research is taking place under the banner of the 2023 Nobel Laureate Festival.
Taj said joining the Gros Islet Community Nobel Laureate Festival Committee has allowed them to highlight this venture, “and it has become part of the celebrations for the months of January and February.”
An organizer of the event says that, in pursuit of its purpose, the aim is “to create cultural and creative sectoral links that facilitate social and economic opportunities for artists and artisans”.
In addition, the RICHÈS KARAYIB project will work steadily to improve its platform www.richeskarayib.com into “a comprehensive portal with accessible content brought together by all our partners, media associations, cultural actors, artisans and artists as an accessible resource for the entertainment industry. world”.
Underscoring the importance of this inaugural regional singing competition, Taj asserted, “It’s always a privilege every time I get to work with kids (youths) …and I’m always excited to help the youths because there’s a huge amount of talent. on the island, and anyway we can find to give them some kind of break (opportunity), I’ll always jump at it.”
