Nailah Blackman: welcome to the evolution | Snapshot By Laura Dowrich-Phillips | Issue 152 (July/August 2018) With music in her bloodline, T&T’s Nailah Blackman was almost destined for a career behind the microphone. She was the breakthrough performer of Carnival 2017, still a teenager — but, as she tells Laura Dowrich-Phillips, her ambitions go beyond soca, to another stage of musical evolution
Playlist (Jul/Aug 2018) | Music reviews By Nigel Campbell | Issue 152 (July/August 2018) This month’s listening picks, with reviews of the latest by jointpop; Kellie Cadogan; John Arnold; and Jeremy Ledbetter Trio
Playlist (May/Jun 2018) | Music reviews By Nigel Campbell | Issue 151 (May/June 2018) This month’s listening picks, with reviews of the latest by Jeanine S. Ruiz; Michael Brun; King Kembe; and Sting and Shaggy
Playlist (Mar/Apr 2018) | Music reviews By Nigel Campbell | Issue 150 (March/April 2018) This month’s listening picks, with reviews of the latest by David Bertrand; Jimmy October; Major Lazer; and Beres Hammond
Skip Marley: “I’m not trying to fill his shoes” | Own words By Nazma Muller | Issue 150 (March/April 2018) Twenty-one-year-old Skip Marley, grandson of the legendary Bob, on growing up in Jamaica’s musical royal family, his hopes for stardom, and the message of his songs, for his own and every other generation — as told to Nazma Muller
São Luís do Maranhão — Brazil’s reggae city | Travellers’ tales By David Katz | Issue 150 (March/April 2018) Founded in 1612 on Brazil’s Atlantic coast, the city of São Luís do Maranhão is a treasurehouse of historic achitecture, encrusted with ornate blue tiles, and has a long tradition of avant-garde poets. It’s also — as unlikely as it sounds — a hotbed of reggae music. David Katz pays a visit, to investigate how this city more than two thousand miles from Kingston has adopted reggae as its very own, with a new museum celebrating the cultural link
Ten for the Road By Caribbean Beat, Philip Sander and Attillah Springer | Issue 149 (January/February 2018) Of the eighty-plus songs that have won the official Road March title, some are little remembered, some have become “back-in-times” favourites, and a few are considered landmarks — whether for their musical qualities or for trends they ushered in. Here are all the recorded Road March winners up to 2017 — and our picks for an all-time Road March top ten
How to win the road (march) | Backstory By Mark Lyndersay | Issue 149 (January/February 2018) T&T’s Carnival is full of rivalries and competitions, and none is more fierce than the annual Road March battle. Mark Lyndersay traces the history of the musical title that reflects the will of masqueraders on the street — and we dare to share our picks for the top ten Road March songs from the 1930s to the present day
Trinidad & Tobago Road March Poll By Caribbean Beat | Issue 149 (January/February 2018) Vote for your favourite Trinidad & Tobago Road March tune of all time in our mega-poll
Playlist (Jan/Feb 2018) | Music reviews By Nigel Campbell | Issue 149 (January/February 2018) This month’s listening picks
Playlist (November/December 2017) | Music Reviews By Nigel Campbell | Issue 148 (November/December 2017) This month’s listening picks
Word of mouth (Nov/Dec 2017) By Philip Sander, Laura Dowrich-Phillips and Nixon Nelson | Issue 148 (November/December 2017) Why Jean-Michael Basquiat is a posthumous art star, how the Sunset Festival in Trinidad is changing Caribbean dance music, and where to end 2017 with a truly big bang: Paramaribo
Pasito a pasito: Daddy Yankee & Luis Fonsi | Backstory By Nazma Muller | Issue 148 (November/December 2017) The Caribbean musical hit of 2017? That’s “Despacito”, the steamy song by Puerto Ricans Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee, which has been breaking records all year. Nazma Muller investigates its runaway success, and explains why “Despacito” has roused controversy for more than its lyrics
Playlist (September/October 2017) | Music Reviews By Nigel Campbell | Issue 147 (September/October 2017) This month’s listening picks
Playlist (July/August 2017) | Music Reviews By Nigel Campbell | Issue 146 (July/August 2017) This month’s listening picks
Etienne Charles: a head for jazz and a creole soul | Closeup By Nigel Campbell | Issue 146 (July/August 2017) From his jaunty fedora to his bespoke suits, Trinidadian Etienne Charles looks like a jazzman — and he has the musical chops to back it up. A phenomenal talent with the trumpet, he’s also earned a reputation as a composer with a gift for merging traditional Caribbean genres with jazz, Nigel Campbell reports
