Planet Thirty

Episode 55: Alison Hinds

In the late 70s and early 80s Calypso music began to evolve. The genre, known for its wit, social commentary and coverage of serious issues set to slow tempos and delicate melodies started to adopt faster bpm rates and slightly more risqué content in its lyrics.

Lead by Trinidad and Tobago artist Ras Shorty I, this new fusion of sounds; a manipulation and interpretation of percussion, electronic instruments and fresh melodies gave birth to Soca music. Soca music was rhythmic yet sensual, energetic, yet had the ability to touch the soul just as any genre created by Caribbean people had done in the past. Soca’s popularity swept the Caribbean region and everywhere that the diaspora was represented.

The genre created several male super stars; however, few women were able to penetrate the male dominated Soca industry. That is until the mid 90s. A popular hotel and club band from Barbados named Square One decided to produce their own material. Their lead singer? A fresh faced 20 something year old named Alison Hinds. Her vocals were powerful, her stage presence commanding and her moves unforgettable. Her entree changed the face of the entire genre. Suddenly every band in the Caribbean required a female lead. Female solo artists from every island in the archipelago appeared in recording studios ready to tell their stories through Soca music. Alison Hinds did not merely push the door open, the removed its hinges and threw it away.

With a catalogue of hits spanning 3 decades and tours around the globe spreading the message of Soca, Alison Hinds has been appropriately dubbed the Queen of Soca. I had the honor of conversing with her about her storied career in music and her plans to expand the Alison Hinds empire through fashion among other things.

This is the story… thus far… Of Alison Hinds… The Queen of Soca!

Episode 54: Alwyn "Daddy Jones" Baptiste

Alwyn “Daddy Jones” Baptiste is a master craftsman. To music lovers in the Virgin and Leeward islands, he is not only a legend but a pop culture fixture. The master keyboardist, arranger and beat maker has been in the business of creating Soca hits for decades. There are very few producers that can match his creativity r his record of hits! Daddy Jones has produced for aritsts and bands and several islands and his productions include artists from several islands.

Growing up in St. Croix Daddy Jones was encouraged and inspired by his father, Alwyn Baptiste Sr. He remembers literally sitting at his father’s side observing his prowess, not only as a composer but as a musician. He marveled at his ability and the respect his dad had among fellow musicians. Through his teens Jones tried his hand at different sports. He was a high-level performer academically and at one point thought seriously about going to law school. As disciplined a person as he is, he more than likely would have succeeded. However, as he indicates, he had no choice. Music had a hold of him since childhood and it would not let go.

At carnival time, Alwyn Baptiste puts on his cape and transforms into Daddy Jones, the musical superhero that has inspired legions of keyboardists and rhythm programmers across the Caribbean. He has produced for some of the Caribbean’s best including the late “Daddy Friday”. Daddy Jones has won coveted Road March titles in an unprecedented 6 countries.

As much as he has accomplished, Daddy Jones is not yet done. He has his eyes set on taking his brand of Soca production into the rest of the world. He is determined to make the would bounce to a Daddy Jones Riddim.

This is the story… thus far… of Alwyn “Daddy Jones” Baptiste.

 

Episode 53: Shingai

This Episode is dedicated to my dear friend Alex Horsford whom the world lost tragically in 2016. We’ll always love you and we’ll never forget you bro. #AlexForever.

In 2009 I picked up a gig as a morning DJ at a radio station on the Caribbean island of Anguilla. My daily sidekick was Alex Horsford. Alex was a little over 10 years younger than I was. However he had an interest in photography, film.. really all things media. He was also the younger brother of one of my best friends. Alex had just finished high school and was awaiting answers from job applications. He decided to join me on air every morning. We had tons of fun and really added something new to the airwaves on the island.

On an island whose radio stations played primarily soca, calypso and reggae, we decided to cater to the persons who wanted something different in their mornings. We played soft rock, pop, zouk, groovy soca, commercial dancehall, 80s and pop music. Generally, I would pick the playlists. One day Alex told me that there was a song that he wanted me to play on air. This was a rare request from him. He said that a friend of his in the UK had introduced him to the song. We didn’t have the record, so I looked it up on youtube, ran the computer’s audio through the system and played it on air. The song was “Never forget you” by a group called the Noisettes.

I had never heard of the Noisettes. However, from the moment I discovered them, I indeed would never forget them. I was smitten. From that day we played that song over and over on air.

With Alex’s passing, the song came to mean even more to me. Over the years, I continued to follow the band’s lead singer, Shingai Shinowa, and her work. It was always a dream to interview her. I added her to my wish list for this podcast. I had no connections to her within my network. The likelihood of an interview was near zero. One night I took the chance. Why not I said to myself…. And so I began… Hello Shingai. I trust that this message greets you well…

To my surprise she responded directing me to the appropriate email address and even added that she was looking forward to my invitation for the interview. Needless to say, I was ecstatic!

Shingai Shinowa has a voice that you indeed can never forget. She was born and raised in London. Her parents are from Zimbabwe. She carries her family’s roots, culture and legacy boldly, proudly and most importantly unapologetically.

No matter what she has accomplished, she remains down to earth and as centered as ever. With undeniable talent, striking beauty and an incredible work ethic Shingai continues to win. She recently released her debut album, “Too Bold”. A wonderful collection of sounds that in my estimation encompass the many parts that make up Shingai and her extraordinary journey through life. I had the pleasure of speaking with her

This is the story… Thus far… Of Shingai Shoniwa.

 

Episode 52: Jerome Willock

Jerome Willock is the definition of determination. After moving from his native Montserrat to Anguilla, Jerome continued to learn about his childhood passion. Flying. What began as a dream and quite frankly what seemed far-fetched, became his reality.

As luck would have it, his family moved into a house right next to the airport. Jerome would sit and watch planes land and take off at Anguilla’s airport, dreaming about flying one of the aircraft one day. After high school he worked for a telecommunications company. While many his age were partying and spending frivolously, Jerome was saving and focusing soley on his dream. He eventually gained employment at a local aviation company. This motivated him even more. With a stroke of luck, seemingly straight out of a movie, he was able to go to flight school and become a pilot.

Although flying smaller aircraft was a huge accomplishment, Jerome wanted more. He traveled through many hills and valleys, had several ups and downs. But today, Jerome has a mass of experience and is a pilot for one of Dubai's top airlines. He flies throughout the Middle East Europe and Africa. He is living his dream. Jerome’s story is certainly a testament to discipline hard work and never allowing your dreams to disappear. This is the tale of a little boy from a tiny island who has accomplished exactly what he set out to.

This is a story… thus far… of Jerome Willock.

 

 

 

 

Episode 51: Bianca Dijkhoffz

Bianca Dijkhoffz has red hair. However, that is not the only unique thing about her. She is a burst of energy and quite honestly one of the most awesome persons you’ll meet. She was raised on the island of Saint Maarten. Her dad is from the island and a mom is from the United States. This gave her a very unique perspective, experiencing the Caribbean, yet having access to the thoughts and perspectives of someone that was raised in a larger country. Both philosophies on life resonated with her and shaped her view of the world.

 

At a tender age Bianca fell in love with the arts. She took lessons in violin and the piano as well as dance. Along the way she left the violin behind and stuck with the piano and dance. To this day she plays and composes her own pieces on the piano. Dance however, took hold of her from the very beginning and never let her go. To see Bianca on stage is to be entertained and to be inspired. Whether viewing her work on television, in films, on stage or in a music video it is quite evident that she has a burning passion for the art form and is immensely talented.

Her zest for life is undeniable. As long as it is positive and helps her to grow, Bianca, will sign up for it. She is adventurous yet practical. She has her sights set on big city lights and global performances yet retains a soul of that sweet little girl that was raised in the Caribbean.

Bianca Dijkhoffz however, is not done. As a matter of fact, she is far from it. She has now taken on a new challenge.

This is the story ... Thus far ... Of Bianca Dijkhoffz.

Episode 50 Part 2: TV Boss and Paul Haughton

Welcome to part 2 of episode 50.

We continue our conversations with the talented cast of the short film for Busy Signal’s single “Seen it before” Directed by Dameon Gayle. In this episode we learn about the journeys of two very talented Jamaican actors TV Boss and Paul Haughton.

Episode 50: Dameon Gayle and Zbek Nelson

Hello everyone, welcome to the 50^th Episode of the planet Thirty Podcast. We would first like to thank you for your support over the past 6 months. Thank you to everyone who shared, downloaded, streamed or even recommended our podcast to a friend. To all, we are truly grateful.

This 50^th episode also marks the start of our monthly partnership with VP Records. VP Records is legendary. They have been pioneers in the production and distribution of Caribbean music for over 4 decades. If you like reggae and dancehall music, trust me you have heard music touched by VP records in some way.

Each month Planet Thirty and VP Records will collaborate to provide fans with music, conversation and exclusive interviews with artists.

This our 50th episode, features an exclusive conversation with Music Producer and Director Dameon Gayle and actors Zbek Nelson, TV Boss and Paul Haughton.

Enjoy episode 50, presented by Planet Thirty and VP Records.

Episode 49: Denecia Niles

Denecia Niles is a multi-tasker. She grew up in the Caribbean with a passion for football. As she says, Football was my life. She also grew up with all brothers. Denecia was crushing stereotypes from the very beginning. She was fearless on the field and had no problem facing the best among the boys, whether at home or in school.

She took this forward approach into what would become her second passion: music. Several church concerts as a child gave Denecia the confidence to start fiddling around with songwriting. Her music teacher Mrs. Daphne Jacobs Richardson, a legend on the island of Anguilla, encouraged her and would correct and advise her on her compositions. A chance school project with her cousin Diction Edwards would allow her to enter a professional studio for the first time. She was hooked.

Denecia was determined. As a teen, she dedicated much of her time to what she imagined would be her career as an artist. Upon researching however, she became more intrigued by the business segment of the industry. Her interest became even stronger when she attended college in Miami. Her exposure to sports, event planning and entertainment management solidified her love for the biz.

With work opportunities in Australia and Los Angeles, producing a basketball camp and dozens of events, coupled with her music production company The Black Jetty and her Café The Tea Box Lounge, Denecia is the definition of a creative entrepreneur.

She, however, has no plans of slowing down. Wait until you hear what she plans to do next.

This is the story… thus far… Of Denecia Niles.

 

 

Episode 48: Nicholas de Toranto

Nicolas de Toranto is a world traveler. But seeing the world from different perspectives is nothing strange for Nicholas. Nicholas grew up in Germany his mother is English, his father is half English, half German. However, his last name made its way to England all the way from Italy. With such complexity in his family, Nicholas was destined to become a storyteller.

After high school in Germany Nicholas attended University in England. His interest in History and English literature developed into curiosity and he found himself being attracted to cameras and the process of filmmaking more and more. After university, he co-produced a film in Germany with a friend about two brave persons in a small town. That film garnered much praise and encouraged him to continue along his path.

Years later, Nicholas has mastered the art of producing documentaries and docu-series’. He has traveled to the Caribbean to document the culture of the tiny island of Anguilla on a BBC series. He has also explored the intriguing world of Mexican cartels and the Italian mafia through his other work.

His love for filmmaking continues to be fueled by his interest for all things human. The people and the stories from other countries and other cultures are always foremost in his mind. He is by all means highly intelligent with the heart of a humanitarian. Nicholas’ stories expose characteristics of their subjects that allow us the audience to identify with even the most subtle bits of their personalities.

Though he has done much, Nicholas continues to find new stories and new places to explore. This is the story …thus far …of Nicolas de Toranto.

Episode 47: INOJ

INOJ knew that she was destined for a career in music. She blames her parents. She recalls her mom and dad putting a radio in her room as a very small child in order to keep her quiet. This she credits with allowing her to feel the magic of music and thus her love affair began. Her childhood was also filled with singing, and stories from her favorite musicals and plays. If ever she was naughty and as a result was grounded, INOJ would use that time to write songs of her own.

Although music was foremost in her mind, she postponed her dreams and heeded her parents’ advice to pursue a Plan B. She left her home in Wisconsin to attend the University in Baltimore. INOJ, was on her way to becoming an engineer.  

Although math and figuring things out is one of her passions, music continued to tug at her heartstrings. Yes, she was attending a great University, but she admits that she chose Baltimore because of its proximity to both New York City and Washington DC. Two cities where she knew that her chances of pursuing music were higher. A chance assignment with a new roommate in her sophomore year, would introduce her to a girl group which eventually led to her being signed by a major label in Atlanta. INOJ was now tasked with explaining to both of her parents why taking a shot at her dream was a better idea than engineering.

When her group disbanded, she decided to become a songwriter. She was asked to sing a reference track for an upcoming compilation. When the producers heard her vocals, they refused to allow anyone else to sing the track. It was not INOJ 's intention to become a solo artist. However, without full marketing or promotion her track took off. INOJ the solo artist was born: Complete with tours with the likes of NSync and The Backstreet Boys and talk show appearances including Regis and Kathy Lee. INOJ has had an awesome career to date, creating some of the most memorable dance tracks of our time.

INOJ, is not done, however. Her love of experimenting with new sounds, new producers and writing about new experiences continues.

This is the story ... Thus far ... Of INOJ!