Brian London plans to keep the population dancing, as he embarks on producing an album this year. Encompassing thought-provoking lyrics, London's album will target those who want to hear calypso all year-round. "It will be more calypso and maybe some rapso; it will be a mixture of styles," he said last Wednesday. The last of ten children, the 30-year-old has placed first at the South Calypso Monarch contest on seven occasions.
A level-headed young man, he said: "If there was no money in kaiso, I would still sing my heart out." Also not afraid to step aside, London didn't enter the competition in 2007. "I had left the competition to give younger artistes a chance, and I only returned when the more experienced calypsonians returned to compete." It's not the first time London has worked on an album, as in 2006, all 500 copies of "Win Back We Nation" were sold out within one month.
At that time, the current runner-up in the National Calypso Monarch competition was just testing the waters to get the people's response. London says calypso is normally given a lot of attention around Carnival, but "if it was given enough attention, there would be concerts throughout the year." Also a writer who has penned all of his songs since age 17, London does not hoard his talent. He writes calypsoes for Junior Monarch competitors, and explains to them that if taken seriously, the art form can be a good way of expressing oneself.
"There is a skill to calypso-writing. Something has to stand out about your song. "There has to be some defining point that makes your song special." Giving back to the younger people, London says he does more than write the song for them. "I would help them go over the song. They need to understand that calypso is not just about singing." Also underway is London's challenge of writing and performing 52 songs in 52 weeks for his church, Fyzabad Pentecostal, this year. He has already started doing so, even in the midst of creating the album, going to work and pursuing studies.
Born of parents who sang and wrote songs, London said his mom wrote his songs until he said he was "forced" to challenge himself. He said he told his mother, Uline, that her song sounded different. "Them children song sounding better than yours," he told her bravely. When she told him to write his own song, she was surprised that less than two hours later, he returned with lyrics. Still, London said he inherited the innate ability to write from his father and his voice from his mom.
Multi-faceted, London is not studying music. Instead, he is after a Master's Degree in international purchasing and supplies. This degree covers human resources and marketing, and ties in with his daily job, where he works in a supplies department. Also, in three years, he hopes to complete a sports management degree course. "I have always been into sports." However, London enjoys entertaining others, and says he will continue in the calypso art form, "as long as God gives me health and strength."
