Lead Editor - Newsgathering
ryan.bachoo@cnc3.co.tt
From Karene Asche to Duane Ta’zyah O’Connor, Calypso Monarchs seem to be getting younger and younger. It signals a paradigm shift in the industry.
Ta’zyah, the 20-year-old son of former Calypso Monarch Duane O’Connor, was crowned the TUCO National Calypso Monarch in 2023. In 2011, at 27, Asche won the title and the art form’s record-breaking $2 million first prize. This year, Naomi Sinnette was crowned Calypso Queen at 20.
In an art form that some people feel is dying, these young people have emerged as the faces of modern calypso music. In a conversation with the Sunday Guardian last week, Ta’zyah O’Connor said: “Calypso is my first love. The telling of a story in calypso, I think it’s far different from any other genre and I think that captivated me from a very young age.”
Last year, the young bard won the judges’ hearts with his nation-building song, Sing Hallelujah.
However, when asked why more young people might not be interested in calypso music as opposed to other genres such as dance hall, reggae and soca, he replied: “A lot of young people aren’t very interested and there’s a reason. You can’t be interested in something you’re not exposed to.”
He recalled how, after winning the title last year and subsequently being invited to Kaiso House Calypso Tent, he invited his friends who fussed and called calypso shows “long and boring.” They did go to the tent to support him and were so intrigued by what they experienced they went back again with him this year.
“So I don’t think it has anything to do with them not being interested, I think they’re not exposed to it,” he said.
However, Sinnette says young people winning the Calypso Monarch title will only help inspire and raise interest among other young people in the art form.
“I feel like Machel Montano somehow inspired these youths to come forward. Also, Ta’zyah O’Connor winning last year and myself this year, I feel like it helped young people believe they could succeed in it.”
Sinnette says Montano’s return to calypso competition this year and subsequent crowning was a pivotal moment for the industry.
“I would say that was a great achievement by Machel. I think it was a good idea for him to return to calypso and encourage people to look at calypso,” she added.
Although he has already won the title, Ta’zyah O’Connor still considers himself someone who is now entering the industry and admits the content of modern calypso music is changing from yesteryear.
He added: “I think the music now differs from previous years not only with the musicality of it but the lyrics that we sing now. Before, you could hear Johnny King and Baron and the Mighty Sparrow sing on serious topics but there were also songs that had a party aspect to them that you could listen to in the party.
“Now, we are kind of doing away with the political calypsos and the serious songs, we’re more focused on nation-building and a tad bit of social commentary as opposed to before when a political calypso jams you.”
However, it’s more than just the lyrics that are evolving. Ta’zyah O’Connor said modern calypsonians are also influenced by other genres of music and incorporate them into their songs.
He explained: “Our style is different from the style of the older ones or the more seasoned calypsonians. Our style is a bit more modern so when you listen to some of my calypsos or other young calypsonians you might hear a difference in the music. Sometimes we try to mix in a little Latin, a samba style, sometimes you hear a calypso and it sounds a little reggae-ish. It’s all about giving a little difference and pulling a different crowd into calypso.”
Sinnette agrees. She said young calypsonians add a level of “vibrancy and more meaning” to the music and in the age of social media this generation can take the art form back to the international stage.
“We are able to market ourselves better because we have apps like Instagram, Facebook and Twitter which allow us to market ourselves more. I think calypso can be more internationally seen with social media platforms. Our generation is definitely able to take calypso far,” she said.
Sinnette was inspired to join the art form while watching her aunt, Alana Sinnette, perform. She was only eight years old then but it made a lasting impression on her.
Some don’t see a bright future for calypso music but Sinnette sees it differently. She said young calypsonians must stay disciplined and true to the art while being consistent to ensure they don’t falter on the stage.
Ta’zyah O’Connor added: “I think the future of calypso is rather bright because calypso has been around for many years. I’m pretty sure 60 years ago they said calypso was dying and 60 years have passed and it still hasn’t died.
“If there are young people like myself and all the others that are still carrying the mantle I don’t think it’s going to die anytime soon. The only way for calypso to keep going is for the audience to keep supporting it, the shows, the tents, we can’t do anything without support.”
Despite scepticism from an audience that is hardened to traditional calypso music, the young singers are ready to engage with them while ushering in a new era of music and a new generation of listeners.
