Taking this country’s unique sounds to the global stage is one of the fundamental aims of Global Trinidad and Tobago, through its Music Unit.
Recently, the Unit hosted several influencers, content creators, artistes, and journalists from the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Caribbean to immerse themselves in Trinidad and Tobago’s musical offerings.
Melissa Jimenez shared more details about the Inward Mission Networking Event at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA), which aims to spark inspiration in the hearts and minds of the various international creators.
“The thought process is that we bring in these people who have good followerships, good reach within their communities, and they all have some sort of tie with the Caribbean and the Diaspora, and they have an appreciation already for the music that we do. So we know that in partnering with these people, that they are going to have a vested interest already innate in them to want to help promote Trinidad and Tobago music.”
Ms. Jimenez said the event is designed to foster new connections and explore collaboration opportunities.
“So far we heard one is going to have, yeah, we’re going to have a collaboration happening music-wise that they’re looking forward to do songs with this person, and another person is like, yes, he’s going to be the feature on one of the podcasts that is going to be going out there. So we want a lot of collaboration to start happening, and money should not be a barrier to everything. So we’re trying to open up those doors. Without dollars and cents, what can we do? And collaboration is the only key to opening up all of that to happen.”
Australian-born singer and songwriter Zenya spoke highly of her experiences so far in Trinidad and Tobago, noting her music is a mixture of Caribbean and Afrobeats, and therefore she has an appreciation for our local music.
“So I’ve been about bringing Soca to the world, bringing Calypso to the world. I’ve been about, I think it’s so important when a country has its own style. It’s such a special thing. Like not every country has its own style music. So I feel like this is so important to bring it to the rest of the world for people to understand the joy that it brings in not just in Carnival, but just everyday life.”
And co-founder of the Caribbean Music Awards and Caribbean Elite Magazine, Dane Taylor, said the partnership with Global Trinidad and Tobago is valuable in further establishing the many genres that make Trinidad and Tobago’s music scene unique.
“It’s a very big music mission, and what they’re doing, and bringing the awareness to the different genres, and allowing folks like me, you know, the ability to be in a space to learn about these different genres and, you know, the creative spaces and the creatives behindsome of the music in these genres is just, it’s part of the mission, and I’m here to just really take it all in and learn from it.”
The group also had the opportunity to tour production studios, the MITTCO Steelpan Facility, as well as experience Parang.