The Style & Vibes Podcast

Chat to me! In this episode I’m joined by the dynamic duo of the Stush an’ Bush podcast, Khadieme and Robert, as we explore the complicated relationship between Dancehall and the LGBTQ+ Community. This isn’t an episode attacking the genre or they lyrics, it rather and exploration and thought starter on how the music, specifically the reference to #2 being associated with gay male activities has he...

Chat to me! Tia is a Lover’s Rock, Reggae, Dancehall artist and singer-songwriter based out of the Virgin Islands. The up and coming singer has a beautiful voice complimented by traditional bassline riddims. Debuting in 2014 with her single ‘Healing’, followed by more singles line  ‘Be Without You’, produced by Dean Pond ‘Eyes On Me’, ‘No Love Sweeter’, ‘Regret’ and ‘Come Through’, Tia released he...

Chat to me! In our continued discussion of Small Axe with Rachel Osbourne of Julie Mango TV , we dive deeply into the Lover’s Rock episode. We discuss the nostalgic influences of our adolescent year witnessing similar events, discuss the Lover’s Rock genre and its growth, important scenes in the series and of course the iconic Janet Kay’s Silly Games .  Caribbean Streaming Services to Explore in 2...

Chat to me! Small Axe is a British anthology film series, created and directed by Steve McQueen. The anthology consists of five films that tell distinct stories about the lives of West Indian immigrants in London from the 1960s to the 1980s. The series premiered at Cannes film, got picked up by BBC and then Amazon. I’m joined by Rachel Osbourne of Julie Mango TV to discuss the anthology series’ as...

Chat to me! In this episode I highlight a few things happening in the world right now. The La Soufrière volcano eruption on the main island of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, DMX passing away on April 9, recap Notorious B.I.G  Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell documentary on Netflix, Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness vs. the music industry, Jo Mersa Marley virtual listening for his new EP Eterna...

Chat to me! Kabaka Pyramid is a talented Jamaican lyricist, blending Reggae, Dancehall and Hip-Hop influences to create music that inspires with songs like “Believe”, “Ready” and “Babylon Fallin” he also has. Exploring powerful messages with a rebellious tone with a quality sound that is celebrated by many. Coming off the recent release of his mixtape Immaculate and gearing up for his first riddim...

Chat to me! Patricia Chin, affectionately known as Miss Pat to just about everyone, is the co-founder of VP Records with her late husband Vincent. VP Records is an independent Caribbean music record label, with music distribution and retail arms of the business. In this episode, Miss Pat shares parts of her musical journey, her impact on the music business, and her making moves in a male-dominated...

Chat to me! Ronnie Tomlinson is the CEO of Destine Media, a Caribbean artiste public relations and management company. Her successful transition into the entertainment market started in 2008 after the economic crisis. Being laid off from Goldman Sachs solidified her decision to become an entrepreneur and to never be dependent on a corporation for financial stability. She manages the narrative for...

Chat to me! Chino McGregor has a level of consistency in the Reggae and Dancehall space that for some, may go under the radar. Recently releasing a new project, The Process in three parts, Gimmicks Over Lyrics , Gyal Factory and Riddim Ryda Style, respectively; I sat down with Chino and we discussed his journey in music that brought him to The Process; leveraging his access at an early age through...

Chat to me! February is Reggae month in Jamaica, Black History Month in the U.S. and February 6th is the birthday of Bob Marley.  His contribution to Reggae music is unmatched and his name rings legendary in any music conversation.   While I’ve always understood Bob Marley’s musical legacy,  by watching performances and listening to industry heads in documentaries, I’ve never quite experienced his...

Chat to me! Domestic violence as it relates to entertainment is nothing new. It exists in entertainment, because it exists in real life. The public gets a bird's-eye view Of the situations and are left to discuss and decide how they feel about the parties involved.  Why are we talking about this now might you ask? It was definitely inspired by the allegations of physical, sexual and verbal ab...

Chat to me! COVID-19: Vaccine vs. No Vaccine Caribbean music industry organization and collaboration More new music from artists than 2020  Artists developing alternative income streams Increase in Travel to Caribbean and Latin American countries  A cautious approach to Festivals/Hybrid events Fashion Loungewear vs. Glamour wear Fashion brands creating more content around their own designs (style,...

Chat to me! 2020 has been an interesting, challenging and emotional year for many. In this episode, I’m discussing the trends that kept us talking and how it impacted us from a personal and industry perspective. The 7 Topics include COVID-19/Corona Virus  Black Lives Matter #BLM Elections & Politics Everything going virtual DJs Saving 2020 New Music from Caribbean and African Artists COVID Fas...

Chat to me! Holidays in the Caribbean are the best! In this episode, we discuss the festive holiday traditions with Andrew Clarke of Braata Productions. With Andrew’s expertise in sharing Caribbean traditions through performing arts, we not only exchange our favorite holiday traditions, but we talk about how the COVID global pandemic has impacted Braata as an organization, his journey in the perfo...

Chat to me! Earlier this year I made Caribbean cultural predictions for 2020 . There was so much happening in Caribbean music, fashion, travel, especially during COVID-19 that I wanted to revisit my predictions about what happened.   2020 Predictions Culture: More Festivals Travel: Experiences beyond resort life Travel: More Travel to Africa Music: Focus on regional success, versus crossover appea...

Chat to me! Sparked by controversial comments made by social media personality WhiteChocolate758 claiming to, “pave the way for black people” in the Caribbean carnival influencer space, this episode dissects his opinions, but more importantly reflects on how cultural appropriation happens and its impact on the aesthetics of Caribbean culture to the masses. Using this example of the Caribbean Carni...

Chat to me! In this episode we’re on di road with Jamaican reggae singer Tarrus Riley whole recently released his new album Healing which was recorded during COVID. We talked about the experiences that lead to him recording during quarantine and the impact it had on him as a person/artist. He shares how the #LighterChallenge took off, his favorite recipes and find out what I asked him that he’s ne...

Chat to me! Caribbean Fashion designers are feeling the impact of COVID, especially in the region. An already challenging industry is continuing to be resilient and pivoting with the new trends. In this episode we speak Caribbean Fashion strategist Ain Earle of The Fashion Arch , based in Trinidad & Tobago on how she transitioned to help brands from in-person Pop-up shops to virtual pop-up sho...

Chat to me! In the past few podcast episodes, we’ve talked a lot about music. I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting on those conversations with artists, DJs and fellow podcasters. We all discuss ways to continue to move Dancehall and Reggae music while preserving its foundation...in a sense. How the music has changed, what are the impacts of those changes and the perception of the business? During C...

Chat to me! When it comes to musical creativity do current Reggae artists get the same fight as Dancehall artists when it comes to the sounds? Odessa of Reasonings With Odessa Podcast and Shawn ( @ReggaeMusicForever )  of Reggae Talk Podcast join me for a spirited debate on this topic. We give examples of artists and songs, the inspiration for artists, how technology impacted the production and le...

Chat to me! While many artists are creating fusion sounds, we’re still trying to figure out what the new sound of Jamaican music is called, Tessellated is just creating music with the foundation of sounds he is inspired by. The twenty-something Jamaican producer and artist has built his music on the foundation of Reggae and Dancehall while adding some Jazz, Hip-Hop, R&B elements. Connecting an...

Chat to me! In this episode Jamaican singer/songwriter Sevana speaks to us about the release of her second EP, Be Somebody. Sevana effortlessly flows between her powerful vocals and bold Jamaican patois, blending traditional R&B/soul that influences her sound and the Caribbean’s tropical riddims that raised her. Be Somebody is Sevana’s first major-label debut since signing with RCA Records in...

Chat to me! The Reggae Sumfest team did a great job putting together #ATasteofSumfest festival in just a few weeks, while most festivals are being canceled or going virtual for 2020, Sumfest is the only Caribbean festival to keep a presence this year. A Taste of Sumfest had a week-long schedule of digital events including music workshops, panels, re-visited older performances and showcased Jamaica...

Chat to me! In Style & Vibes podcast ep. 13 I discussed the idea of  Cultural Currency , in this episode, I’m revisiting this idea as it’s importance is more relevant than ever. The impact of being quarantined from the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way people access to culture and there are so many conversations happening online about how Caribbean culture and experiences are being revisit...

Chat to me! In this episode we speak with Dancehall artist, Noah Powa. Formerly a selector/DJ we talk about his he transitioned and how the two careers compliment each other. With more and more music being release we talked about how he’s able to stand out, performing while having fun, singles vs. albums vs. EPs and the investment it takes into being an independent artist.    Stylin’ on:  Cushnie...