Above: Kenny Phillip. Photo by Mark Lyndersay.
BitDepth#1336 for January 10, 2022
Kenny Phillip wasn’t waiting this year.
“The season is upon us, and we’ve heard nothing from the powers-that-be as to our art,” Phillip said in a response to emailed questions about his new series of shows on WACK, which he now bills as a “visual radio station.”
On January 14, the shows will begin streaming as the Kalypso Kolisseum featuring casts of five performers selected from their calypso tents who will sing songs from their repertoire, as well as new compositions for the 2022 season.
Phillip significantly ramped up his livestreaming capacity soon after covid restrictions began in 2020, and the San Fernando station soon became the virtual mecca of streamed live performances of calypsonians.
“Some performers who come back to my stage said it’s the only place they have worked in two years,” Phillip wrote in a response to emailed questions.
“Some don’t agree with the donation model, I say bring another model I’ll try it
but until then…”
Ainsley King, current head of the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation (TUCO) responding to questions via a series of WhatsApp voice messages, acknowledged that, “There are those who are depending wholly and solely on the arts.”
“TUCO was part of discussions for the safe-zone Carnival concept which is currently being considered by the Prime Minister, and we were looking forward to that.”
“We were looking forward to have live events in the safe zones, but with some of the reports that are coming in that seems to be a challenge and to be risky.”
“We are unique among the special interest groups in that we are staging a show, and we do plan to do some streaming events, perhaps even the calypso monarch competition during the season.”
“Calypso is in a position where we don’t have to have any gathering. It wouldn’t be nice for us to allow the presence and relevance of the artform to just be pushed aside because of the present situation.”
“I don’t see covid stopping calypso events for 2022.”
The long deliberations on a direction for calypso this year haven’t met with Phillip’s approval.
“You can’t tell us what were doing for Carnival season 2022 in January 2022,” Phillip said.
“How can we plan, covid or not? We need to be clear on a direction.”
Phillip has pointed the WACK calypso series in his own direction, informed by the response of audiences, both good and bad to his many concerts in 2020 and 2021.
“I always wanted to tweak the structure of the calypso tent to be more audience-friendly and concentrate on entertainment (instead of) just big tunes for the competition.”
“The potential is great, but we have to entertain people first and not just sing to win a brass crown.”
“The technology has made our audience the world, and we should be addressing that head-on, but we still thinking Port-of-Spain and San Fernando.”
Calypsonians, Phillip believes, also have to become more proactive in pushing their careers online. Too few are active online or on social media developing and promoting their work and to Phillip’s surprise, “neither are the soca men.”
“We have submitted budgets to the NCC,” Ainsley King said of TUCO’s plans, “and we have put forward plans to have the National (Calypso) Monarch competition and we are prepared to stage it once finances are given.”
“I’ve always been a master of my own fate,” Phillip explained.
“The Trinidad corporate world (barring NLCB ), does not see local content as important, so I have to do my own thing.”
“We were pleasantly surprised as to the response in 2021 (and) people seem to enjoy what we’re doing.”
“The YouTube numbers were quite impressive and were really thankful to the people who donated through thick and thin. Real cultural ambassadors.”
“The response of the diaspora has been fantastic and we have the figures to prove it.”
“Trinidad and Tobago on the other hand, has to learn to pay for entertainment. We just love complimentary tickets and freeco.”
The Kalypso Kolisseum begins online on January 14.
