Kes shares ‘Jolene’ video Black Am I’s ‘Jah In My Corner’
— also known as KES — competes
with other villagers to win
the affection of the track’s namesake
character.
The clip captures the rich, lulling
rhythm of island life with
images of fishing, coconuts, dancing
and rum, while taking inspiration
from Brazil’s cinema novo
movement, with its combination
of vibrant saturated colors and
neutral, traditional wardrobes.
“Jolene,” which premiered this
month with Complex, is out now
on all DSPs.
The track, a blend of soca,
afrobeats, calypso and island pop
flavors produced by British-Trinidadian
producer, Dwala, is the
first taste of KES’ next full-length
album, coming this summer
through California-based Ineffable
Records.
“A buoyant celebration of
good vibes and rolling waistlines,
‘Jolene’ is strategically timed to
Trinidad and Tobago’s traditional
Carnival Season — a time of year
when soca artists roll out new
music with the aim of soundtracking
the season’s coming
festivities,” said KES in a recent
statement.
With Carnival celebrations on
pause for a second year, KES said
it reached outside the box to create
a record that could pull listeners
from around the world into the
Caribbean, no matter where they
find themselves in the world.
“I wanted to transport you to a
place where, even if you’ve never
been to the islands before, you
would feel like you are there,”
KES said. “The Caribbean is a
melting pot of cultures and people
together in this beautiful place,
and this song captures all of these
vibes.”
KES said “Jolene” is the first
music video from Cozier, a Trinidad
native who earned widespread
acclaim in 2021 with her debut
feature film, “She Paradise.”
The soca-fueled, coming-ofage
story, which premiered at the
Tribeca Film Festival, was picked
up for distribution in 2021 by
Samuel Goldwyn Films.
In spite of the pandemic,
KES said the last two years have
brought a string of highlights for
the band.
He said 2021 saw the US TV
debut on Late Night with Steven
Colbert, and a return to the states
for the band’s first tour dates in
over two years.
In August 2020, KES released
the live album, “We Home” (Ineffable
Caribbean Life, F 24 ebruary 11-17, 2022
Records), a project which
earned the band plaudits in outlets
ranging from Essence to The
FADER.
The band has also organized a
run of virtual concerts that have
aired live on TV across the Caribbean
and streamed worldwide on
its YouTube channel, timed to key
dates on Trinidad & Tobago’s cultural
calendar.
Watch here for “Jolene”: https://
youtu.be/uZWZWV8hGyk
ances frame the focus on characters
portrayed by some of
the most underserved of the
community.
Influenced by an article
her father penned in 1984 for
the Workers League in Michigan
its headline “Workers are
the power in this country,”
inspired this thought-provoking
two-hour presentation.
Morrisseau enables audiences
to peek into the private space
workers recline to temporarily
recharge during breaks.
If walls could talk, perhaps
hope for change would be
imminent. Because they don’t,
change only comes with transparency.
From the time workers
punch-in to start shifts until
the last minute they punch out
audiences are able to eavesdrop
on Faye (Phylicia Rashad)
Dez (Joshua Boone) Shanita
(Chante Adams) and Reggie
(Brandon J. Dirdon).
Faye is the senior, union rep
and wise-cracking veteran who
has endured almost three decades
at the Detroit stamping
plant. Nearing retirement and
on the verge of cashing in with
full benefits her attitude is to
coast to the finish.
Dez is young, suspicious,
single, ambitious, loves hiphop
and figures he can use the
company before they use him.
Shanita’s single and pregnant
status does not hinder
her from performing at peak.
She is hard working, well-respected,
and earns a reputation
for carrying her share of
the load without seeking favors
from the men on the line.
Supervising the scaled-down
crew, Reggie is an upwardly
mobile, intolerant, happily
married, father, mediator who
toils to be fair-minded to his
Chante Adams attends the premiere of “House of Gucci” in
New York on Nov. 16, 2021. Adams stars in the Broadway
production “Skeleton Crew.” Evan Agostini/Invision/AP/
File
workers and simultaneously
appease his superiors.
They are all Black.
Needless to say, they each
contrast the other with only
one thing in common, they
all rely on the paycheck which
barely reflect their worth.
Through all the break time
chatter, assumptions brand
each individual to stereotypes
familiar in every American
workplace.
In the end, perceptions are
shattered with revelations baring
realities associated with
ageing, homelessness, youths,
guns, community and corporate
greed.
Director Ruben Santiago-
Hudson masterfully integrates
music with words to weave
an enlightening storyline that
reveals social inequities, disparities
between the haves and
have nots and the bare bones
realities of Black life.
Socially conscious productions
are not commonly
reflected on the Great White
Way, Santiago-Hudson’s “Skeleton
Crew” along with “Clyde’s”
joins the shortlist of dramatic
presentation willing to bring
change and enlightenment to
the stage.
Continued from Page 23
Continued from Page 23
talents in Jamaica,” Jamaican
entertainment publicist, Ronnie
Tomlinson told Caribbean
Life on Monday.
With hits such as “Modern
Day Freedom,” “Samson
Strength,” “King of Kings”
and “The Edge,” Brooklyn
resident Tomlinson, the chief
executive office of Destine
Media said, Black Am I is
“not known to shy away from
social commentary.
“The release of his EP in
February of last year titled
‘Living Dread’, gave listeners
a clearer sense of his talent
and potential,” she said. “The
EP was well received and left
audiences wanting more. Now
the Bull Bay singer/DJ is back
with another single to suit
the increasing demand.
“’Jah In My Corner’ is a
respite in these tough times
for many who continue to
struggle with the new normal
around the world,” Tomlinson
added. “This single’s
sharp gripping lyrics are a
high contrast to the smooth,
rootsy vocals of Black Am I on
the chorus.
“Using the great game of
football as a metaphor, with
Jah as the coach in their ballgame
of life, these two cultural
defenders are assured
of their victory on the field,”
she continued. “This single
is a representation of the
hard times to the people who
maintain with great resilience
during rough times.”
Representing faith and confidence,
Tomlinson said “Jah
In Control” highlights “the
victory, despite obstacles that
appear to be insurmountable.
“Even in the face of overwhelming
force, the song
encourages ones to press on
and never give up,” she said.
On the heels of the release
of his most recent single
“Spliff Haffi Burn”, Black Am
I seeks to cement and maintain
his space as a voice in
music.
“A champion in his own
rite, Black AM I continue his
campaign to represent and
speak for those without a
voice,” Tomlinson said, adding
that “Jah In My Corner” is
“meant to serve as a beacon of
inspiration and a call to faith,
daring listeners to hope and
pray for a better day despite
the grim outlook.
“With Kabaka Pyramid as
a clear and accurate assist on
this single, Black AM I aim for
another hit track,” she said.
Continued from Page 23
‘SKELETON CREW’
Kabaka Pyramid, left, with Black Am I. Tizzy Tokyo
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