ENTERTAINMENT
Carlos “Rejector” Providence, newly-elected president of the Brooklyn-based Dynamites Calypso Tent,
sings “Gonzitist” in June 2018 for the tent, at Cafe Omar in Brooklyn, in the Preliminary Judging for Vincy
Mas 2018. Photo by Nelson A. King
Caribbean Life, April 17-23, 2020 19
By Nelson A. King
Carlos “Rejector” Providence, president
of the lone Vincentian calypso
tent in North America, the Brooklyn
based Dynamites Calypso Tent,
has welcomed the government of St.
Vincent and the Grenadines’ decision
to cancel Vincy Mas 2020, the national
carnival, due to the coronavirus
(COVID-19) pandemic.
“It is certain that, even after the
pandemic, it would take a considerable
amount of time for things to
return to anything close to normal,
and carnival depends a great deal
on persons and materials coming
in from abroad, sponsors and the
local population,” said Providence, a
former National Calypso Monarch, in
an exclusive Caribbean Life interview
Sunday night.
“With millions of people around
the world currently out of work and
the vast majority of businesses shut
down, it’s virtually impossible for
anyone to travel for or sponsor any
part of Vincy mas in July,” he added.
“Apart from it being a financial suicide,
in my opinion, we would have
been putting many lives at risk.
“Even if the virus did not reach
St. Vincent and the Grenadines, it
would have been highly unethical of
us to be partying, drinking rum and
reveling in the streets, while millions
of persons all around us are suffering
and dying,” continued Providence,
disclosing that he was asked by the
president of the St. Vincent and the
Grenadines Calypsonians Association,
Earl “Caba” Bennett, for his
Continued on Page 20
Jamaica’s sensational singer, Alkaline.
PlaybookMG / Marie Driven
By Nelson A. King
Audiomack, the music streaming and
audio distribution platform that allows
artistes to upload music and podcasts
to listeners across its mobile apps and
site, is aiding Caribbean sensations, such
as Jamaicans Alkaline and Kranium, to
reach fans the world over.
Like how Audiomack has uber quality
services for free, and easy to use
interface is for the people, Audiomack’s
services are for the artists, especially for
Continued on Page 20
By Nelson A. King
Haitian American publicity guru
Marie Driven says she is “driving” Caribbean
musical talent mainstream.
“The hardest thing for artists on
the come-up is gaining notoriety for
their art,” the Brooklyn-based Driven,
managing partner of PlaybookMG, told
Caribbean Life.
“Now, add in foreign artists from the
Caribbean, from another country, and
you have additional problems of a language
barrier, adjusting to mainstream
culture, and learning how to broaden
their vision worldwide to make a global
impact,” she added.
This is where Driven said she enters
the picture.
She said her expertise as a managing
partner of Playbook Media Group, oth-
Continued on Page 20
FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT, GO TO CARIBBEANLIFENEWS.COM/ENTERTAINMENT
Audiomack
aids singers
Driven ‘drives’
musical talent
VINCY MAS
CANCELLED
Brooklyn calypso tent supports decision
/ENTERTAINMENT