New Calypso/Soca artiste flying flag for Paul’s Avenue

With his release ‘Rumist’ receiving great reviews, calypso and soca artiste Chewalee Johnson is hoping to create a stir during this year’s Carnival.

The Paul’s Avenue resident sat down with SEARCHLIGHT last Wednesday, May 4, to speak about his plans for Vincy Mas 2016.{{more}}

Johnson told SEARCHLIGHT that the reaction to his groovy soca release has been a humbling and great experience.

“I am hoping the song can continue to rise. Persons are hearing it, radio stations are playing it and that is always wonderful. I am hoping I can get to perform enough throughout the Carnival season,” enthused Johnson.

“Persons have been buying the merchandise…and that is great, I am very appreciative of that; hopefully, we can do more and expand the brand.”

Johnson is also planning on releasing his calypso ‘Susu Hand’ in the upcoming weeks.

While he doesn’t want to divulge the contents of the song just yet, Johnson said that the song does ‘throw a little shade’.

Additionally, he stated that his previous involvement in the Carnival industry and his love for Carnival motivated him to enter into the musical arena.

“I have been in Carnival since I was a child, and I have always wanted to do something in every component of mas,” he pointed out.

Johnson added that although he had always wanted to sing calypso, he just recently added soca to his portfolio.

The new artiste noted also that while he would like for his musical career to take care of him financially, he gets joy from knowing that he is contributing to the art form.

“I just love writing; I would love to write for persons. I love the joy and the fun of it. Hearing your song on the radio, hearing someone call you out by the name of your song and that is it for me really. It is not so much the money, it’s the joy and knowing that I am contributing to the ‘jump and wave,’ as I say,” he indicated.

The artiste told SEARCHLIGHT that other artistes like Sulle, Becket, Professor and D Man Age have influenced and moulded him into the artiste that he is today.

“If I am to speak about Sulle, I would speak about how he brings across his music and his point in the most poetic way. I could look at the D Man Age, who is very melodic; I usually call Age a melody king. I would look back at Professor and his stage presence, which is something I admired as a child when I saw ‘I am a King’ on the TV. Becket, and his collaborations with Frankie [McIntosh] are unique and special to me; I often wonder how did he come up with that.

“Outside of St Vincent, I would have to say Kitchener, Sparrow, Bunji Garlin, Machel Montano, Michael Jackson and Prince. Those are the persons I listen to. So, I have a lot of different musical influences. Not just vocalists, but steel pan as well, Jit Samaroo, Andy Narel, Clive Bradley, Handinal — all these components I try to incorporate when I write,” Johnson continued.

And with his love for the steel pan, Johnson said he always tries to make his songs as pan-friendly as possible.

The Paul’s Avenue residents disclosed that he hopes that his music would influence younger persons to use their talents and follow their dreams.

“I wanted to sing calypso — Professor, Ipa and D Man Age are all from Paul’s Avenue, and they are all calypso monarchs. Sulle, I have always known from playing football in Paul’s Avenue, so I have always considered him a Paul’s Lot man, as they say.”

He added: “I am basically picking up the tradition of Paul’s Lot men singing calypso; and I may not even win a crown. Hopefully I do…but at least from me doing this, someone else could be like ‘I could do this too, so let me give it a chance’ and maybe they can continue the tradition of men of Paul’s Avenue wining the calypso crown,” the cheerful young man observed.

Describing himself as a “fun person”, Johnson explained that as such, he wants his soca to make people happy and help them to release stress.

“I would just like to see people enjoying my music and inspiring other persons from the community or wherever to put their talents to use. It’s something I have always wanted to do, but I didn’t pursue it until now. I just want to encourage persons to get into it and give it a try.” (CM)