Collaborations

I remember when my mom first noticed the tattoo on my left bicep. She stood there…mouth agape, completely frozen. 

Stunned.

At a family gathering in London she exclaimed, “Khalil!” Calling me in that tone which many Caribbean-raised children are familiar with. When called by your family name (in this case, also my middle name), at that pitch…you know, for certain, you’re about to get an ear-bashing, or worse-yet…called for a supposedly deserved whooping!

Timing, perseverance, skill acquisition and staying ready for opportunities that present themselves are some of the components, when combined, result in successful careers in the entertainment industry. Sometimes, a bit of luck, sprinkled with the underappreciated skill of patience and maybe being in the right place or around the right people can also be what ignites a career towards achieving respectability and success. Of course, in no way are we forgetting the need for stand-out talent, which when mixed with the above elements can accelerate novices’ transitions into respectable professionals.

“Pitter Patter Raindrops” is what started it all for Victoria Ashford. At the age of 4 years old, she mysteriously ended up on stage at a holiday park much to the amusement (or maybe the planning or encouragement) of her parents, to perform her favourite nursery rhyme. Giving the performance of her life (at that time) and then receiving the expected rousing applause for an adorable toddler who was brave enough to get on stage and perform, Victoria basked in her show of appreciation, well chuffed with herself and was then escorted off stage, back to her proud and beaming parents. With the thrill and exhilaration fresh in her mind and adrenaline coursing through her veins, she remembered clearly, even at that early age (and also years later, the exact feeling was replicated whilst in Performing Arts college, where she played a lead role in the play Widows by Ariel Dorfman), performing and acting was something she’d want in her life, forever.

Autonomous Sensory Median Response (or ASMR as it’s more commonly referred to), is a growing phenomenon gaining popularity and scholarly attention around the world. Most people may not have heard of it but those who are aware of what it is and have practiced it are quite persuaded by its appeal. It is described as a “brain massage” which is triggered by mild sounds such as whispers, accents and crackles. 

Meanwhile, in a two-storey music studio and office tucked away in the city of Leeds UK, the sound of musical beats, songs being recited and notes emanating from a range of instruments has manifested itself in a way that some may describe as anything but relaxing! People learning to play instruments and sing inherently comes with mistakes and most times, being off-key…hardly anything close to a brain massage, surely. However, without that, there’s no growth.

The musicality of the 80’s can be seen as arguably one of the more iconic decades in history. Legendary musical skill dominated the airways and record sales, in a ten year span that literally also gave birth to many talented individuals themselves who went on to do their own form(s) of dominating, only a few decades later (stars like Beyoncé, Adele, Kendrick Lamar, Katy Perry, Drake, Olly Murs, Rihanna, Lady Gaga and Nicki Minaj, to name just a few, are 80's born musical prodigies). That of course, is not to say preceding or later decades of music can’t be thrown into the ring for debate, as being the best. However, for the purposes of this piece, let’s say the 80’s are the best (for mainstream music developed then and also the babies born in that decade), totally ignoring that I may be biased, as I was also born in the 80’s myself...Ha!

Saying someone is born to do something has, in a sense, lost its appeal. It’s probably become a statement of hyperbole in most contexts currently. Considering how often it is used nowadays, it’s arguable that such an assertion has become slightly diluted as people tend to use the “Born to do this,” tagline quite often; similarly, the word “great” in a sporting context in my opinion, has fallen from grace.

It feels like every Tom, Dick, Harry and Jane are bloviating experts and philosophers with expertise in the areas they claim proficiency in; sometimes true, often times…not. This social media era, has given people quite the voice, bolstered with the confidence of the social ‘façade’ and justified by persons being noticed/popularised for anything said, whether factual or outlandish. The self-proclaimed born to do-ers are increasingly ever-present, with their basic qualifications generally equating to having access to an internet enabled device and quick fingers to type thoughts on screen, then released into the digital ether. Actual qualifications or experience in journalism, sports, science, politics or performance are so passé; being able to talk or “report” about it entertainingly, is now where it’s at!

What do the words perseverance and stubborn have in common?

Perseverance is commonly used to describe someone with admirable tenacity and determination that is unyielding and possessing a willingness to never relinquish a belief or action that person feels strongly about.

Being stubborn on the other hand, is likely to be associated with someone who similarly refuses to give up on an idea, belief or position, sometimes to the chagrin of others affected/impacted by that action, belief or position.

Doing something you’ve dreamed about for the first time usually brings uncontrollable exhilaration, nervousness and/or the adrenaline rush that pushes people to limits of consciousness sometime which may either lead them to messing up, or almost subconsciously going through whatever motion/activity with a deftness that solidifies their destiny to be doing that thing for the rest of their life.

Chela’s entry into the world of television and becoming a personality and presenter for Saint Lucia’s Daher Broadcasting Service (DBS), one of the island’s longest running media entities, was an exercise in the proverbial star alignment and things falling in place.

“Unbuntu…it’s directly translated as Humanity,” were some of the words uttered in sentences given by Mlindi Kulashe who was explaining and responding to the question of what he missed about being back home in South Africa. The African Bantu term once used and popularised by Nelson Mandela has become well known over world, becoming a rallying cry in many contexts from sports to politics, has been referenced in film and even becoming a brand technologically. Living in a country and era that is increasingly obsessed with individuality, marketability, viewability and popularity, Mlindi was forced to understand or notice quite often, it was difficult to coalesce the two competing states of mind; can ‘I’ and ‘we’ coexist?

To be raised (or to live) on a tropical, volcanic, Caribbean island like Saint Lucia, to most outsiders may sound like one of the most idyllic, refreshing upbringings/lifestyles some could imagine. Ever-present sunshine and warmth that doesn’t have to be wished for between autumn and spring; fresh tropical breezes with palm/coconut trees swaying in it; bright and naturally vibrant coloured flowers; closing your eyes and seeing the dominating colour shades of blue, green, yellow, red, orange; shorts and flip-flops!; warm rain droplets; the availability of tropical fruits and vegetables almost at your fingertips, the beaches (ooohhhh the beaches!); fantastic, tropical culinary dishes with amazing aromas. Sorry (#notsorry), I could’ve stopped with the examples earlier but the tease was necessary as these are some of the things that spring to mind when thinking about such isles of enchantment and the familiar facets of life our next featured artiste is accustomed to.

A man of few words by text and tweet, but a man with many analytical thoughts and opinions many can’t beat, Peter Vecsey is a Sports Journalist extraordinaire. Possessing a career spanning more than 40 years which started at the Associated Press when he was 16, working on Saturdays during the college (American) football season, to currently writing for Patreon and other stops in between, he has written probably thousands of voluminous columns for many famed back-pages and websites. Peter is well known for toiling in the newspaper, beat-writing sports world but maybe more-so for his candour and ability to professionally acquire scoops from sources, to break unknown news, with the voracity of a Russell Westbrook triple–double pursuit, the guile of LeBron James ghost-chasing “#legacy,” or maybe more suitably for this platform, the pace of Meryl Streep’s award and Oscar-nomination garnering career.

At first glance, Dan Lomax may appear as a quiet, unassuming character, who like most of us toils in the daily routine of a 9-5 job and the joys and trials of raising a family. That first glance is accurate because that’s exactly who Dan is, working as a Senior Lecturer at the UK Centre for Event Management at Leeds Beckett University. He may not fit the yesteryear, once stereotypical idea of what some may think a male university lecturer could/should look like; professorship-air, pocket-square garbed and collared individual that denotes some sort of hierarchical and academic importance. No, on the contrary, you can find Dan in his preferential, black jeans and boots, black leather jacket and plaid, collared shirt, with his hair coiffed just enough, with an unmistakable curl (for him), that bounces with his now slender gait of a man, who is content and also has experienced a few things in life.