Bringing you the Vibes up Close and Personal with Peter Lashley and NYCaribbeanVibes.com

There are some people you meet at certain critical times in your life and because you share 

similar life shaping experiences, you are bonded for life. It was during one of these times 

that I met Peter Lashley and he became like an adopted big brother to me. He and his 

childhood friend Carver Rullow are the driving force behind NYCaribbeanvibes.com. 

The site had gone through a transitional phase and has a brand new look. I wanted to find out 

a bit more about the updated site and the new direction that NYCV is heading in.

Peter Lashley was born and raised in Diamond Vale, on the northwestern coast of Trinidad and Tobago. After completing secondary school at St. Anthony’s College, he attended John Donaldson Technical Institute affectionately known to us Trinis as John D. Peter then left to attend Howard University where he graduated with a BFA in Design. He lived and worked in Philly for a short while before moving to New York. He recently graduated from Pratt Institute with a Master’s degree in Communication Design.

1. How did the concept NY Caribbean Vibes come into existence and who are the key persons behind its formation?

Actually, NYCV has been around for some time now. Carver Rullow and I have been friends since high school in Trinidad and have always been close. So naturally when I moved to NY I linked back up with him. We decided to create a website where we could take pictures at parties and cover various events. We both share a passion for photography, we both actually have minor degrees in photography. Carver's educational background is in Mass Media. The other thing we enjoyed doing and connected us was a love for partying. NYCV was the perfect way to blend those two together. The goal was to create a website that had a content-driven, magazine type feel to it, which was something that had not previously been done. Because of time constraints however we were not able to keep the steady flow of information that was desired for the website. That aspect of it took a back burner to the photography content aspect of the site. Over the years Carver moved to Florida while I was in school completing my masters degree so the website was on pause so to speak while we worked on our individual pursuits. We still continued to cover major events, particularly events outside of the NY metro area like Nottinghill Carnival, Cropover and of course Trinidad Carnival. The goal we both had in mind was to always be and do things differently, you know, to have a different viewpoint of the same subject matter. We wanted to move away from the cookie cutter mold and create a niche of our own.

We have always done events for as long as I can recall. I remember in DC while on campus we always did a lot of events. At that time, Carver and I were housemates with 3 other Caribbean guys so there was always a reason for a get together and we would jump at the opportunity to bring people together. I was able to use this experience as NYCV started creating our own events. In the NY area we wanted to set a standard in creating events for a mature crowd. We felt there was a generational gap between the “youngsters” and those older than ourselves. There was something missing for those like us at that in-between age. We knew we could create events that would fill that gap. We decided to try our hand at unique creative events that were held in time slots that others would normally steer away from. Our first major event was a midnight boatride called Midnight Madness which was a lingerie event. This was a collaborative venture with well-known soca artist Pelf. We then decided to do Verve on Memorial  Friday in 2005. It was designed to be a sexy and swanky affair and still continues to have the same flavor 5yrs later. Next we did Silent Morning, the breakfast boatride, which was done as a collaboration alongside Gameface promotions, who we had always been friends with. On this ride we had the Party Rocker himself Back 2 Basics, and Natural Freaks. This was the summer of 2005. These have become signature annual events that NYCV are well known for. Silent Morning ’05 was such a success that the DJ got tips from the patrons, this was the first and only time that I have ever seen a DJ getting tipped for his musical skills. We didn't do that particular event for a couple of years and after people continuously asked about it, we decided to bring the event back. We teamed up with B2B and have been doing it together since 2007. Now 2 years ago, we introduced Silent Morning Trinidad on Carnival Friday and this has been a great success as well. High Noon was started in 2006 and is a country western themed boat ride held the weekend after the July 4th holiday weekend. Again this was done to fill the time gap. We know that after most partygoers have been hyped up for a particular party weekend in NY they want something to look forward to that will keep the party adrenaline going. The weekend after July 4th was a perfect time to continue the vibes. And the good thing is that we have always had events where people are pleased with the overall outcome, and that's what matters most to NYCV. Afterglow was also created as an alternative type event for those who chose to not attend Labor Day festivities on the parkway. Despite little hiccups along the way we continued to strive to set a certain standard and quality of events. Thankfully the benefits have by far outweighed the risks we have taken and we are pleased that our events have all been successful to date.

2. What is the new direction that NYCaribbeanvibes.com is heading in and what are some of the key features of the updated site?

Basically we want to make it a more content driven site, particularly with more articles and stories. We will have more articles, photos, and of course ads on the new site. We have a unique website, because even though we are based in NY we have photographers and contributors in Barbados, Trinidad, the UK, Washington DC and of course NY. Some of the new features include articles on various topics and issues that the average New Yorker has to deal with: health and wellness, everyday happenings that are conversation worthy, what's going on in Trinidad so that everyone is connected to what's happening at home, the party rater section, the picture gallery where we plan to showcase photographers and give them the option to sell their work via the site. We want to keep the website as simple and user friendly as possible but also keeping the content relevant. We want it to always be positive and purposeful and the content of the site will reflect that vibe.

3. Where would you like to see yourself and NYCV in the next 5 years?

We really want to see the site develop a more international based following, and also importantly to be an avenue for artists, especially for photographers to showcase and sell their work. But I still want to maintain and sustain ourselves in the Caribbean niche that we already cater to. We want to use this as a forum to showcase the talent and art of the Caribbean throughout the world.

We want to take our events to another level and expand our audience. We want to establish a market for our events globally. The NYCV brand should become an international symbol for signature quality events that can be transplanted to different locations worldwide.

As a photographer and an artist for me, it’s all about self- expression, Carver and I have always seen eye to eye on this and have always seen NYCV as a forum to promote self-expression. We have always used the site as a means of expressing who and what we are about. We believe that if we do something that we are passionate about we will always be successful at it.

My personal philosophy is that you should find one thing that you can do, that you truly enjoy, and do it the best of your ability. Society has us in this vice where you feel driven to multi-task and I feel that when you do this you become a master of none and a jack of all. For me, this isn't the best approach; I prefer to be a master of one.

4. What sparked your interest in photography and what is your preferred subject matter to photograph?

I first became interested in photography in my Intro to Photojournalism class. I was always into art and drawing growing up. I worked at the library at school in the Photojournalism section and I would spend hours going through various books. I always have a different perspective and viewpoint to the conventional. I remember my professor saying, “owning a camera does not make you a photographer”. What he said really struck a chord with me. Photography is about capturing your view of a subject. So when shooting a subject, pick the most interesting angle for example, I remember as a child always looking at a Christmas tree from the base up. Since at first I developed my own film, I had to compose my shots and think carefully about what I shot before actually taking the picture which is so different to the digital approach. Instead of shooting randomly and hoping for a great shot, I still think about what I am doing and then shoot although I now use digital cameras. My favorite subject is people. People have always been interesting to me and I like to “people watch”. I really love candid shots that capture emotions. I like shooting movement and action as in dancing and sports. I like capturing the moments that show the actual vibe of an event. As a photographer I need that stimulation, and capturing those aspects of an event appeals to the photojournalistic side of my photography. I enjoy using available light in my photography, and I depend on this to help create the mood in a picture. Wherever I go, whatever subject I am shooting, I enjoy it and I turn it into art.

5. What's your greatest life passion and driving force?

Photography and event planning are my main passions. I am also a certified spin instructor. Whatever I do now has to be enjoyable and has to be something I can see myself doing full time. My main philosophy is self expression so anything I do is an extension of myself. Right now I use these three skills as creative outlets for myself as a way to counteract the monotony of the conventional 9-5. Ultimately I'd love to work for myself and do the things I enjoy doing and be able to sustain my lifestyle doing these things. Another of my philosophies is to just enjoy life to the fullest. When I think of how short life is I believe I have to enjoy my life here on earth now because tomorrow is promised to no one. People measure success differently, I don't believe in looking at someone else's definition of success and trying to achieve that standard. I think differently to most people and I don't subscribe to the traditional idea of success. I define my success by my ability to be happy, enjoy life and have peace of mind.

6. Who is your greatest hero?

My greatest hero hmmmm, I may not necessarily say I have a hero so to speak but someone I always look up to is my father, actually both my parents. My father isn't perfect but he always held it down, doing his part as a parent. He kept us on the straight and narrow. He knew I was a boy and he allowed me to have my boy days growing up. He has always been a strong figure, he was able to cook, clean, mix concrete and yet still he was a professional. He believed in strong family ties. Every Sunday we visited our grandmother and aunt, he came from this old-school philosophy that maintained taking care of his family and his household. One thing I always had in my family was love and laughter. Even when we were mad or upset we always found the humor in the situation and made peace that way. I like to have positive energy around me, I like people around me who can take life lightly and are just generally happy. I think happiness is the key to life. There was laughter in my household, if nothing else this was guaranteed.

7. What is one thing people would be surprised to learn about you?

People would probably be shocked to know that I was a full fledged Nyahbinghi Rastafarian. I wasn't partying, drinking, didn't eat meat, no salt, I lived a total vegan life – strictly “Ital”, I didn't partake in Carnival at all. But as I got older I learned that you have to enjoy life and be true to who you are. When my mom passed away, I realized the importance of living life to the fullest. I learned how to be true to myself and how to express myself. The other thing

I think that would surprise people is that I have a masters degree I guess I look like a gaper. Lol.

8. Are you still a practicing Rastafarian? 

I still believe in certain philosophies and I understand the seriousness of the trod and the dedication it takes to walk the path of Rastafari. I believe in self-worth, self-sustainability, proper health and diet, I still believe in Haile Selassie as a black king and what that stands for and the self-pride that his reign instilled in not just Rastafarians but black people the world over. Having been Rastafarian I learned certain principles and doctrines that will never leave me. I still attend Nyahbinghi which is held on H.I.M. Earthsrong and there's a calmness that I get when I'm there. What draws me to Rastafari is the love that brethren and sistren have for each other. I will always be Rasta in my heart.

9. Who is your favorite photographer/ artist?

Gordon Parks is one of my favorite photographers, and also Ansel Adams. They worked mainly in black and white film. Their shots were unique to their perspective of the world around them.

10. What impression would you like to leave upon those that cross your path?

I always want to leave the impression that you can think outside of the box and that you shouldn't conform to the norm. Thinking alternatively spawns new ideas and notions. After talking with me in-depth you will realize that I think a bit differently than most people. I want to be remembered as being a person who doesn't fit into a particular mold, as someone who embraces life and lives life to the fullest.

Thanks so much to NYCaribbeanvibes.com and Peter Lashley 

for taking the time for me and you to get to know them up close 

and personal. Wishing you all the best with your new website, 

and looking forward to many more great things to come. 

Who knows I might even hit a spin class or 2? ;)

A real man knows a real woman when he sees her

I am a point in my life where I've been there, done that, I'm at a place where I just don't have time to waste. 

There are 24 hours in a day, of which I usually spend 18 awake and am still unable to complete all that I have 

on my to-do list. So to waste another minute, even a second is certainly not a part of my agenda. So I 

decided I'd play the no strings attached game for a while until Mr. Right comes along. 

Yeah I'm gaaaaaannngsttttaaaa, isn't that my alias now???? Of course people who know me know the truth. 

That's my my my my poker face that I put on to shield and protect my heart. 

Sometimes I feel I have so much to give to that special someone, but to him and no one else. 
 
So back to the N.S.A. scenario, I figure I'd settle for Mr. Right now, instead of waiting and being patient for Mr. Right. 

Bad move. Why do I need to settle for someone who doesn't want to settle down? 

From the moment a man and woman meet, they both know realistically where their relationship is or isn't going to head. 

Why then do we as women decide to put ourselves in dead-end relationships, why do we entertain the man who's 

"happily" married, the brother who's just chilling until the "right one" comes along, the dude who wants to "sort himself out" 

before he can be in a relationship? 

When a man meets a woman and sees her worth nothing and I repeat NOTHING will get in the way of him locking her 

down and claiming her as his. He will leave that wife (not that I condone this), step out of chill mode, and immediately 

become the most responsible, got-it-together man for the sake of "the one". 

He won't let her slip away from his grasp, and hold onto her as if his very existence depended on her being in his life.
 
 

An older woman I know once said that its not a woman's place to ask a man "Where is this heading?", he's the one 

that's supposed to take the initiative when it comes to moving forward in a relationship. And although we've made great 

strides in terms of gender equality and I am very modern in most of my thought patterns, I'm still old school and 

a bit conventional in this area. So I think if a man sees my worth, he would step to me correctly and make his 

intentions known. 

There's nothing more sexy and powerful than a man who's willing to let down his ego boundaries and 

step out of his comfort zone and say that he wants a chance to see where "this" can go.  

That is man!!!!!!! Nothing tops that. 
 
 

I've seen all kind of scenarios with respect to relationships from personal experience and through that of women around me, 

so there's nothing that surprises me anymore. I guess that happens in life, in general, the older that you get. I'm fully aware 

of the magnitude and multitude of games that are played in the dating scene, by both parties. 

But guess what silly wabbit trix are for kids. Games and tricks have no place in grown people's relationships. 

It's that plain and simple/ 
 
 

The older I get, the more open and honest I am about who I am with myself and those around me, and the more I expect the 

same of those in my life. 

I especially respect a man who shows he is man enough to be honest about his feelings and intentions. 
 
 

If there's something you want, why not go after it wholeheartedly and make your intentions known. 
 
 

I know that men are from mars, women are from venus. We operate on two completely different platforms it seems. 

But I believe that inevitably we all desire the same thing. 

We want someone who's committed to us and only us, we want someone who will stand by our side through thick and thin, 

good times and bad times, we want someone who we can just be ourselves fully with. So if that's  what we all really 

want deep down inside, why do we keep our intentions and what we feel hidden? 

I guess we don't want anyone to break down those walls we put up hide our vulnerable "self" from the world. 

I guess we're afraid of being rejected, used or taken for granted when we wear our heart on our sleeves. 

I guess those past hurts and disappointments have made us shy away from the greater possibility that could exist. 

I guess its easier to close our hearts off to the possibility of the beauty of love than to risk putting ourselves out there. 

I guess its human nature to take the easy way out. No one wants to experience pain right? 

Isn't the goal of human existence to avoid suffering at all costs? 

But how will we ever evolve and grow without going through the experiences that will mold and shape us into the 

individuals we are destined to become? 

And having loving, healthy relationships I believe are a vital part of that growth process. Yet so many of us avoid it 

because the risks seem to great, and we live lives where we close ourselves off from others and the possibilities that  

exist. 

"And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." 

Anais Nin


 

The Pursuit of Happiness

For a long time I searched for happiness, peace and joy. I searched in so many places, searched high, searched low, 

and just about every place in between. Happiness, what are you exactly and why did you insist on running away from me? 
 
What I've learned in my quest for that state of joy that is constant, is that the more you search, the more it eludes you. 

Now I'm not talking about the happiness that comes from a new hairstyle, a new pair of shoes, or a new man in your 

life. I'm talking about that stupid grin on your face for absolutely no reason at all. 

This is sometimes equated with madness. I've seen people who just smile to themselves for no apparent 

reason at all and wonder what kind of high they were on. I've seen people so still and calm, and just radiate a sense 

of contentment, and wonder what's their secret. 
 
So I've been on that journey to have that peace in my life and I haven't fully reached my destination, because I know 

its a journey that really has no final destination. 

On this journey though I've learned some very vital lessons:
 
1. I've learned that I can't wait to be happy. I can't wait until I have the perfect job, the perfect body, the perfect house, 

the perfect man, the perfect life. Because guess what I'd be waiting forever, as human beings we always want more. 

And nothing is wrong with striving for more than what we have or where we currently are, but so many times we put 

off living until this or until that and miss out on the joy of the now. 
 
2. I've learned to live in the NOW. I've learned how to make the most of my current situation, whatever it is. My life has 

taught me that where I am is right where I need to be.
 
3. I've learned that everything happens for a reason, and that sometimes things don't work out the way you want them 

to because they just weren't meant to happen that way. 
 
4. I've learned that when one door is closed, a bigger and better door will be opened. Trust me. Sometimes we have 

things in our life that take up extra space that we hold on to for dear life. We don't realize that we need to let go of these 

to make room for what really should be there to be able to come in. I've spent so much time fussing over what didn't 

work out in my life, without realizing that there's a reason why they didn't. And that if I'm patient enough, the pieces all fit 

together perfectly.
 
5. I've learned that anytime I have to swim hard against the current, that's probably not the direction in which I need to be 

going in the first place. And not that life doesn't have challenges or circumstances that make us stronger, but I'm talking 

about that thing which you keep hitting your head against the wall constantly to make it work out.  

It probably isn't part of your divine plan. And sometimes when you just let go and let the current take you where 

you were destined to go, the ride is smooth, easy and effortless.
 
6. I've learned to celebrate the beauty of the past, even if I can never relive those moments again.

I hear "Frankie" and I recall being 6 and singing at the top of my voice on the mike on my uncle's 

DJ set and how I wouldn't change a thing about my childhood even if I could.

I lay under my covers and I recall how I would cuddle next to my Granny and play with her arm, 

rubbing my hand against every wrinkle and crease on it and how lucky I am to have those 

memories of her. 

I hear a classic Super Cat dancehall tune and I remember when I'd go to Coconuts and dance 

whole night with my friends and how it was to be a carefree teenager growing up in Trinidad 

and how I couldn't ask for a better group of friends to grow up with. 

I look at a newborn baby and remember what it felt like the first moment I laid eyes on my son 

and how I knew what it was like to fall in love at first sight. 

I look at a mother and daughter together and recall how much I enjoyed the special moments 

I spent with my mom and how grateful I am to be an only child with a single mom because it 

created such a close bond between us that any other situation probably wouldn't have. 
 

7. I've learned to pursue that which makes me happy. So much of our time is spent pursuing 

things that enrich others, not only financially but that also afford others the leisure time we wish 

we had for ourselves. And we end up neglecting ourselves and what brings us joy. Our jobs leave 

us so tired and worn out that we have no time left to partake in the things that peak our interest 

and we don't get a chance to have our "what if" moment. You name it I've probably tried it 

because you never know until you try. As hard as it may be to make the time to do so, a big part 

of my joy has been indulging in a myriad of hobbies that allow me to express myself creatively. 

I'm worn out yes and sometimes downright broke, but guess what, I'm happy. 
 

8. I've learned to speak my mind, plain talk bad manners is what I call it. I'd rather get it off my 

chest and we deal with it than allowing stuff to fester and grow from a molehill into a mountain. 

As hard as it is to be confrontational, its way better to have open lines of communication than 

holding stuff inside that can cause unnecessary strain in a relationship. 
 

9. I've learned how to see the positive in EVERYTHING and everyone. My son says "Mom, 

you're such an optimist" while he holds the self-acclaimed title of realist. I wasn't always this 

way but I've learned the power of the spoken word and how you can actually talk yourself into 

the situation that you want to be in. So now I don't talk about what I don't want in my life. 

I talk about what I do want as if it already exists because in reality it already does, you just 

have to believe that it does. And it will come at the right time.
 
10. And finally I've learned that the pursuit of happiness is a personal journey. No one can teach 

you how to find joy. Its easy to tell someone they have nothing to be unhappy about, and expect 

them to just snap their fingers and achieve instant gratification. But there really is no magic 

formula or secret recipe to achieving a state of nirvana. That's something you kinda have 

to figure out on your own. As tough as it may be to go through the experiences that eventually 

lead you to that revelation, the pain is small in comparison to the joy that is the reward. 

Shades of a Rainbow - For Colored Girls

 

Its so hard to believe that in the year 2011 we as people of color continue to hold ideas about each 

other that divide instead of celebrate each other and our diversity. More so as sisters of color we 

should be building up each other's self esteem instead of tearing it down. I read a kids' book entitled Shades of People and the author brought home a serious point, there really isn't 

black or white, but shades in between. It also reminded of a book I read a couple years ago 

called The Color Complex, which discussed the issue of color AMONG people of color. 

There were several persons of mixed heritage in that book who expressed feeling torn by 

having to choose sides, particularly it was difficult when they had one "white" and one "black" 

parent. By adopting too many mannerisms of either side, they were labeled as either not black 

enough or may have been shunned by their white counterparts. In reading this book, though I am 

not a product of two distinctive races I discovered that I didn't want label myself as a "black" 

person, because that's simply one color in a spectrum of the color rainbow of diversity. It is then 

that I realized that when I met someone and they said what are you I automatically said 

black/ African and that was it, nothing further. And don't get me wrong its not that I am denying my 

heritage or ashamed of it, but to acknowledge one part of it is to deny the essence of who and all 

that I am. So now when someone asks me that question, I remember to include my maternal great 

grandmother from Venezuela, my paternal from India and the bit of Amerindian thrown in there, 

because their blood is in my blood and their heritage is also a part of mine just as much as my African roots.

On the topic of black skin and white skin: When I really look at it I've really never seen a black or white 

person. As the Shades of People book put it there's really no black or white when it comes to people 

just a whole lot of shades in between. So we can go from ivory to peach to caramel to toffee to sweet 

dark chocolate in the human race rainbow. More so as people of color we need to celebrate and embrace 

our diversity and beauty NOT put each other down. I've come to accept that I'm lightskinned or a reds as 

trinis put it. That's who I am, that's how God made me. Do I think I am beautiful because of my complexion? Now here's the tricky part of this question  because I don't want to come off the wrong way. I believe we are made as we were because that's how God 

intended us to be and in so doing we should embrace our beautiful selves as He saw fit. 

So back to the question, my complexion is a part of who I am so yes I believe I'm beautiful and 

I believe that is a part of my beauty, just as my eyes or my lips or my chin or my bellybutton. 

Its simply another aspect of me. I see so many beautiful women whose beauty is enhanced by their skin tone. 

The smooth chocolate darkie or the sunkissed golden brown chick wouldn't be the same had they been any 

other skin tone. Their skin tone is a part of their beauty, a part of who they are, made as God intended it to be. 

Now the question is whether one skin tone is more beautiful than the other, clearly no is the answer. But to say 

that should a light skin person be any darker they wouldn't be as good looking is really ludacris to say because 

the person wasn't intended to be any other way than he or she is made. Should it be said of a dark skin person, 

he or she would be more beautiful had they not been as dark. The same would apply because his or her rich 

darkness is part of what makes him or her beautiful. So I don't really understand the idea of putting down someone's 

complexion, a part of them that is impossible to change and why should it be changed if that's the way God wanted 

them to be in the first place.

Another point, when reading The Color Complex, and as we all probably know the remnants of a historical past of 

slavery still leaves its mark on us today, as people of color we still carry baggage about the variation of shades that 

exists in our world.

Its time to really let go of these and celebrate our light, dark, and everything in between selves, 

because we represent the beauty of the rainbow and its diversity.

Taking you Back To Basics, up close and personal with The Party Rocker himself Ricardo Gomez

Known for his ability to move a crowd with his musical mixes, his charisma and not to mention great sense of style, Ricardo Gomez takes partygoers back to basics with his skills as a deejay. He has created a name for himself as the original Party Rocker and rock any party he most certainly does.

Ricardo was raised here in the US in his early years, then moved back to Trinidad where he spent his pre-teen and teenage years. He returned to the US in 1988 and completed his college degree in Business Administration with a minor in Broadcasting. It was this minor that would ultimately determine the direction of his major career decisions. He was able to combine his background in business with his love for broadcasting to create the brand Back to Basics. He applied many of the fundamentals and basic skills that he had learned during his college years to his business, and to life in general. 

A true businessman at heart, Ricardo approaches his events with careful planning and foresight. When throwing an event, he begins by initially coming up with a concept. Then he will decide on the venue that he best sees fitting with this concept. Next he would evaluate the expenses and overall cost of the event and finally match it up to the need in the market. Then if the venture is financially feasible, its a go.

I took some time to get to know Ricardo up close and personal and here's what I found out:

1. At what age did you develop an interest in music and who/ what was your greatest influence?

I developed an interest in music at the age of 5. I grew up in a very musical home, my uncles were extremely jazz-influenced and soca was a staple in my home. I could remember hearing the likes of Mahalia Jackson and Nat King Cole in my grandparents' home and I knew about the fundamentals of Jazz before I was 8. Almost every weekend my mom and dad would have a dance with family members and friends over. They played records all night long, that was their idea of a fete, and fun was as simple as a gathering of people and good music. 

At the age 5, about 7 o'clock one morning after everyone had gone to bed, I grabbed the stereo and my hand got stuck in the A-track. It was then that I literally got stuck on music lol. This was really my first experience with music. My parents have always been supportive of my career decisions, but as you know our parents sometimes have more traditional roles in mind for us. By getting my degree and still pursuing my career as a deejay, I was able to compromise between fulfilling my calling and my parents' dream for me.

At around the age of 10-11 when I was in Trinidad some of pioneers in the deejaying arena were Dr Hyde, Teddy Mohammed, Brian Regis, and King Papa Rocky. These were the main foundation DJs when I was in primary school and I looked up to them. I didn't really aspire to be a DJ at that time but I always admired their skills. At that time I was into breakdancing, and was part of a rap group that performed on Party Time. 

Around the age of 14, I would spend my summer vacations in NY and every weekend I would diligently record and make tapes and bring them back to Trinidad with me. The DJs I followed, Marlie Marl and Red Alert, were mainly hip-hop oriented and this was the start of my fascination with the art of deejaying. 

I then studied under a DJ in Trinidad called Dr K and learned the basics of deejaying from him. After completing high school, I came up to the US and went to Kingsborough Community College and then to Brooklyn College. At Brooklyn College I started going to Caribbean parties and seeing the DJs in NY. These were the real catalysts in my choice to become a DJ. 


I remember standing in Tilden Hall one night and seeing King Chow, Mad Man Maddy and Sweet Needle Scobie and it was then that I decided that I wanted to be a DJ. Back then there were big fetes with just 3 DJs and no talking, just music. When I saw how these DJs had people in the palm of the hands simply by the music they played and without saying a word, I knew that was what I wanted to do. There was also the backyard party scene which was dominated by Supreme Team, Anonymous, and the Original GB productions. This was all in the early 1990’s. I would say that it was these DJs who had the most influence on me and made me say yes this is what I want to do. 

Luckily I happened to be in the right place at the right time. I got connected with Sound City, which was a Brooklyn sound system. Back then DJs had records and walked with their own sound systems. It was a perfect chemistry between myself and Sound City. As a team we dominated the Caribbean party market for about 11 years. We also pioneered doing things in the Caribbean market that had never been done before, we started using samplers and drum machines along with the DJ equipment. We also started venturing out of the NY area and played across the US and even Canada. We were part of the first group of NY DJs to play for a major band in Trinidad carnival, Barbarossa and did all of the major carnivals throughout US. Imagine we played in places like Los Angeles, Chicago, and Wyoming, places that you would never expect to have a Caribbean market. After about 11 years I decided to branch out on my own and chose the name Back to Basics and felt I wanted to take music back to basics, back to how it should be. 

At the end of the day, its not the name that makes the man but the man that makes the name. I realized that I could choose any name I wanted and make it a household name and brand it. I started using the name of Back to Basics at the end of 2000 and established the entity then. 

2. If you could play one genre of music all night long what would it be?

House music because I learned the art of deejaying with house music, that’s where I started back in college. I was a director with the music station at Brooklyn College. Soca was more of an underground phenomenon at that time and was not being played on the air over national radio stations. House music is my love, house, techno, rave, this is what I love. I decided though that I want to use my talent to promote my culture, so I represent by playing our music even though we as Trinidadian DJs tend to play a wide variety of music, that’s how we grew up.

3. Who is your favorite entertainer of all time?

Michael Jackson, he covers it all. I grew up on this man and the many different ways that he brings music to you. Even today we can still relate to his music. Yet for some reason his music grows with you, his music can capture a particular time period of your life. You can pick any song from him and recall a particular time in your life when that song was playing.

As far as our local artistes go, one of the pioneers of soca that I really admire is Super Blue. The way he could captivate and command a crowd back in the day was something to behold. Because I've seen how he has grown as an artiste and I've basically grown up with him, I'd have to say my favorite soca artiste is Machel Montano. I remember becoming a die-hard Machel fan when I was at a Steel Pulse concert and saw him performing with Panasonic express. This is when I was drawn to Machel’s talent and versatility. Nobody moves a crowd and does it best like Machel Montano. If I should decide to be on the other side of the fence as a patron his music and performance definitely moves me.

4. What would you say to a young person starting out who wants to pursue a career in deejaying?

Learn your craft well, love what you do, don’t do it for the wrong reasons or to be popular. Do it because you love it and you have a passion for it, do it because it draws you in. Be humble, and be open to taking suggestions, good and bad advice. Don’t play for yourself, play for the majority and learn your crowd because your crowd can change so learn how to read the crowd. It's not all about your skills, networking, humility, and personality go a long way, there are those who because of their humility would get ahead just because of their attitude.

5. What sets you apart from other DJs? What makes you successful?

Part of what I just said, again, being humble in spite of what I’ve accomplished. Being mindful of the fact that this can end any day. What I've learned is that I give my all regardless of where I am. The same way I play for 10 people is the same way I’d play for 1000. Both Rupee and Machel come to mind. I have seen them both perform with the same level of energy and enthusiasm in their performances regardless of how many fans were there. Being in touch with your fan base, every night will be different, feeling out your crowd and knowing who is there for you to play for. The minute you start playing for yourself or competing with other DJs, you are missing the point. I play for the people.

6. What's your favorite childhood memory?

Ha ha…I have so many…hmmmm….I'd say I had a great childhood and its hard for me to settle on just one memory.

7. If you could meet any person dead or alive who would it be and why?

I've always said that if there was anybody I would like to meet and I'm going way out there, I would love to sit down for a day, maybe even 2 or 3 and listen to Nelson Mandela tell me about his life. I saw how after having been imprisoned for so long and being under Apartheid law, he held no hatred and malice in his heart. I really admire that. He is a strong and truly admirable man, it would be an honor to meet him.

8. What's your greatest fear?

Failure. Believe it or not as successful as I have been in the past couple of years in terms of me doing events, I am always nervous about the outcome. Because of that fear I work harder at overcoming that fear and pushing for a successful event.

9. How do you spend your free time, if you do have any?

Very quietly. Quiet and peace are a rare luxury for me so I try to make the most of my quiet down time.

10. What legacy would you like to pass on to the future generation?

I would like it to be said that Back to Basics was one of the best DJs and that he made people happy whenever he played music. I want that when people hear me play, even if its for the couple of hours that they are in the party that my music can help transport them away from their worries and troubles. I want to be remembered as a good clean-hearted person that contributed nothing but positivity, and had a positive impact to people’s lives.

11. Boxers or briefs?

Both, depends on the mood and the level of sexiness.

Thank you so much to Back to Basics for taking the time to allow me and YOU to find out a bit more about yourself. I really enjoyed getting to know you and wish you continued success.

Why I started blogging...

 
To be quite honest, I really had no clue what blogging means, and I still really don't. Maybe I should look it up 

since if I call myself something, I should at least know what it means.

Last night someone asked me why I decided to start a blog. Now I don't know what a blog is but what I do 

know is why I want to blog. I've had people tell me I'm too overanalytical, I think too much, why can't I just 

relax and stop thinking so much. I thus concluded that thinking too much had to be a negative thing so I would 

bury myself in activities to calm my "overactive" mind. People who know me know I am always on the go, 

always here, there and everywhere, always up to something. Growing up I always had friends over, where I 

lived on Woodford Street was a hub mainly because of the accessibility of this location to Coconuts, Queens 

Park Savannah and the Stadium, all popular party and concert locations for teenagers in my hayday. I thought 

this would help me run away from my thoughts. I guess a line in Bob Marley's song "Running Away" has always 

stuck in my head "Yuh running and yuh running and yuh running away but yuh cah run away from yourself". 

That's the Trini dialect version lol. But seriously I always had something to do to keep my mind from thinking. 

So lo and behold my son moved back to Trinidad and now I have so much free time I don't know what to do 

with myself. I ran and ran but guess what my mind has finally caught up to me. There's only so far that a 

person can possibly run and not collapse in exhaustion. So after years of constantly being surrounded by 

people and activities, I was forced into a situation where I had no choice but to be alone. I realized that I was 

spinning top in mud as they put it. I had to figure out what my next move was going to be, how I would move 

forward from where I was stuck. 

As a parent, most times we neglect ourselves, our desires, our lives for the sake of our kids. This is what any 

good parent tends to do. But we also need nurturing so we can replenish ourselves and have the strength to 

give to our kids who are ever dependent on us for their survival and growth. 

That's what I had done for the past 3 years that I had been raising Ezekiel basically as a single parent because 

his dad and all of my family live in Trinidad. So now that he lives with his dad, I actually have time, something 

I had forgotten existed. I have had to make some tough decisions in my life, sending him to live with his dad 

being a major one, but that's a story for a whole other blog wink wink. 

The other tough choice I had to make which also coincided with his return home was to let go of the people 

and things in my life that were holding me back, that weren't allowing or rather encouraging me to grow and 

blossom. So I asked for the strength and clarity of mind in making the decisions that I always knew deep down 

inside I had to make. 

And the funny thing is once I made the decision it is as if a path cleared and all of a sudden opportunities 

came my way that I wouldn't have dreamed possible, my creative juices started flowing, I discovered what I 

enjoy doing, what I'm good at, what I believe is a part of my destiny and self actualization. 

Sometimes we need to let go of the old to make room for the new. Its impossible to cram the new into a space 

that is cluttered and crowded with the old. 

So I let go...and I opened my mind, heart and soul to ushering in the new. And it has been such a wonderful 

experience. The people I now choose to have in my life are all positive, uplifting, motivating, and add to the 

richness of my life. I am truly blessed to call them my friends. 

So back to the topic at hand, yes my mind is overthinking lol. In this world where there is so much negativity 

and things that get us down, I decided to use my blog as a way to talk about what is good, pure and positive 

in the world. So I choose to use this forum in addition to sharing insight into my mind, as a means to feature 

some of the people that I truly admire for their talent and strength of character. 

In this world where technology has begun to replace human interaction we now live as separate individuals 

rather than a race united by the common thread of humanity. My blog also seeks to show how much 

more we actually have in common with each other as human beings. 

Very often the interaction we have with people is so limited that we have many misconceptions about those around us. 

I know this from personal experience where I myself have been judged solely on bits and pieces of what people see 

of me. Through my " Up close and personal series ", I've been really getting to know people on a level that I would have 

never known had I not taken the time to find out about who they really are. 

And sometimes that's all we have to do, stop for a minute and just take the time to get to know and experience 

people below the surface and you will be pleasantly surprised at what you will find.