Story and photos by Stan Bishop
When Teddyson John announced his decision to forego competing in this year’s Groovy and Party Monarch, the soca-loving fans he’s brought the good vibes to over the years breathed a sigh of disbelief. Not that TJ’s absence signaled any hint of retirement – far from it. But what fans lament is the fact that with TJ not competing this year takes away a certain vibe from the season.
To be fair, though, TJ had good reason for taking a break from the competitive side of things. In fact, the groove-master who won the first-ever Groovy Monarch title back in 2007 for “Coming Down De Road” has been busy putting music together for his new album, “Love Passion Music”. The album, TJ’s first, features seven tracks: “Land of Wine”, “Wine Up On Me”, “Out and Bad”, “Take Over”, “Sweet Soca Music”, “Oh Gyal”, and “Spread Love”. Six of the tracks are groovy soca, while “Spread Love” is a party soca song.
Despite adding another Groovy Monarch title to his trophy case last year with “Land of Wine”, TJ explained that it was time for him to take a break from it all and do something different. What he did has since turned out to be a promise for an annual event of its nature: a Love Passion Music concert.
I met up with TJ while he signed CDs at his July 4 concert at the Gaiety on Rodney Bay. Moments before the show began, TJ seemed overwhelmed at the love and passion the fans had shown for his music. He was also overwhelmed for another important reason.
“For me, this is a dream come true because I finally have a product,” TJ said, beaming with pride. “I finally have a product that I can put out there to show the true representation of myself: where I’m from and what I represent.”
TJ said the idea for the concert came about at a meeting his unit held recently to determine his preparation for the Carnival season. He explained that the thrust was to not limit his music to the national and competitive levels but, instead, take the music further, take it international.
The Love Passion Music concert featured Saint Lucian acts such as Toya, Mysterio, Superman HD, Ricky T, Alpha and Arthur. Also on the card that evening: Antiguan Tia Winter, and Barbadian Edwin Yearwood. TJ explained that the all-groovy music concert was a long time coming.
“I wanted to do what I know best, which is a groovy event where we can all come out and have a really great time,” he said. “And judging from the response of the fans, the Love Passion Music concert is going to be a staple on the Saint Lucia Carnival calendar. So it’s the start of something new. It’s the start of a movement. We’re talking about outreach programmes to the schools and so much more.”
According to the soca star, the Love Passion Music vibe will also be taken to New York, Miami and the other cities where TJ continues to blaze it up and have people getting on out and bad. And with the forcefulness in his voice, there seems to be no doubt that TJ is about to revolutionize in a big way the manner in which sweet soca music from Saint Lucia is treated overseas.
“I just don’t want people to look at us as if the kind of music that comes from here is not up to standard with what is international. I want to change people’s minds. So for me that’s what this movement is about. This is not just music -- it’s a movement,” TJ said.
And that movement was definitely evident last July 4 when Love Passion Music premiered to a packed Gaiety audience that seemed insatiable for the groove-master TJ himself and the other artistes who took to the stage. The love was there. So, too, was the passion. And the artistes sure did bring the sweet groovy music to the people.
The CD – “Love Passion Music” – is now available at Anthony’s Jewellery on Bridge Street and Baywalk Mall for $40. Get your copy today!
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