From Karene Asche to Duane Ta’zyah O’Connor, Calypso Monarchs seem to be getting younger and younger. It signals a paradigm shift in the industry. Ta’zyah, the 20-year-old son of former Calypso Monarch Duane O’Connor, was crowned the TUCO National Calypso Monarch in 2023. In 2011, at 27, Asche won the title and the art form’s record-breaking $2 million first prize. This year, Naomi Sinnette was crowned Calypso Queen at 20.
In an art form that some people feel is dying, these young people have emerged as the faces of modern calypso music. In a conversation with the Sunday Guardian last week, Ta’zyah O’Connor said: “Calypso is my first love. The telling of a story in calypso, I think it’s far different from any other genre and I think that captivated me from a very young age.”
Last year, the young bard won the judges’ hearts with his nation-building song, Sing Hallelujah.
However, when asked why more young people might not be interested in calypso music as opposed to other genres such as dance hall, reggae and soca, he replied: “A lot of young people aren’t very interested and there’s a reason. You can’t be interested in something you’re not exposed to.” Read More
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