I've had an idea. People who know Montserrat will know it is full of theatrical, musical, literary, and entrepreneurial talent. Apart from climate and natural beauty, this is what attracts visitors to the island, but could this also be a cultural export? Now that I'm back in London, I'm back into my routine of going… Continue reading Montserrat: The Musical
Tag: Music
40 Years Ago: Yacht Rock Comes to Montserrat
After the big names in pop music had packed up and gone home, when synth-pop was just about to pass its peak, and before the guitar gods and metal bands found their way to Montserrat, we had Air Supply for a short time working on their self-titled eighth album. Despite originating in Australia, I'd probably… Continue reading 40 Years Ago: Yacht Rock Comes to Montserrat
40 Years Ago: Elton’s 3rd and Final visit to Montserrat.
Forty years ago, in December 1983 and January 1984, Elton John made his third and final trip to record at AIR studios in Montserrat. This was for the Breaking Hearts album, the follow-up to Two Low for Zero, recorded just over a year earlier. Elton liked the style of recording and writing that AIR facilitated,… Continue reading 40 Years Ago: Elton’s 3rd and Final visit to Montserrat.
The Calliope Crashed to the Ground: Under the Volcano – A Film Review
Sting Interviewed for the Under the Volcano in 2018 The producers managed to get all three members of the Police to appear in this documentary, along with Mark Knopfler, and Sir George Martin's family. It was a bit of a coup, and without these, it may not have been half the product that it turned… Continue reading The Calliope Crashed to the Ground: Under the Volcano – A Film Review
The Top 20 Singles Recorded in Montserrat
Here is the rundown of the top 20 singles recorded in Montserrat. I have previously written about the albums so this an obvious follow up, However, there is so much music in the world, and so much of it so good, that it is very difficult to do this subjectively. For the albums I looked… Continue reading The Top 20 Singles Recorded in Montserrat
The Best 1980s Albums Recorded in Montserrat
What is the best album ever recorded at Air Studios? And how do you decide? My opinion doesn't count for much, and I wouldn't impose my musical tastes on anyone. They are pretty mainstream, and whoever I like, I tend to like their earlier stuff better, which rules out a lot of Air Montserrat recordings.… Continue reading The Best 1980s Albums Recorded in Montserrat
I Have the Same Bike as Toyah and Robert Fripp
One of the pop stars from my youth that I have been following online during the pandemic has been Toyah, who puts on a short weekly show with her husband and prog-rock legend, Robert Fripp. Last week's song was Metallica's Enter the Sandman, performed on an exercise bike from her kitchen. I couldn't help notice… Continue reading I Have the Same Bike as Toyah and Robert Fripp
Montserrat’s Masquerade Dance
Masquerade is "a Caribbean cultural treasure created over 300+ years ago and performed on Caribbean islands like Montserrat, St Kitts & Nevis, Guadeloupe, and Bermuda. The Masquerade dance performed on these islands is related to Jamaican Jonkonnu and Bahamian Junkanoo and combines steps from European ballroom with folk dance initially performed in sub-Saharan Africa." From… Continue reading Montserrat’s Masquerade Dance
Air Studios Montserrat – Two Page Article from “The Sun” (1981)
The article, written by Nina Mysckow, around August 1981 at a guess, opens with: "The Caribbean island of Montserrat is the new centre of the rock business right now. Suddenly a tiny dot on the map has become the hottest recording spot in the pop world. And Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder and Police will soon… Continue reading Air Studios Montserrat – Two Page Article from “The Sun” (1981)
Coming Soon? – The AIR Studios Musical Heritage Tour
Of Montserrat’s various tourism plans, policies and strategies (I’ve seen reference to five in the past three years, but have only tracked down three) the most deliverable seems to be the one contained in the Mott MacDonald Economic Growth Strategy. This talks about better access and marketing, supporting a niche of repeating and long-staying visitors,… Continue reading Coming Soon? – The AIR Studios Musical Heritage Tour
The Beatles, Ragga and Eloise Lynch
No, the Beatles did not record at AIR Studio, but last week I read for the third time that they did. We can probably overlook the error on this occasion as it was made by a journalist for the Daily Telegraph, and I can see how the mistake is made. Sir George Martin had a… Continue reading The Beatles, Ragga and Eloise Lynch
Founding the Montserrat National Youth Choir
In May 2013, Loni Howe, who works for the Department of Youth Affairs, approached me with the idea of starting a National Youth Choir. She had recently been wowed by a performance by the National Youth Choir of Antigua and Barbuda where they sang some modern popular songs. She felt that Montserrat could and should have something similar, something dynamic modern and fresh, a choir that young people would be excited and proud to be a part of.
Loni had the vision but not the musical experience, which is where I came in. Also on board was Jo-Annah Richards who completes our team. We decided that the choir would be exposed to as many different musical genres as possible, which couldinclude but certainly notbe limitedto the traditional religious and folk/traditional music conventionally performed by choirs in Montserrat.
In Montserrat, the term ‘Youth’ refers to anyone aged between 16 and 30…
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