She’s one of those artists that always seems to come to mind when thinking about quality Belizean artists. With an outstanding voice, memorable image and great team behind her, Tanya Carter is releasing her first official album with intentions of carving her own place in the international music scene–watch out Rihanna–no, seriously.

So, when did you start your career?

Tanya: Probably at 16 years old. I started singing at events at places like Harbour View and Biltmore, so probably 16.

Can people make real money off singing in Belize?

Tanya: It can with the right marketing tool. Because I’ve made a lot of money off singing but there is sometimes when it’s stagnant and you make nothing and then there are other times when you could make a cool ten thousand dollars off singing depending on the time of the year. For example, in September is probably the highest point where you could probably, depending on who you are, make ten to five thousand dollars. Well yes, cause personally I’ve made a lot of money off singing in Belize.

Where does your inspiration come from to sing?

Tanya: Honestly, I don’t know. I’ve always liked it, from small and it’s just something that is like my getaway. So like for me not having to drink, I could just sing but if am not singing ah d drink (lol).

What are some of the challenges of being an artist in Belize?

Tanya:  Hmm…support, you don’t really have the support. Like yea you’ll have a lot of people posting on your facebook page and a lot of people will post on your myspace and you have 5000 friends and fans or whatever but when you need it, like especially in my genre, I have a lot of bougie fans that won’t turn out at anything quote on quote, “ghetto” because they are afraid they get shot. So then when the regular artist has their crowd that comes out and support them I am left alone with like 3 fans (lol). So it’s very hard because you don’t have the support; then when you are a female you get snubbed, like seriously.

 

So that’s the bad side, what’s the good side of singing in Belize?

Tanya: The positive side is that you get to show younger females that not just because you’re pretty you can’t make a change; that’s like one of my mottos because like you have it but you don’t have to use your body or do a lot of things to put you in a bad light. You can take your God given talent and use it to your advantage, along with your looks and become a positive role model. I mean, it might sound like a cliché but we have too many pretty girls in Belize giving away their body and doing a lot of silliness and I am showing them like we don’t have to go down this route. If you have brains then use your brains and your beauty, if you have arts and craft then use that; whatever it is you can use hand in hand with your beauty as your advantage.

So it’s an advantage to be pretty?

Tanya: It is, it is…it’s a blessing to be pretty.

Is this your first album?

Tanya: Yes, this is my first album but I have had promo cd’s and stuff like that before that were released in New York and L.A but this is my first album.

When is the release party?

Tanya: The Album release party is the 4^th of February at Thirsty Thursdays. Of course I will be performing there and in Placencia the following night, February 5^th, at my birthday party.

The name of the album?

Tanya: “Day Dreaming”

What are the singles like?

Tanya: I am actually releasing different singles on different radio stations. The two main ones are “Day Dreaming” and “What Does She Have Over Me?”I’m giving the people different flavours because “Day Dreaming” is Reggae with fusion of R&B; while “What does she have over me?” is a fusion of Reggaeton and a nice Soca vibes. I wanted everyone to get the idea that this isn’t a regular album, this is different and it has a lot of genres in there. But the video that I am going to do is for “Day Dreaming”.

Where can people buy your album?

Tanya: Well I am going to be teaming up with Venus, Tambran and Record Shack, those are the three places where my stuff will be for sale.

Which artists had a big influence on you?

Tanya: I am a very oldies type of person, so I listen to people like James Brown and Luther Vandross but I also love Jasmine Sullivan and Tesan Chinn even Alaine, nu mind how sometimes ih sound similar to me—sometimes am like errrrrr—but umm yeah a lot of different influences. Of course, Beyonce because you gravitate to people who sing like you and I also love Anita Baker and Shade, I think they are my ultimate favourites.

What are your future plans?

Tanya: To be bigger than Rihanna.

In terms of regional exposure, do you do a lot of international work?

Tanya: In the states, yes a lot. I get hired by the Belize Association in L.A and also in New York. They hire me almost every year to perform; which is really cool because you get to meet a lot of people and network.

Are you targeting the Caribbean market as well?

Tanya: To be honest with you, no because it’s like, I want to but I don’t want to put my eggs in one basket. I want to go where I will have mass distribution, basically I want to go where the bucks are because you won’t make any money in Jamaica and those places. When they make money they will make thirty thousand but I want to be in India, Europe and America where the market is millions and millions of people. So I am looking at mass distribution to help me get where I want to go. Because I know by doing that I will trickle right back down to the Caribbean.

What advice do you have for new singer?

Tanya: Get voice lessons, work with a band, and develop your air. I’m tired of hearing lacking stuff where you know the person has massive potential but Belize is not the place to be critiqued. Because usually people are offended when you tell them they need voice lessons, like how dare you? You’re jealous of me.

Anyone you want to shout out or thank?

Tanya: I just want to thank my team that has been behind me, they aren’t hired or anything. Like especially my mom, who has been my lawyer for some time and I can’t pay her; to my significant other, my family, my friends and supporters. I couldn’t come this far if I didn’t have them.

 

I had Ashanti in mind for the site for a while now (as she is also a model) but once I found out she was also an avid yoga student, it became a national emergency that we get together for a shoot and a comprehensive interview. So I found myself at the En-Lighten Up Yoga Studio, in downtown San Ignacio a couple weeks ago and it was an amazing and enlightening experience (see what I did there :)).   

So how old are you?

A.G: I’m 20 years old

What are you taking at Galen?

A.G: I’m a fourth year student majoring in Anthropology and doing a minor in archaeology.

What made you get into yoga?

A.G: Well I’ve always been interested in being fit, so from a very young age I was involved in numerous forms of dance like ballet, modern, and hip-hop; however, many of my teachers eventually stopped offering their classes for various reasons and pretty soon there was no one to turn to  express my love for dance. So when I heard that a yoga studio was opening up in San Ignacio, I decided to give it a try and after my first class in February of 2010…I fell in love with it.

So you went from dancing to being calmer? Do you find that you can still express yourself artistically through yoga?

A.G: Yes, many of the poses in yoga can be performed through a flowing movement called Vinyasana.

 

So how often do you yoga?

A.G: Currently I do it once every other day but the ideal is to actually do it every day, because yoga is actually a life-style, it is not something that simply ends after taking an hour-and-a-half class.

Do you have a favourite pose?

A.G: Ha, naw I can’t pick just one, there are a few that I really love like Eka Hasta Bhujasana, also known as Elephant’s trunk pose.
Do you ever try to invent your own poses in your spare time?

A.G: Before, no, but recently yes. 

lol

A.G: for example, while practicing different variations of headstands, I just ended up trying something that looked like scorpion pose in headstand

Wow okay sounds dangerous

A.G: Haha it’s not at all.

So what are some of the benefits you’ve found by doing yoga?

A.G: Wow, that’s a very long list

Give me 5

A.G: Basically, the benefits can be divided into three categories: spiritual, mental and physical benefits. Physical benefits include things like increased flexibility, strength, coordination, and balance. Mental benefit is increased or improved concentration. A spiritual benefit is feeling peace within yourself and that is why this practice is so satisfying because it does not only attend to the body, but also the mind and the soul: the three components of a person.

Awesome

A.G: You really don’t know until you give it a try.

So how does the average person, who is not flexible or has a background in dance, start yoga and receive the same kind of benefits?

A.G: One of the beautiful things about yoga is that anyone can try it because there are different levels for example, my instructor, Kate Devine, offers gentle yoga, intermediate yoga, and vigorous yoga so an ‘average’ person would likely take a gentle class.

A.G: And even if the individual cannot perform the poses, there are always variations which may be easier for him or her to perform, which allows the person to receive almost the same benefits as though he/she was doing the full pose.

Ok ,no handstands needed right?

A.G: Haha…definitely no handstands in a gentle class. 

What role does yoga currently play in your life?

A.G: It plays a big role in my life…it is a practice I do to firstly overcome my current physical limitations because in the art of yoga, a weak body equals a weak spirit…so this disciplne strives to allow its students to master their bodies so that they can have strong minds and strong spirits.

Has anything in your life improved as a direct result of yoga?

A.G: Definitely like I mentioned before, my consistent practice in yoga has increased my flexibility, strength, coordination, and balance; it gives me energy and improves my concentration abilities.

Okay

A.G: Regular ujai breathing practice has increased my lung capacity.

So what are your future plans for yoga?

A.G: I am definitely highly interested in becoming certified because I am truly in love with it and aspire to share this art with others in Belize. I had also tried to bring yoga to Galen and it looked very promising in the beginning but many people dropped out due to becoming busy with their studies. Nonetheless, I am thinking of trying to start a yoga club next semester at Galen because I have seen that the interest is there.

Do you think the average Belizeans have a mental block against yoga which may make them hesitant to actually try it?

A.G: Oh yes! There are many ‘barriers’ known as misconceptions about yoga that prevents them from even wanting to try it.

 What are some of these misconceptions?

A.G: Some of the biggest misconceptions is that many people think you have to be flexible to do yoga. That is so far from the truth, flexibility is not a pre-requisite. Other misconceptions is that some people think that yoga is only for women it is very wrong for men to feel that yoga is only for women, especially since this discipline was likely developed by men. 

What is your dream for yoga at Galen?

A.G: My dream for yoga at Galen is to have a consistent yoga club. One that introduces what yoga is all about so that more interest can be stimulated…and misconceptions are corrected; one whereby I can invite professional teachers like my instructor Kate Devine, to give a class or two every so often because as Patanjali said, yoga is 99% practice and 1% theory.

So do you have ambitions to have your own studio one day or will you stick to only the practice and not the teaching?

A.G: At this point, I’m not so sure about having my own studio, but I am sure about becoming certified because I am interested in teaching – to share the joy that yoga brings to my life with others

I wish you the best on that

A.G: Thank you for giving me this opportunity to share my experience with yoga

Anytime

For more information about how you can start yoga at En-Lighten Up Yoga Studio in San Ignacio contact Kate (the instructor) at 665-1972 or find her on Facebook

Jasfy Clothing just released a couple new pieces; here is the shoot for those pieces featuring Alleshia Pollard.

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