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.

 

So where exactly are you from?

M.N: Belmopan.

How long have you been designing?

M.N: I started around 2007 but I started out sewing my own clothes for a whole year, so I basically practiced on myself.

So how did your clothing line come about?

M.N: Well first I didn’t really plan on sewing for people, I was just doing things for myself like blouses and stuff but I saw it looked nice and people were always complementing me on my stuff, so it kind of inspired me to take it further. Then I started customizing things for my friends, of course, at this time I didn’t have a sewing machine or anything, so everything was by hand. It was a lot of work but I knew it wasn’t impossible—I mean, I don’t think anything is impossible—eventually I started learning patterns and measurements. Then some friends from Plus TV had an Art show at the George Price Center and they encouraged me to include my work. A lot of people from Belmopan and Belize City were there and the feedback was good.

M.N: After that, I got into my first fashion show in Belmopan, and that was the first time I was actually making clothes for people I didn’t know. I had to be measuring models and didn’t know how to do that but I guessed and it came out correct and everything fitted perfect. At that show people saw my stuff and liked it and started to order pieces and I still get orders from some of those clients from that first show.

What are some of the challenges of being a designer?

M.N: Well first, your main competition is the boutiques because they have the name brand stuff. But people were commenting on my pieces and saying it was the same quality as something in M&M’s; so that was when I really saw an opportunity, like ok I could do this. So I started doing things that you wouldn’t see here, I mean I went overboard, above and beyond and when people saw it they couldn’t believe it was something I did.

What are the positives of being a designer?

M.N: Well I notice like after people see what you’re trying to do and see your potential they really try to help you with exposure. For example, I’ve been invited to go to the “Caribbean Fashion Week” in Jamaica; but it is like $4000 dollars just to register, we aren’t talking about transportation and hospitality yet.

How would you describe the style you try to reflect in your work?

I stay current with the fashion world; I get inspired from designs I see in Paris or America that aren’t in Belize yet. So it’s a very fashion forward style.

Where does the inspiration come from for your work?

M.N: It’s kind of a long story but I will try to shorten it. When I was in high school I took sewing but it was like curtains and stuff and I hated it back then because the teachers just kept you in a box and you couldn’t express yourself. After I graduated from high school, I got a job and that didn’t work out. I wasn’t happy sitting in an office in front of a computer; the most I lasted on a job was five days. When they gave me my pay I said “no kip it, I don’t want it” because I was frustrated with the situation whereby people think just because you work for them they are better than you.

M.N: So after all that I was going to church and I found myself asking God what did he want from me? Like what’s going happen with my life? I mean, so many young people have no idea what they want in life and I was one of them, which is sad. Everyone was like I’m lazy and don’t want anything, so that brought me down; like I was wondering if something wrong with me. But then out of nowhere I came back to sewing and I was doing things that I had no previous training for, so I basically feel like God showed me the way; hence, the name of my line is “His Glory” because it wasn’t me that created this gift it was him that gave it to me.

How does your business work? How can someone contact you to get something done?

M.N: Well right now what you need to do is contact me, people usually find me on facebook, under Maureen Navarrete, because I post my clothes often. The process is that you tell me what you want, I take your measurements, give you my prices and then a customer would have to put a down payment. From there I tell you which cloth to buy and how much and then when you get that to me, I sew it for you. A benefit of that for the customer is that I am only charging you for the sewing, so it works out cheaper. Plus, you still get my personal designing touch.

M.N: But right now, I have enough resources to finally make my line; so that is what I am currently working on. Because usually I just sewed what people want but now I will actually be able to be creative and do things that I want to do. So starting this year people will actually be able to purchase finished pieces in select stores. However, I will still be doing orders for everyone.

Any idea on the price range yet? And what will it include?

M.N: The price range for it will still be cheaper than high end boutiques. The line will include dresses, bags, blouses and skirts.

How many boutiques do you plan to be in and who are they?

M.N: I am not sure how many boutiques I will be in, that is if any; because boutiques tend to support the name brands more. I am going to be focused in mostly resorts.

Why do you think there is reluctance to support local designers?

M.N: I think they would support you if your company gets large, maybe even international. But it shouldn’t be like that; they should be the ones to support you now when you are small and help you grow.

Do you have any advice for new designers?

M.N: When you start out remember you started from scratch. Remember when you didn’t have it. And no matter what, people will try to bring you down, so you have to stay strong.  You also have to be dedicated because to wake up at 6 a.m. in the morning and go until 3 a.m. the next morning, all for one dress is work, so you have to be dedicated.

What do you see for yourself and your work 5 years in the future?

M.N: My future…I see myself owning a clothing company, doing great work and providing jobs for people. I know so much people have the talent but they just don’t have the means to express themselves properly. I see a lot of people working who just don’t want to let go of that job to do what they really want to do or what they were called to do.

Anyone you would like to thank?

M.N: First, I have to thank God for taking me so far. I’d also like to thank my family, friends and everyone that supported me and lifted me up when things were hard, helping me to be persistent.

Look out for the latest BZ HypeMeter.com exclusive interview this weekend on fashion designer from Belmopan, Maureen Navarrete.

 

In the mean time, here is another hot track (“Whats My Name-Loving You Mix”) from MC Melo’s “Late Assignment Mixtape”…..for those who still (for some unknown reason) haven’t downloaded his mixtape yet.

I remember my infant days as the son of a dj. Sitting on record crates and peaking at the latest Byron Lee vinyl art (you 80’s kids know what I mean). Then there were the days of side-A and side-B—yeah the cassette—that’s where I first tried my hands at being a Disc Jockey. Then CD’s came and was the pinnacle of my DJ skills, so when those left I kind of never got accustomed to the virtual dj; maybe as protest. Either way, virtual Dj is here now and with it, the population of Dj’s have grown. And as a result, as DJ BUDDY will explain, the DJ market is highly competitive. But even though the music, market and the way the music is delivered may have changed; the grind and feeling it brings, remains the same—DJ BUDDY talks about being part of the new breathe of Belizean DJ’s.

How old are you?

DJ Buddy: 21.

When did you start to Disc Jockey?

 DJ Buddy: Professionally, I started when I was 19, that‘s when I started radio; but I been playing from when I was 16.

Okay, what were the early days like?

DJ Buddy: Difficult in a way because I didn’t really have anyone to teach me much. I just followed my cousin around because he was older and already had a system, so I learnt in spare time. At first my family looked at it as a hobby, they still do.

Where can people find you working now?

DJ Buddy: Vibes radio 90.5, 102.9 also streaming on http://www.stickam.com/belizeheat.

Do you do a lot of parties and clubs?

DJ Buddy: More parties than clubs. The club scene is more dominated by the older DJ’s. They don’t allow younger dj’s on the scene and the club makes it difficult for younger dj’s to arrange events.

Difficult? How so?

DJ Buddy: Well primarily the cost of renting a place to have an event. So as usual any dj goes to sponsors to fund events but sponsors think twice about supporting someone new compared to someone established. How someone new would get a name, is that they would lock unto an established sound and get a name but I don’t like that. I prefer to work with my group now and we get our own name established, without having to say we depended on anyone.

So who is your group?

DJ Buddy: It’s called Encore Sounds, it consist of me, Selecta Cliff and Selecta Orson. We are the founding members and recently, DJ Junior was added.

So how is the Belizean DJ scene right now? Sounds really competitive

DJ Buddy: Yes it is, especially with the addition of the fact that Virtual DJ is very easy to learn and allows anyone to practice.

So the challenges are obvious but what are some of the positives?

DJ Buddy: Well you get to travel and meet new people. Plus, you do something you enjoy and once you are with the right group you make money.

(lol) Okay. So what is one of your best memories being a DJ?

DJ Buddy: Well when you really just feel the vibe from the crowd, especially when you mixing and you control the crowd to the max. Like if during your segment you say “everybody scream” and the whole crowd reacts.

Must be an adrenalin rush.

DJ Buddy: Not anyone can do it.

Where are some of the places you enjoy playing at the most?

DJ Buddy: That’s hard to say because club and radio are completely different. It depends on the mood. I don’t really like parties because what’s common at parties is that you are part of the crowd and everyone likes to come and ask for a certain genre of music, so it’s hard to flow trying to satisfy everyone. But at the club you are apart from the crowd and you can really do what you do best and actually see them react to the music.

DJ Buddy: Whilst at radio, there are very strict guidelines; especially at my station, on what to play and how to play but I like radio because I pride myself on being what I call a ‘variety dj’. I cater to different genres of people instead of just young people.

What are you listening to personally right now?

DJ Buddy: I would say a little bit of everything.

Any particular artists you like?

DJ Buddy: I would say Bob Marley.

So what current projects are you working on?

DJ Buddy: Well at the station, I’m working on establishing a top 10 countdown every week and also working on our own website to stream through. Outside of the station, I am working on doing a dance end of the month but at village. Village dances, once promoted well, will make you money unlike in the City where there is too much competition

Which village were you planning on?

DJ Buddy: Well the next village in mind is Boom.

Where do you see yourself in the next 3 years in terms of being a Disc Jockey?

DJ Buddy: Hopefully I wish to enter the Green Synergy DJ Competition, do a good job and win.

What’s that?

DJ Buddy: That’s the DJ competition for the Caribbean, where the best from all over Belize have to go against each other and then the winner represents Belize.

Anyone you want to thank or shout out?

DJ Buddy: Well vibes radio on a whole, we had our issues but I am still grateful; especially Mr. Gerald Garbutt, he was the first general manager who hooked me up and my family.

Remember when boxing was the dominant sport in Belize? Not really? Okay, you’re not alone; but the sport is making its resurgence in the Belizean sporting arena. Check in at bzhypemeter.com as we dissect the boxing history, assess its current position and interview prominent figures in boxing including directors, managers and boxers all in one in depth report coming really soon.