What is the temperature in Barbados right now?

 

Barbados is extremely hot. [Laughs] There are some torrential rain, but mostly hot.

 

You have been in the music business for some time.

 

I started in the music industry a couple of years ago. During this time, I competed in two of my country's national competitions.  It was in 2007 when I entered the Party Monarch Competition for the first time and placed 5th.  I linked with Lia Gajadhar my manager and Dwain Antrobus.  We put a plan together for Crop Over 2008, since then we have been constantly working.  We made tremendous progress over the last 6 months.

 

 

You first came to my attention from the song “Dis is Fete” with you and Blood Armstrong.  The second introduction was from Michelle K Williams who said Orlando, “you should check out this artist Tarah”.  How did Dis is Fete come about?

 

Some entertainers and myself were liming by Blood's house when he played this rhythm. I fell in love with it and suggested that we do a collab. The rest was history. Blood wrote and produced the track.

 

What about “Push back”, did you write that tune?

 

The irony about this song was that the intro "Push Back and roll" was written for "Dis is Fete".  Blood was to finish the song but he didn't, so one day the intro kept haunting me and I sat and composed the balance of the song.

 

How has Calypso influenced your Soca music?

 

Not much but I had to be very careful in the choices of songs I choose as when I was doing calypso, people labeled me a woman's activist as I sang most songs for the women. Now in soca,it is more my personality that is shown with a mixture of sexiness.  I ensure that my song choices go along with my personality and experiences.

 

What would be the difference between Soca and Calypso for those who do not know?

 

It is basically the same because you can speak on political issues, social issues; you can still speak about personal experiences in both genres of music.  Soca is more commercial, marketable and profitable than calypso. I have seen this done by the artist Gabby.

 

Do you find that when you are singing on a rhythm, you have a particular intension behind the music?

 

When I am performing to any song whether rhythm or otherwise the intention should be the same. That is, that people understand your message, that the marriage between your vocal and the music is correct and most importantly that interpretation of the lyrics is felt in the song.

 

You mention the stage. What would we expect from a Stage show from Tarah?

 

Explosive!

 

 

When you are on the stage what can the audience expect to see?

 

My audience is always captured by the outfits.You can go on myspace and see some of them.  [laughs]   When I step on the stage, the crowd erupts because of the outfit.  The visual captures the imagination first.  I try to dominate the stage.  It is complete energy, people tend to think that women are timid; compared to the men.  You only find a few females like Alison Hinds and Destra [Garcia] who take over the stage.  You can see the same thing from Tarah.  

 

 

The men are enjoying themselves, ehh’?

 

The men go home with a big smile on their face. [Laughs]

 

I bet they do! [Laughs] Let’s switch gears a little.  Where do you see yourself in the next ten years?

 

I would like to continue to produce great music and extend myself into pop and dance music as well.  I would like to feature regional and international acts.  Continue to promote Tarah as a Soca artist and become one of the leading female acts coming out of the region.

 

You have a really nice press package for an emerging artist.  Quite honestly, we do not see that a lot.  It says a lot about the way you present yourself through your package.  It seems like you have been doing this for years.

 

I know what you are saying because we did promotion in Trinidad in August and they were blown away by the press kit.  The producer from Europe said he could put it in the stores to sell as is.  We did a lot of reading, preparing, and research.  One thing we understood is that imagery sells.  You have not met Tarah, but at the end of the day, the marketing make people want Tarah for their show.

 

Let’s get in your business a little bit.  The men out there are looking at the pictures, packaging, and all dem tings, they coming to the stage shows.  What kind of man can approach Tarah? What will a man need to do to win Tarah’s heart?

 

Be yourself, you can tell when someone is putting on.  Being yourself mean more to me.  It has nothing to do with looks.

 

So, you are telling me if a man is trying to approach you and he is not looking right. That would be good with you?  [Laughs]

 

I mean that if a man trying too hard, that can be a turn off.  Just be a nice gentleman come over and introducing yourself. 

 

What is your favorite food in Barbados?

 

I love sweet potatoe pie.

 

If I want to go lime in Barbados, which beach would I go to lime?

 

Bathsheba.

 

When I come to visit Barbados what dish is a must have?

 

Flying fish and cou-cou, Macaroni pie.  Oistins is also a place to go to experience our local delicacies and village life.

 

What would people be really surprise to learn about Tarah?

 

  People send me message on myspace and I respond personally.  If I see you and you liming on the block, I will probably come lime on the block with you.  I also have a twin.

 

If someone wants to book you for a show, where will they need to contact you?

 

Email: tarahholdipp@gmail.com

Contact numbers: (246) 823-5186 or (246) 821-8983

 

 

Any thank you?

 

Lia Gajadhar, Dwain Antrobus, De Red Boyz, Selwyne Browne, my team, my family and most importantly, the Almighty.