Pink Pen produces Crop Over music with ‘global appeal’

Nine soca songs produced by the Pink Pen Project are set to hit the airwaves this Crop Over season. 

The initiative is a collaboration between the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) and songwriting guru Shana Hinds, the mastermind behind Pull De Trigga Records. Working with a team of primarily women, the Pink Pen Project is the realisation of a goal to conduct a female-centric workshop set by Hinds on her vision board.

Pink was the theme for the evening, and that hue illuminated the Queen’s Park Gallery Terrace, as specially invited guests were treated to a preview of the songs during a listening party on Wednesday. The featured participants drawn from a series of developmental programmes hosted by the NCF are reigning Junior Monarch Tae, Asanta, Yahandje, Miracle, Summa, Kereesa, Shanta Rhea Layne, and Reniece Bonnet. 

Elated with the outcome, Hinds told the singers, “I love all of the songs. I watched all of you all come from blank paper to a production.”

Senior Business Development Officer at the NCF, Andre Hoyte believes the music will have global appeal. He said the NCF wanted to see an increase in female
writers, producers, and artistes in Barbados’ festival music scene.

Working together has created a camaraderie among the group. As each track was introduced, the performers cheered each other on with obvious excitement. Those attending the launch party were in for an extra treat with the launch of a new track by the Soca Queen herself, Alison Hinds, who acted as a mentor for the artistes. 

She said, “I feel very humbled to have been asked to be a part of this because I have been in this business for so long. It is almost 40 years that I have been doing what I have been doing.

“I didn’t have anyone to really guide me in terms of being a woman in the business.” 

Speaking on her involvement in this project, Hinds said, “This is something that is very near and dear to my heart, which is the development, not only of artistes in general, but in particular female artistes because our female artistes are not seen as much as they should be.”

Pledging continued assistance, the veteran singer said: “I have to make sure that the woman coming up after me that they are strong, that they are dedicated, that they are disciplined. I can’t wait to see the development of each of these young ladies that are a part of this project and to see the women or the young ladies that will also be coming along after them.”

Praising the programme, participant Shanta Prince acknowledged the relationships that have been forged. 

“For those I didn’t know before, I enjoyed seeing your thought process, I enjoyed knowing the plans that you have for yourself. It made me swell with pride just seeing the possibilities,” she said.

Planned promotion of the music from the Pink Pen Project include a radio tour to familiarise the public with the artiste’s sweet tunes. (STT)