Entertainers reflect on busy Crop Over season

As Crop Over reached its climax on Monday, entertainers were reflecting on a busy, vibrant season marked by hard work and cultural pride.

Shane Stiffy Atkinson revealed to Barbados TODAY that while he stayed out of the spotlight this year, he remained deeply involved in the festival.

“We still working, we still here, we’re still producing music,” he said. “This year, I’ve been doing more behind the scenes in terms of working . . . so there are a couple of bands that I actually do liaison work with and performing with, so Vida By Esquire is one. So we are really working with them and just learning the ins and outs of the cultural side of it, with the bands and stuff, but the music is still there.”

He explained that his role in the industry extends beyond performing: “Sometimes it’s not always good to be in the spotlight, I have been there, I know what it feels like . . . .

“You have to learn the culture, how bands work, how they come together, so music is just one outlet of just getting people ready for the season. I am still amazed at the fact at how these people get all these costumes done, all this production on the road. It’s amazing to me so I want to learn it fully, so the music is still there but we are doing a hands-on approach to it, not just the music, it’s . . . producing, promoting and watching the season come to life.”

For popular entertainer Michael Mikey Mercer, the season was rewarding. He expressed gratitude for the opportunities and the positive response from fans. 

“It’s been awesome—a very, very busy season, very very thankful, a lot of work, song doing well . . . . We are just pushing the culture, pushing the music each time,” he told Barbados TODAY.

“This year has been a lot of high energy. It started off a little slow but coming on to the end, it picked up.” 

Mikey also urged support for local talent, saying, “We got to push Barbados. A lot of eyes are on us; just make sure the same fire that you put behind the foreign acts you put behind the Barbadian acts and Barbados music. Let us push it outside.”

Hypasounds, whose real name is Damian Etienne, also spoke positively of the season, especially the reception to his recent releases.

“The season has been great, I produced some of the sweetest songs . . . and we just out there . . . and just enjoying the vibe,” he said.

Looking ahead, he teased fans with a promise for next year: “Look forward to next year, Soca for Her — the Hypasounds Concert. You [Barbados TODAY] heard it first.” (FW)