BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – MENTAL determination and physical fitness are two focal points for the young and upcoming national artiste, Charles Emanuel - affectionately known as ‘Charlie’, as he prepares to make 2013 a successful journey and a springboard to international fame.
The 22-year-old is currently working steadfastly on the official release of his mixtape called ‘Invincible’, which is scheduled to take place next Thursday (Jan 31) during Island Xpressions’ monthly event at Ma Pau, located at Port Zante, St. Kitts.
Emanuel, during his live performance, will be backed by the Limitless LP Band.
The date for the ‘Invincible’ album, his first, would be announced on that night.
Seating for the event is 8:00 p.m. with a $20 admission fee, and showtime kicks off at 8: 30 p.m.
In an exclusive interview with SKNVibes, Emanuel revealed that he has been busy with rehearsals, promotions and gym-work, and that the official album would be released in February this year.
The six original tracks on the mixtape are: ‘Invincible’; ‘Without You’, featuring Dagah; ‘Pardise’; ‘One Night Whine’; ‘Start Anew’; and ‘Better Days’.
The recording and mixing were done by Chief Executive Officer and owner of SKN Entertainment, Kelvin ‘DJ Kellz’ Christopher.
His first single, the title track ‘Invincible’, was released on Freedom FM in November 2012.
Emanuel was featured on Dagah’s ‘We Will Rise Again’ album, which was released in September 2012 and he noted it as an “amazing” experience.
He said ‘Start Anew’ is the only ballad on the mix-tape and that the others are “radio friendly Hip Hop, island soul kind of vibes.”
Emanuel revealed that he is really excited for people to hear his ‘One Night Whine’.
“It’s going to be funny to see people’s reaction to that,” he added.
In his explanation of what the song ‘Invincible’ means, Emanuel said, “It’s overcoming, strength and standing up for what you believe in. Just trying something new, because that’s what is was for me…and being strong and not being afraid of what people have to say.”
It is only fitting that this artiste will take to the stage in the Island Xpressions’ setting which he considers “home.” He first performed at Island Xpression back in 2009 when he sang ‘For All We Know’ by Donnie Hathaway, acapella-style.
Island Xpressions, which will celebrate its fifth anniversary in March, is a forum that allows artistes, such as singers, musicians and poets, to publicly showcase their talent free of charge.
This media house asked Emanuel why he chose to release his mixtape in such a way and the artiste revealed that he got the idea after watching an episode of VH1’s Storytellers, which featured the popular North American artiste, P!nk.
“P!nk had a new album coming out and she was basically previewing the new stuff before the album came out, and I was like, ‘That’s a good idea to get the stuff out live then officially announce the release date later.’”
Upon birth of the idea, Emanuel approached President of Island Xpressions Samal Duggins and the two of them began working out the details to plan the event.
Duggins pointed out that the mix-tape release is also “to promote his music video as well and a documentary date on the making of the album itself. So the idea for him to perform the songs live is to produce that documentary where he talks about the album. And we’re going to do videos from the studio where he will inform about his journey in getting to this stage”.
“Because, make no mistake about it, it’s a struggle and the title of the album defines that invincibility…overcoming a struggle. I think that it is a nice message to put for people to see that music is not just fun and entertainment; it’s a lot more to it. And when you see the struggles in the studio, when you hear about financial issues and the difficulty in paying for this and paying for that, but at the end of the day they see a successful product, then they should get a better understanding that it is something that takes a lot of work but is something that if you’re passionate about it then you’ll definitely succeed. That in itself makes you invincible,” Duggins explained.
Asked how he feels about the upcoming event, Emanuel stated that many people had asked him that question and he always responded in the positive.
“I’m ready. I’m a performer, so that part is (set). The whole thing is getting ready for people’s reaction or criticisms, because the music is not what people are really accustomed to hearing from me - especially from Island Xpressions. I wouldn't say it’s not what I do, because I don’t want to put a limit-specific genre.
“They’re more accustomed to me with my guitar in hand, standing up…acoustic performances; but this is just another level for me.”
Emanuel informed that he would not include Alicia, the name that he gave to his acoustic guitar, on the night of the mix-tape release.
For the young man, P!NK is his all-time favourite artiste, who noted that “I have a thing for women who say what they have to say, no matter what”.
He also admires Jill Scott and B Slade.
And on the national scene, “As cliché as it is, my biggest super hero in the industry is Konris. Not because he has been winning for quite some time, but just because I know Konris and I see him in the studio. I think he is the definition of perfectionist. He knows what he wants and I think that is something that I want to be like in the industry, in the studio…everything.”
Emanuel, who was noticeably sore from working out at the gym, talked about his progress and how exercising lends to his drive as a performer.
“Oh God! Yesterday was my second day. I’m supposed to go in today. We did legs yesterday, which are killing me. That in itself is a part of the whole mixtape, to be honest; preparing myself mentally, physically for performances, the videos that I have planned. So I’ve got to push myself to do it because I had joined the gym so many times in the past and nothing really came out of it, but this time I have to be dead serious…I want everything to be right with me.”
He was asked what he would have liked accomplished at the end of the year.
“Having this being seen as one of the most successful stuff being put out here (in St. Kitts/Nevis),” he said. “Doing new things that haven’t been done; that’s a next thing because the things that I have planned for videos and releases and other stuff, I don’t think any other artiste - I don’t know if they plan to - but it has never been done. So I plan to change up the game a little bit.”
Looking even further into the future, Emmanuel declared that he intends to become an internationally recognised artiste “performing all over the place”.
“Charlie and Charles Emanuel are two different people. Charles Emanuel is the person who wants to get out. Everybody knows Charlie from Kittitian Superstar, Kittitian Idol, back up singing…that’s Charlie. Charles Emanuel is trying to go somewhere else and that’s the way I want to go. I want to get out of being here and being overlooked, in my opinion, and get to bigger stuff,” he remarked.
He also talked about the unwavering support he gets from his mother, Francine Miller, whom he describes as his “go to critic at all time”.
He added: “That’s how it supposed to be. She is the one who brought me into this and reared me up into this (world of music), because she has a big musical background. So family is a big factor in it for me.”
When asked about the support from the public, the young artiste said: “It’s really good! People have been messaging me on my fan page. It’s really hard for people to give me these compliments like, ‘Oh my God you’re amazing.’ And I just have this thing where I think thank you is not enough. So, I don’t know if it’s bad, but I like to avoid these ‘you’re amazing’ comments because they make me feel like, ‘How do I accept it.’ Because I feel like thank you is not enough, but the support is really, really good.”
A few lucky individuals who confirm attendance for the FaceBook invitation to attend the event and show up on that night are eligible to receive six free cupcakes from Flavours by Delano, compliments Charles Emanuel.
Great appreciation was extended to the management of Ma Pau, where Island Xpressions has been hosted for the past three and half years.
Duggins revealed that Ma Pau has put together a tasty $20 menu, exclusive for the monthly events.
