BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – AFTER a number of successful performances in New York and one in St. Thomas during their 17-day absence from Nevis, members of the Odisi Band returned to the island on Sunday, September 20.
It was the first time that a band from Nevis was given the opportunity to demonstrate to ‘Yorkers’ the way they party, as members of the Odisi Band are still celebrating their success in capturing the Culturama Road March title with their hit album ‘A So We Party’.
According to Cory ‘Masablue’ Tyson, the band’s sound engineer and member of the management team, while living in New York for some 12 years, he had always envied Kittitians who are well represented musically, and that being there with the band for the first time made him feel good inside.
“It was good for the band to get out there and get the experience,” he said. “I know for a fact that they learned a great deal, both professionally and personally. You will definitely see some major improvements in the band over the next couple of weeks and months.”
He said that their New York gigs have definitely solidified the band's confidence that the music they produce is good enough to take them out of Nevis and also give them a boost to keep on going and to build on what they have.
“It was good to represent Nevis and to have Nevis represented over the Labour Day Weekend celebrations,” he said.
Their first gig was on September 4 with Fevah Band that featured Steve ‘Steba’ Dublin of D’vybz Band.
On Saturday, September 5, the band played for the annual Nevis Dance, which had a great turnout and possibly the largest attendance to date. The dance has been around for over 20 years.
Tyson believes that the large turnout was as a result of the fact that it was the first time for a Nevis Band playing in New York.
“Nevisians in NY seemed very proud of us making it there, and it felt good,” he said.
On September 11 they performed with BQE Band out of New York at Wembley Club, and on the following day they provided music for a Barbeque sponsored by a group called Nevisians for Nevis.
The band’s final New York gig was on September 18 when the band performed again with BQE Band at the legendary Cholo Bakery, where the rain was unable to stop the good vibes. It was well-attended.
The band left New York on September 19 and journeyed to St. Thomas for a gig later in the evening with Jam Band.
Asked what is next for the band, Tyson said they would like to make an impact during National Carnival in St. Kitts.
“We’re toying with the idea of trying to hit SK Carnival real hard. We have plans for a Nevis troupe, something similar to what Ronnie Rascal does with extreme for Culturama. Maybe you may even see a carnival album from Odisi, ‘More Sweetness’ or ‘Still Partying’,” he said.
He also said that they have been invited for two overseas gigs in December, one in St. Thomas and the other in New York.
Tyson declared that the trip was a success for the band, as it gave them more confidence, more topics to write about and a better understanding of what local and overseas fans want.
With a style second to none, the Odisi Band was formed in 2002 with a group of young men from the Brick Kiln area in Nevis.
‘The Journey Begins’ was the band’s debut album that officially catapulted them onto the St. Kitts/Nevis music scene in 2003.
Their first Road March win was in 2006 when the band sealed the deal with ‘Can't Do It Like We’ from their fourth album, ‘Do It Like We’.
“The style is definitely of a SKN flavor with the deliverance of some of the Trinidadian, Jamaican and USA's great artistes. We try to be as original as possible without going way to the left or right,” Tyson said.
“If you listen to our music, you would hear the familiarity to what you would hear in the Federation. However, you would know its Odisi because we have our own identity and unique sound, flow and vibe,” he added.
Tyson said that before joining the band he was a fan for a number of years.
“Well, I was always a fan. I thought the guys had potential from jump and I used to help out as much as I could if I was home early enough for Culturama,” he said. “And after moving back home, I expressed my interest in joining the team and made it official last year.”
