Leader of local band Fanatik, Cornell Phillip, is expressing disappointment that Dominica was not represented at the recently held Carifesta celebrations in Suriname.
The band attended the event as back up for upcoming artistes from across the region and played alongside well-known stars such as Dwayne Stephenson but there was no official contingent from Dominica.
“Our names were not mentioned, our flags were not flown at any of the events and it was a shame,” Phillip told DNO.
He is of the opinion that Dominica should be represented everytime the event is held. “Dominica did not send any contingent down there. I believe that Dominica should send a representative to every Carifesta,” he said. “It is held every two years and that is an opportunity. We went down there and we were not part of Carifesta. The event is sponsored by CARICOM and CARICOM also sponsored the showcase of the upcoming artistes.”
He pointed out that although the group was not representing Dominica, the experience was unforgotteble.
“There were groups of upcoming artistes from Belize, Trinidad, Guyana, Barbados and other Caribbean islands who were brought to perform in Surinam. They also brought scouts from the United States and Europe to look at these up and coming artistes. Fanatik’s responsibility was to ensure that the musical accompaniment was taken care of,” he stated.
Phillip said that Fanatik backed up upcoming artistes such as Adrian Jacharan from Trinidad, Chocolate from Trinidad, Kelly from St Vincent, TC from St. Lucia at the event which took place from August 16th to August 25th.
Upcoming Dominican artiste Mel C, was also part of the line-up, Phillip said.
“Carifesta is actually the coming together of all the Caribbean islands and showcasing the talents of all the island. I have attended in the past with Ophelia, Michelle and when we went there, we represented Dominica and we had to do our performances,” he noted.
Meantime Phillip is lamenting the fact that Fanatik has not been given an opportunity to perform at the World Creole Music Festival despite the strides being made locally and abroad.
“I think we have paid our dues for us to be a main act such as the World Creole Music Festival and after five years we have not seen that I must say that we are very disappointed,” he said. “I believe in time our turn will come but I believe that we have done all that we can do and another year is coming again and we are not on the Creole Festival. That is disappointing.”
He said that the band has been contacted in the past to play back up for artistes at the festival but has never been given the opportunity to actually perform.
I think the authority in charge of culture and tourism also thoes who are always out there saying they promoting Dominica,should come out and agree that they drop the ball on this one,and hope to do better next time,
Cornell’s statement is a valid and positive one,which should help you guys in the business of promoting Dominica to do your home work.
thoes who say here that Fanatik is not ready,if they not ready,why would they be selected to back up artist from other countries.It is typical of Dominicans to put down there own as excuse.
Fanatik is a band that is versatile enough and have material to be on this show.You people just don’t want to face up and do the right thing.
Big Up Yourself Cornell,You have and still doing great things for Dominican Music.when they want free contribution they will call you.Seems that the trend in Dominica,every thing LOCAL is second class.
Personally Fanatik is a great band but not creole fest worthy.De gyal can dance but that’s about it.I saw them perform in newyork and it was pure trash.When musicians have a good thing going they let swell heads take over and think they can branch out aand make it on their own.Here’s living proof it doesn’t pan out right all the time.They would be great to listen too at food court though after a couple wabios (rum) and a chicken leg..
WHO IS THE MINISTER OF CULTURE?
I stand corrected. But of those 15 songs, how many of them are widely known by the Dominican public? How many of them can be considered hits locally?
You are right… I completely forgot about their album from a few years back. But that lends a little weight to my point – they have work to do as far as creating a repertoire of well known original songs.
Compare the band’s history with that of other main stage acts for WCMF. The headlining artists are, without a doubt, international stars. The other main stage acts are either highly sought after groups in their own countries or they have a long history of music behind them.
Fanatik is a very capable band. And hats off to them for being the most versatile band in Dominica right now. But WCMF isn’t about displaying your versatility as a band – it’s about showcasing what makes you unique as a performer.
i guess DDA and his staff was not aware they so have nothing to do in that office All that man is thinking is where next to send a staff member to promote Dominica and again promote my foot
the labour lead government is too busy mixing politics in nation building, too busy trying to put money in pockets of one set and too busy building this country as a police state to looking into promoting dominica’s culture overseas where it does not directly benefit their pockets, and am saying this as a citizen of Dominica, not associating myself to no political party,
Fanatik has a full album that was releaced a few years ago. People may not know of the album because the band did not produce what the dominican public likes (lyrics-wise). It is mainly a bouyon album but that lyrics make sense.
In dominica i believe that we have to beg too much as artists and musicians, even for what is ours. Fanatik will never die and the band will keep doing what it has to do…EVEN IF IS OUTSIDE OF DOMINICA…….KEEP THAT HEAD UP CORNELL…..!!!!!
so because they have a “full album” which they released A FEW YEARS AGO… thy shud be on the line up? bull! Our musical “Artists” need to stay current and although Fanatik is one of the better bands out… they lack consistency. Who is their lead singer? Fanatik should take a back seat and hope to be put on the Creole in the Park shows..All in all the lineup of the Festival is crap anyway…IDK who the these ppl are who select the artists…they need more exposure to world music cus their selections suck!. Every year is Kasav and Karimi… like is they alone they want to hear…Tehy keep putting Trashy Triple Kay on like they are our best band…IDK man..
Jokes;i support most of your statement about the line up;the fact is if some of us afraid to say it,is politics;So Gorden Henderson cannot be on there with his new materials instead of these recycle bands?Triple kay have any better materials than Fanatik?give me a brake.Dominica’s worst enemy is the People that in Charge of it’s affairs,take a good LOOK around and you will see what i mean.this is not blessings;but Blessings.
Fanatik is not consistent? I am baffled by your statement
From what i have seen Dominica is the most talented country musically. Our french and english background has allowed us to be versitile. This is great but is our weakness. The last few months one artist after the next have new release. Reggae and rap. I must say they are talented but by doing this we have killed what made us unique. Bring back the days of ole school ck. Bring back the days of grammacks and exile one. Bring back melody, good composition arrangement and dynamic vocals in our music it is better to include different styles in our cadance than copying them altogether. Corne
I agree. Cause for concern.
To those who say that the organizers of WCMF do not care about local artists, I think that is an unfair statement.
Regardless of what WCMF started off as, it is now the biggest economic event on Dominica’s calendar, and most of those dollars are spent to see the bigger foreign acts that are booked… not our local bands/artists.
So DFC has a delicate balancing act every year – promoting local musicans alongside their foreign counterparts in a way that still garners a lot attention from local and regional consumers. This is no easy feat.
Our local bands need to step up their game in order to appear on the ticket, and many of them welcome the challenge. Part of this challenge is being original and a musician cannot do that with a reportoire that’s filled with other artists’ songs. Further, our bands need to learn how to put on a show. Granted, Carlyn can dance/whine, this is not nearly enough (in my opinion) to qualify the band for their own spot on the WCMF ticket.
Actually, the organizers – for the first time – are going to have a secondary stage that will be reserved for some of our local acts who didn’t make the grade of the “main stage”. The bands/artists will still get plenty of exposure at the WCMF albeit, while playing in the Food Court section during the show’s down time.
Stop blaming DFC. WCMF is a world class festival. Fanatik is not yet a world class band.
You are very misinformed or rather not informed at all. Again, Fanatik has released an album and singles. It is very capable of performing an original repertoire. Local bands like Caribbean Vybes and MFR have respectfully had their place on the festival and have about the same or even less of an original repertoire. Fanatik IS ready for the WCMF.
I acknowledged my error in another comment “yes i”. The band has released an album and a few singles. However, in my opinion, this has not readied the group for performance on the main stage at WCMF.
Neither Caribbean Vibes nor MFR should have been granted main stage status for the WCMF, in my humble opinion. Again, compare these local bands to the other bands on the bandstand – their repertoire, history, and trending popularity – and you will find that very few Dominican bands command the same “weight” as these other acts. These bands/artists are highly sought after as main performers outside of their country of origin. At this point Fanatik is still used as a backing band for artists like Gordon Henderson and most recently in Suriname for CARIFESTA.
Do not mistake what I’m saying… Fanatik DOES have what it takes to be on the main stage in terms of talent and competence. My only argument is that they have not yet fully developed as an original band. 15 – 20 songs, 85% of which are unknown to most Dominicans should not qualify you for a festival of this caliber.
And the same should be true for ANY local band or artist… not just Fanatik.
The best thing for most of our local bands is the side stage DFC will be doing this year. Hopefully this will give them much needed exposure and maybe the impetus to step up their game in the studios and on the stage.
So are you trying to say that Triple K with their trash lyrics and music generally is better suited for the WCMF stage than Fanatik….give me a break. Just look at the kind of crowd which follows Triple K- young children who should be in their beds by 8 and troublemakers. Fanatik, Asa Banton, even WCK were left out and Triple K given priority. If we talking of a world class event we need to step up our game.
Ill take that 2 cents thank you..
My2Sense the artists have to start somewhere. We can’t have them in the dark and wait until they’re big artists to put them on the festival. After all, wasn’t that what the WCMF was designed to do, promote local talent so they can grow and develop their craft?
While we bringing in artists from the region for our festival ours sit at home bien akayais
I agree fanatik should be part of the fest..They play all kinds of music..bouyon…zouk..everyting..I believe they should be given a chance..every year is the same old set of performers..the organizers should give fanatik band a piece of the pie too..they deserve it..
I think that The Dominica Festival committee, the organizers of the World Creole Festival missed out on an opportunity to promote the Creole festival at Carifesta.They should have sent an all star band of Dominican musicians and Artist to show case our music while at the same time promoting the up coming creole Festival.
I don’t disagree with your point about Dominica being represented at Carifesta and among other things, having the opportunity to promote WCMF and Dominica.. but this does NOT fall within the purview of DFC. Perhaps the Discover Dominica Authority (DDA) could’ve/should’ve made a recommendation to Government, but no way DFC is responsible for that lack of foresight.
gorgirl,i guess you know things we don’t know.but if the government support to a large extend WCMF,don’t you think that this was a very good uppertunity for you guys to promote the WCMF,and shoulden’t you guys advice the government to send a team,small as it may be,to Carifesta to promote WCMF?Come On,what is Cafifesta?the BIGGEST garthering of carribean artist.Gary is right on point.
My God! and we sent the queen to Miss World. A regional event and we are not represented. we need to do better than that. W missed a golden opportunity to have Fanatik promote Dominica and the Creole Festival. Shame on those responsible!! I say shame on them!!
Cornell my brother, keep the flame alive. Fanatik is a great band!
i agree with your comment on not being represented at carifesta and world for the fanatic band creole,but do not touch the miss world competition,could you imagine the publicity dominica would receive, should our little sweetheart win.
i made a typo error,but anyway figure it out.
These so called organizers in dominica has no respect for local artist.Look @ the great midnight groovers,Nasio, Fanatik and dont mention more.I will be home during the celebration and am boycotting the events,we bring in all these foreign artist and we have great talent and we cant expose them.Shame on these so call organizers.
I agree that Dominica should be represented at CARIFESTA, however, I don’t think that Fanatik is ready for WCMF.
The group is made up of very talented musicians BUT, they have few, if any, original songs. This would mean that they will perform other artists’ songs… a practice that is commonplace in live performances. However, it is not commonplace for a main stage act to only play music that is not theirs.
Also, the band does not have a very big following. They’ve made some great strides in their 5 years, but they have a way to go still.
I agree with this comment. I l love Fanatik, I take my bump with Klubird and them every year, but they need to start writing and composing their original songs. Only then will they be taken seriously. By the way Cornell and Karlyn, I loved “control it” a few years back.
What do you mean they have way to go? Are you suggesting that WCK or Tripple K is ahead of Fanatik band in terms of quality. You got to be kidding.
Fanatik produced a great album of 13 songs 3 years ago and have produced couple singles in the last 2. Fanatik is more than ready for the WCMF.
a Three year old album is enough? to reamain current in the music industry? especially if you are not a major artists or band? plz ppl.. everybody making albums and singles these days. If this album was so good off the top of my head i should be able name @ least one song from it like how i can for the wck albums of old. The band is a decent band….but not these best thing out. Our local musicians need to stop taking music as a hobby and get serious about their craft. be consistent!
YOU ARE MAD, CRAZY,
Up to now Fanatik doesn’t have one original hit song, if you can make a hit then I think the band can really go far.
Unfortunately many of the “lesser” ministries either do not have the clout or vision to seek to elevate the country and also the hopes and dreams and aspirations of many an artist, sportsman, entertainer by first recognizing the reach of the international activities, events can have with exposure on a marketing front, but also the motivation to promote talent. And as such those departments may not be even thinking 1,2, 3 or 4 year ahead in terms of funding for these (it s well known by now, the schedule and costing for events like the olympics, sports meet, cultural events, beauty competitions etc)…How many times have you heard that there is some kind of budget for these things? No such consideration. Therefore it is easy for them not to be considered under the excuse of money. One can understand the pressure on ministries to fall in line keeping costs down, but who makes the case for these things far ahead? Thats part of the problem. People keep on the same status quo, year in year out…Nothing strategic planned or ideas sold ahead of time..It should not take a Laslessa of this world for any queen contestant to aspire to Miss World…nor should it be hard for a student to feel there is a chance to be part of a substantial team in regional athletics competition or even the olympics..so too, it should not be rocket science to set something aside for participating in Carifesta..after all its not held every year! When are we going to think more boldly and strategically about empowering our people and elevating our nation??
It is a shame to have the likes of Fanatik to be absent from the lineup.they bring back bands they like over and over some of them even brake up and form again.The Fanatik Band should Protest,by holding jams on the nites of the festival because that is their Work and they not getting a piece of the cheez.
where my zouk musicians?
Man I tell you we not ready yet in Dominica, Is like you have to always tell those in Authority how and when to do there job, How could we not be represented at an event like Carifesta, Somebody give me a good reason why ?Yet you go hear them running there mouth on the radio station talking about Tourism is every bodies business…Fire on those man dey
I agree with Cornell. It is also a shame that the WCK Band the originator of Bouyon music is not on the show as well. Its also a shame that the midnight Groovers had to beg and make noise to be in the line up. Its also a shame that artists such as Elisha Benoit are not given the exposure needed at those levels. But we are first in line to bring all the foreign artists that costs soo much to bring with the claim that they will bring people to the festival but people cannot come to Dominica because Liat cannot be depended on and we dont have an international airport to accommodate larger flights.. Shame Shame Shame
cus den local bands not all that. When last midnight groovers put out new material?
Unbelievable! Cornell makes some very interesting points and raises some very pertinent questions for the Cultural Division, Discover Dominica and the Festival Commission to answer. Every opportunity to sell Dominica, our talents and World Creole Music Festival should be grasped! What is happening?
yes, that is a shame…
yea man not good
y
That is very very true! Dominica needs to be represented musically as well, not just in pageants or politically. We actually have artists that make real good Dominican music. Besides our ole school ladies Ophelia and Ms. Henderson, send a contingent to represent with persons such as Dice and Nayee for the least. These people are less controversial and seem to have the real international appeal. Let’s take Dominica far in all positive aspects. That is real talk Mr. Phillip.
FYI…CARIFESTA is not just about music. It is the Caribbean Festival of Arts; music is only one aspect of it. In the festival village you will find all sorts of crafts and foods etc
thanks for your correction HOWEVER the topic relates to “music” therefore I chose to speak within those lines. I respect your comment but I do not think it should be a reply to mine. it may or could be just a general statement to sensitize other readers… FYI I know about CARIFESTA and what it is, thanks much my dear
Stuppes!!!! And what are you trying to say? Don’t we have local cuisine, crafts etc… to make up a full contingent to represent Dominica?
I wonder what the association of crafts persons thinks about that… and all those small businesses that make handmade soap, leather craft, tamarind balls and such delicacies, larger companies like the Brewery, Nature’s water, DCP etc…
With people like you… its clear why small mindedness rules this country…
Dominica could have sent a contingent with more than just musicians because we have a lot to offer…
And it was a chance to promote Dominica to the other Caribbean countries as well as America and Europe…
Every aspect of Dominica!!!!
@ Stuppes… but wait up, did anybody say NOT to send a full contingent of crafts and cuisine to represent? the topic clearly revolved around musicians at Carifesta. I chose to stick to that topic. It would be great it the arts and craft and cuisine could be sent as well but dont let ur pressure rise because of a comment which clearly kept within the lines of the topic. i agree with you, EVERY ASPECT OF DOMINICA. i see you trying to be positive but you took it in a negative way, please reconsider since you may not be aware that i am for every aspect of Dominica, i just stuck to the topic, gosh. hmm. smh