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UWI TODAY
– SUNDAY 19 MARCH, 2017
STAR STUDENT
“That’s why I want a change
in the way we do busi-
ness in the interest of justice,” sang first-year UWI
law student Sasha-AnnMoses during her passionate
performance at the National Women’s Action Com-
mittee (NWAC) Calypso Queen’s competition. With
her song, “The Main Witness,” Sasha-Ann, whose
stage name is Sasha, took first place as she channelled
the plight of people living in the inhumane condi-
tions of the witness protection programme.
“Cold, cold showers, house of horrors with just
basic amenities. Stripped of all powers. For days and
not hours,” Sasha belted out, her face a reflection of
the passion of her performance. It was no surprise
that she captured the hearts and minds of the judges
as well as the top honour of the night, the biggest
competition she has ever won.
From Sasha’s perspective, her win is part of the
trend of the modern calypso world. “We have a lot
of young people singing calypsoes these days which
is amazing because people have been saying calypso
is dying,” she explains. She reminisces about thinking
calypso was boring and only for old people, but she
has completely changed her views since she began
singing professionally. Now she talks enthusiasti-
cally about the impact young people are having on
the genre while emphasising the importance of the
legacy of the “older heads.” She observes that there
are more songs with themes based on social justice.
“More attacking performances on social commentary
topics,” she explains, “topics that have been troubling
our country. We have more nation-building songs,
this year more than ever.”
With her interest in law, it’s no surprise that Sa-
sha picked this award-winning theme about justice.
As she talks about her choice of study, it’s clear that
it is tailor made for her. “I really didn’t think I fit in
anywhere else,” she says and mentions her love of
debating and her desire to always win arguments as
she grew up. She has been enjoying benefiting from
the experience and knowledge of her lecturers and
is considering specialising in family or property law
one day. Unsurprisingly, juggling her course load
and her career as a budding performer has taken
some effort, but Sasha gives credit to her mother for
helping her manage her schedule. Her lecturers and
tutors have also provided support by emailing her
worksheets and keeping her updated on course work.
QUEEN
SASHA
and the
LAW
With this strong support system, Sasha will no
doubt keep excelling in her field. Besides, she is no nov-
ice when it comes to the music industry. She’s already
been performing for a decade. Her first performance
was as a backup singer to a friend in primary school
at the age of 10. Two years later she took up the role of
main singer, and she’s been at it ever since.
While singing on stage, Sasha discovered a side to
herself which seemed quite apart from her usual shy
personality. She observes that she’s always surprising
others who don’t think she could be so vibrant on stage.
“Everything just flows you know. I’m a totally, totally
different person on stage,” she says. That inherent ease
is clear as you watch her perform, and she’s evidently
impressed many during her singing career thus far.
Among her long list of accomplishments is her place-
ment as a finalist in the CalypsoMonarch competition
this year as well as the winner of the Stars of Tomorrow
title. She was also chosen as a nominee for the top 20
Stars of Gold Calypso twice, in 2015 and 2016. She
was the youngest semi-finalist in both the National
Calypso Monarch (2015) and the International Soca
Monarch (2015 and 2016). In 2014, she came first
in the National Schools Soca Monarch and in the St
Joseph Calypso Monarch. The same year, she placed
second in the National Junior CalypsoMonarch. She’s
also won the National Emancipation Monarch three
times in a row from 2012 to 2014.
With such a promising career, Sasha seems well
on her way to achieving her goal of “sharing musical
love” and “just making everyone happy with each
performance” much like her inspirations Calypso
Rose and
Beyoncé
. Her passion for music is evident
in the way she immerses herself in it even when she is
not singing calypso. She is the lead singer of the band
Mayaro 2.0, where she performs funk and other musi-
cal genres. When she is stressed she buries herself in
music. While listening to and singing R&B, she can
stretch her vocals and sing out her emotions.
If hermusical accomplishments are any indication,
other aspiring musicians would do well to emulate
her efforts. “Always build on yourself,” Sasha advises
others who want to succeed in the industry. She em-
phasises the importance of taking criticism as it can
help improve performance. “You can reach where you
want to be,” she affirms. “The harder the journey, the
sweeter the victory.”
Calypso Queen Sasha-Ann Moses performs
her winning song, “Main Witness”.
B Y D I X I E - A N N B E L L E
Dixie-Ann Belle is a writer and editor.
“We have a lot of young people singing calypsoes these days which
is amazing because people have been saying calypso is dying,”
