Luna rising

■ Verdel Bishop

verdel.bishop@trinidadexpress.com

IF Luna is not on your radar as yet, then she should be. Luna (Rochelle Antoine) is one of the cadres of talented female artistes taking her music to higher heights in Trinidad and Tobago.

The 30-year-old vocalist, music teacher, and band leader, performs a variety of music genres that also include what is best described as fusion music.

Luna considers herself a bit of an anomaly. Although she grew up in a musical family, her love for music comes from having an instant connection with abstract concepts which she turns to in order to fully understand herself and of what she is capable.

Music has always touched her emotional side from a very young age.

There are complexities in listening to music that she longed to understand as much as she wanted to fully appreciate them. Although she has been on this journey for some time, she feels as if a whole new world of possibilities is now opening up to her.

Luna, who leads he own band, The Eclectic Norm, performs her original music as well as contemporary covers. She currently has two singles entitled 'January Situation and 'Life Goes On'' both of which have music videos attached that can be viewed on her Luna TT YouTube channel. She released her first EP entitled Soul Dive Vol I, which marked her debut as a recording artiste, via a concert launch at Kafé Blue earlier this year.

Luna has followed in her parents' footsteps as a full-time musician. She is also a vocal coach at DrumversityTT. She has co-led the Latin/parang band Solo Para Ti with her father, but she is on a one-year hiatus due to the death of her mother, who was also a founding member of the band. The Express got to know the unique musician a little better during a recent chat.

'I grew up in a musical family, so I was basically exposed to music when I was in the womb, and so it has been ever since. My late mother, Candice Antoine-Roberts, was a known background vocalist in various calypso tents, session vocalist, and a lead singer in a few parang groups. My father, Julio Torres, formerly known as Julius Abraham, has had a career in music spanning 50 years, including his involvement in parang, Best Village competitions, training groups and performing, his work as a session musician, including writing and recording radio jingles, as well as restaurant and cruise ship entertainment.

'Both my parents trained me to sing well, and introduced me to all of the instruments that I play including guitar, piano, cuatro/ukulele, scratcher (güira) and maracas. I had spent 11 years performing Latin/parang music, six years combined with calypso tents/shows, while being active in assorted start-up rock bands and occasional Open Mic nights.

'All year round'

'Presently, I have embraced performing all year round, rather than just seasonally, and with more than one band at a time. I am also a session vocalist, providing background vocals at recording studios, when required. And I am a member of the Warao Community of San Fernando, as I believe it important to connect with and appreciate one's heritage,' Luna said.

'Music has always touched my emotional side from a very young age. There were complexities in listening to music that I longed to understand as much as I wanted to fully appreciate them. Although I have been on this journey for some time, I feel that the full picture, so to speak, is still revealing itself to me, just as a painting to an artist.

She added: 'I have always wanted to travel the world, and having watched my parents travel the world for music, I have been inspired to do the same. I have been told that my music has been inspirational to many, throughout the years of songwriting and recording, and in the short time after the online single and EP releases.'

Antoine sees herself continuing to inspire people worldwide and connecting shared experiences through her music.

'I can see that happening by someday having my music featured in films and/or games, as time goes by. I would also give back as much as I can, by continuing to teach and share the knowledge and experience that I have gained. My underlying message is one of love, positivity and awareness of issues that need to be addressed. At this point in time, I am grateful for the opportunities I have been given and consider each experience as one to continue building upon to achieve my goals.'

Luna will perform her new EP tomorrow at Soul Dive Live, Planners Sports Bar, #20 Leotaud Street, San Fernando.

A NEW WORLD OF POSSIBILITIES: Luna