2023 belongs to Ta’Zyah O’Connor, the 21-year-old former St. Mary’s College student was no
dark horse in this year's National Calypso Monarch. O'Connor, who previously held the title of
Junior Calypso Monarch in 2018 and earned himself a second-place finish at this year's Young
Kings competition, can best be described as a young veteran. With his father having previously
snagged the title he now holds in 2012, it seems calypso and winning were already in his DNA.
With his offering “Sing Hallelujah," O’Connor was able to hit the right notes with judges and
patrons alike. Originally written for our 60th anniversary of independence by songwriter Brian
London, Ta’Zyah fell in love with the piece and quickly embodied the spirit of the song, bringing
his unique charisma to the stage, and securing his win. But who is the young man on whose head
the crown is perched? “I am a very focused and driven person; I love what I do, I am a bit of
a loner, with a few close friends, and I love a fete, a good party is a muss” he declares.
Having entered the ring of professional singing at 17 years old, it feels as though his desire to
embark on a career in calypso may be obvious, but we must pose the question. “Ever since I
was growing up, I been around music, at the studio with my father I just fell in love with it,
he really wanted me to be a lawyer so it’s not like he pushed me into it, I just love
everything about singing and performing”

Where and how did Ta’Zyah learn to command a stage? Is his unwavering confidence something
learnt or just a product of his genes? Do any kind of calypso schools or boot camps exist for
budding musicians? “there is no school, but I get it from watching my father performing,
and he is also very honest and blunt so there is that, one major lesson he taught me is to
always leave a lasting impression, no matter the stage big or small you give your all, there
is no jeans and t-shirt I present my best self always regardless if it’s 10 people or a stadium
pack” What about a fallback strategy? We are all familiar with Murphy's law. “This is it for me,
this is what I am doing, there is nothing else! I want to get into some business stuff but I'm
still figuring that out, as for career and backup this is it”. Reaching the ultimate milestone in
the field of calypso can be both gratifying and daunting. But what does winning mean to
O'Connor? “Winning validates all the choices I have made, and it tells me I am on the right
track” So is he relishing the success of his hard work, or is he already on to another project? "I
celebrated enough the night I won; the next day was a new day, and I already started
planning my next move," he proclaims. With his laser focus and industry knowledge, the 21-
year-old sometimes gives the impression that he is closer in age to his contemporaries and has
been performing professionally way longer than his 4 years.

But what can we anticipate from our National Calypso King, at least in the near future? "Well, I
am working on my upcoming concert, Rubicon, on April 23rd, 2023; it’s going to be held at
Queens Hall, and tickets can be purchased at islandetickets.com. I am hoping for a great
turnout, and I have some special guests lined up as well," he continues. “So far, patrons can
expect Karene Asche and Joshua Regrello, to name a few”. If you're not familiar with the
phrase Rubicon, it is defined in the dictionary as the act of defeating an opponent. However,
O'Connor connects it to Julius Caesar's tale on January 9, 49 BC, which merits its own article.
Yet, tenacity—is the common feature that unites O'Connor to Caesar's passage and is consistent
with the dictionary's description, he is persistent as he is resilient. In lieu of all his
accomplishments, how or what keeps him grounded? "For starters, the day after winning, my
mother was buffing me for wares I left in the sink, but I am not boastful either because the
higher you climb, the harder the fall, and we live in a 9-day society, so only real calypso
enthusiasts will know who I am, but for others, they usually see me as the guy from
TikTok, and they would say they didn’t even know I sang, so trust me, I am well grounded"
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What other endeavors are there to look forward to outside of what he has in store with Rubicon?
"I am a very creative person, so things just come to me, but I know I am going to be
releasing more music, not calypsos," says the artist “I love all types of music, so I will be
exploring that”. What about collaborations? "I want to work with anyone who is passionate
and serious about their craft; I would love to work with Destra and Patrice! Of course,
Machael, Kes, and Voice—ok, let me stop—there are so many incredible talents out here".
Notably, Soca and calypso are two of our most prominent musical genres, but it’s impossible to
overlook the power and dominance of Trini Bad artists and their sound, so can we expect a
crossover of such? "Definitely, if given the opportunity, I will, but the lyrics will have to be
positive," O’Connor shares. This possible crossover is one that we can all admit is intriguing.
With Calypso in the bag, can we expect a transition to Soca? "Like I said, I love all genres of
music, and I have sung Soca in the past, so that’s coming, but I am not abandoning calypso,
never will!". While I am certain that almost all of our readers are aware of the difference
between the two, a brief reminder is for those who are unsure of the differences between Soca
music and calypso: Soca music is the fusion of East Indian and African rhythms with lyricism
that promotes revelry and jubilation; today, the sound has become somewhat experimental.
Without Calypso, Soca would not exist. The predecessor of Soca, Calypso, is often performed in
a folk-like style with witty, caustic lyrics that concentrate on political and social concerns and are
presented in mostly double entendre. Now, snagging the National Calypso Soca Monarch Title is
great to have under one’s belt, but what makes the feat even sweeter are the prizes, and while
talking money is uncouth, it’s worth a brief visit. "What money?" O’Connor declares with a
sheepish grin, "That is invested in my craft, and what isn’t being used for that is being
invested elsewhere, so I have no money," he comments slyly. Without pressing further, we
shift gears.

In the current cultural Gen Z zeitgeist and their rallying cry, "Eat the Rich," we must also engage
in the discourse to ascertain if our young king is himself a Nepo Baby. Thus, the question is put
forward, “If anything, people knowing Duane is my father has made me have to work even
harder, as he is not like a whole lot in the industry, I mean I love him that’s my boy but
everything I have ever achieved is through hard work.” O’Connor boasts, “I have been
performing since I was a child and all I know is this, I may have started professionally at 17
years, but I have been working at this for as long as I have known myself” he further states.
With this new visibility trust upon him, as he is the National holder and no longer a junior,
Calypso Monarch how, if at all, is he going to use his platform? “I lend my talent to causes that
align with things I believe in, but I want to use my platform to give other young persons a
platform, I want to give them a space to be seen” and What words of wisdom can the doyen
himself impart to other young people wanting to get in the industry? “Do it because you love it,
if you’re doing it for the money, it will you will not last, and it will show, stay focused and
too many friends may distract you so make sure the people you surround yourself with is
ambitious and driven in whatever field they are passionate about” advice we can all benefit
from. Before wrapping up our interview, it would be remiss of me not to ask, Will he be
defending his title come 2024? “OF COURSE!” he exclaims, and in the short time conducting
our interview, I had already known the answer to this question

 

 

Story by : Joey Barlett.