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Entertainment Macco Celebrates Caribbean Heritage Month: Shurwayne Winchester
In a proclamation on May 31st, 2011 from the White house of the United States of America, President Barack Obama declared June, 2011 as Caribbean History Month:
"NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2011 as National Caribbean American Heritage Month. I urge all Americans to commemorate this time when we celebrate the history and culture of Caribbean Americans."
Entertainment Macco, would like to celebrate Caribbean artiste highlighting there achievements for the rest of June, 2011. Today we salute Shurwayne Winchester:
Shrurwayne Winchester was born in Tobago on February 8th, He is one of Trinidad and Tobago most celebrated artistes. Winchester has positively represented Trinidad & Tobago and the Caribbean in various parts of the world and has won several titles including:
2004 Road March Title - The Band Coming
2005 Road March Title - Dead or Alive
2006 Power Soca Monarch - Can't Wait
2006 Groovy Soca Monarch - Don't Stop
2008 Groovy Soca Monarch - Carnival Please Stay
He has been awarded many industry awards for his contribution to the art-form and culture and we at Entertainment Macco salute you!
2004 Road March Title - The Band Coming
2005 Road March Title - Dead or Alive
2006 Power Soca Monarch - Can't Wait
2006 Groovy Soca Monarch - Don't Stop
2008 Groovy Soca Monarch - Carnival Please Stay
He has been awarded many industry awards for his contribution to the art-form and culture and we at Entertainment Macco salute you!
Many of us have a misconception that any person involved in SOCA, CALYPSO, REGGAE and other Caribbean genres must originate from an island that indulges in it. WhiteWine however is different all together and has been proving that misconception wrong. Entertainment Macco found a special interest in WhiteWine and had to take an available opportunity to find out as much as we could about him......
What we got was a TASTE OF WHITE WINE....
Entertainment Macco: So, tell me a little about White Wine, who are you?
White Wine: “Me? I’m a Canadian born, soca artist, songwriter and producer. I was born in Toronto and raised here. I got involved in the soca scene about 9 years ago and immediately caught the bug. I transitioned my singing career from rap to soca about 6 years ago, and started producing the music maybe about 4 years ago.”
White Wine: “Me? I’m a Canadian born, soca artist, songwriter and producer. I was born in Toronto and raised here. I got involved in the soca scene about 9 years ago and immediately caught the bug. I transitioned my singing career from rap to soca about 6 years ago, and started producing the music maybe about 4 years ago.”
Entertainment Macco: What is your given name?
White Wine: “Greg Smith”
Entertainment Macco: Hi Greg *waves*
Entertainment Macco: Where did the name White Wine come from?
White Wine: “Back in the days when I first started feteing I used to hit a lot of Dr. Jay de Soca Prince’s parties and he used to say that white boy could wine. Eventually he started calling me White Wine and the name stuck.”
White Wine: “Back in the days when I first started feteing I used to hit a lot of Dr. Jay de Soca Prince’s parties and he used to say that white boy could wine. Eventually he started calling me White Wine and the name stuck.”
Entertainment Macco: Are you single, in a relationship or married?
White Wine: “Oh lawwwd. I’m like ... say... I’m married to my family and my puppy.”
Entertainment Macco: What about children, do you have any?
White Wine: “Nah, no children, Just an English bulldog puppy.”
Entertainment Macco: For those who may not know, what role do you play in the entertainment industry?
White Wine: “Well right now I’m working with my partner in crime Jaxx, a major major star coming out of Toronto and Trinidad who can real sing. He bad…trust me, he bad. I’ve done a lot of production of the last 4 or so years, and song-writing. Between that and doing some singing myself I’ve been staying over-busy. Trying to keep my head above the water, grow, learn, and keep involved with the culture as much as I can."
Entertainment Macco:How did it begin for you?
White Wine: “Ha! Everyone seems to ask this. For me, I love to dance, I always have. But in my culture, white guys don’t dance. In college I met a few of my long time partnahs who started taking me out to dancehall jams and reggae shows and I would catch the steps pretty quickly. I enjoyed it but my next partnah, a trini, told me he wanted to bring me to a fete. From the first fete I ever went to I was locked onto soca. The positivity, the happiness and the vibes; I felt at home. From then on they created a monster.”
Entertainment Macco: Tell me about the pre-conceived notion people usually have when they see you?
White Wine: “I mean, I can’t speak for other people so I wouldn’t know. But I think I definitely stick out in a fete. Being a 6’4” white boy in a fete full of mostly black people – I stick out. It probably makes it worse because I’m wutless and will wine up on anything!”
Entertainment Macco: When people hear your work, does there impression of you change?
White Wine: “I think it does. I think that most people have been warm and open to my music, my style. I think others are surprised. I also think I have a lot to learn, and that the learning and growing process is what keeps me enthused with the music.”
Entertainment Macco: Who are some of the artistes you have worked with?
White Wine: “I’ve done some things with Jaxx, Fadda Fox, Berbice, Mr. Killa, Lavaman, Problem Child, Luni Sparks & Electrify, Brotha B, Scrappy, Lutenants, Mista Meggy, Cabelous, Radford Ettienne, Stray Way, gosh…so much people, I know I’m missing people.”
Entertainment Macco: In one of our conversations, you mentioned to me jokingly that "white people" do not have riddim, but I have seen you in action...this is not the case with you.. Tell me, when did you recognize a desire to be involved in Caribbean entertainment industry?
White Wine: “Ha! Honestly, my friends got me into it. Back when I was rapping, they jokingly told me to make a soca song. They expected I would ‘rap’ on a soca riddim – but I ended up trying to do follow the tempos and rhythms of real soca music. This was back in 2006 area, and when I touched down in Trinidad with the same friends, their family were playing my song when we reached their home. They all laughed, but said it wasn’t all that bad. It obviously needed work , and from there I started the journey into the music.”
Entertainment Macco: Do you have Caribbean roots? (If no how did you find a love for Soca, Calypso and other Caribbean genres)
White Wine: “Nah, I’m pure Canadian. At least 6 generations deep! Like I said before, I just can’t help but enjoy the positive vibes of the music and the culture.”
Entertainment Macco: Are you a full-time artiste/producer? If no, what industry do you work in?
White Wine: “Unfortunately not. It’s not lucrative enough yet, and that’s the next step. Currently I’m a graphic designer. I’m an artist to the core.”
Entertainment Macco: When did you realize that you had a love for music; producing, writing and singing?
White Wine: "All my life. I grew up with music, but not in the traditional sense. My parent's had an affinity for big band music and I grew up listening to that a lot - but no one in my family was really musically inclined. When I was about 12 or 13 my brother became a DJ and I used to carry his records for him. He spun mostly electronic music and then eventually ended up producing that. But he always listened to rap music and that's how I got into that. It was something in me to write. No one in my neighbourhood was into the music, and I've always been on the outskirts of the mainstream with my tastes. I had a fairly prominent career in rap that I dropped because I wasn't catching the vibes of the culture and the scene. It was too negative for me, and it frustrated and annoyed me. That's when I met soca and fell in love. The rest is history being written."
Entertainment Macco: Tell me one thing that a lot of people may not know about you?
White Wine: “Umm…honestly, I’m an open book. I think mostly a lot of people are surprised to find out I have no Caribbean roots.”
Entertainment Macco: Tell me one thing that a lot of people may not know about you?
White Wine: “Umm…honestly, I’m an open book. I think mostly a lot of people are surprised to find out I have no Caribbean roots.”
Entertainment Macco: Describe your style?
White Wine: “Musically or Fashionably? Musically I think I’m very North American. I inject a lot of North American flow and sensibilities into my music. Fashionably I’ve been told I am a bit of a chameleon because my style changes so drastically. One day I’ll come out looking like a hardcore rocker, the next a bit of a surfer or hippy, and then I’ll clean it up and go with a suit or a bow tie with nerd chic. I just like to dress differently and have some pop to what I’m doing.”
Entertainment Macco: Tell me about some of your musical influences?
White Wine: “Wow…how much time you have? I’m influenced by ALL music. There are so many people and artists that have influenced my work. My biggest influence and mentor is Radford Ettienne; A Grenadian producer who has worked with many artists. He taught me how to engineer songs on the computer and for that I’m ever grateful.”
Entertainment Macco: We are still talking music so tell me about the songs you have recorded thus far and what genre?
White Wine: “Speaking to soca I’ve released a couple songs under my name, On De Road & Miss De Jam in ’08 and Push Bumpa in ’09. Crank came out in ’10 I think, and outside of that I’ve done a lot of music with Jaxx. He released Survey & Velcro last year and is looking to further promote them for 2012.”
Entertainment Macco: Is there any one or any persons that you would credit for your involvement in music?
White Wine: “Everyone has been really warm and welcoming and I’ve never experienced any negativity with my involvement in music. But Radford Ettienne was the one person who really took me under his wing and taught me a lot about the music, culture, and more.”
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| Whitewine and Calypso |
Entertainment Macco: I understand that you dog's name is Calypso? Is the naming of your dog an expression of your love for the genre?
White Wine: “Haha Yeah, he’s great. He’s an English bulldog. And definitely, he’s Calypso and I’m Soca.”
Entertainment Macco: What does sexy mean to you?
White Wine: “Confidence & self worth.”
Entertainment Macco: When you were/are searching for a mate do/did you prefer someone in the industry or out? Why?
White Wine: “I’ve never thought about it before. For me, it’s never been relevant to my quest, but they do have to be aware of the lifestyle and understanding of it.”
Entertainment Macco: What is the biggest turn on in the opposite sex?
White Wine: “Confidence & self worth. I used to say a woman’s best quality is being into me – does that count?”
Entertainment Macco: I’ll make it count....
Entertainment Macco: Let's steam it up a little, which do u prefer older or younger women and why?
White Wine: “Wow, this is some serious macco-ing right now. I don’t discriminate to be honest. Age doesn’t dictate experience or how someone carries themselves. But I do think it helps to be close in age, because I find it’s easier to understand each other.”
Entertainment Macco: What is your idea of romance?
White Wine: “Long walks on the beach? Fire side dinners? Hahaha”
Entertainment Macco: Some part of this response has me in doubt ... I’ll leave it alone
Entertainment Macco: Which do you prefer relationships or one night stands?
White Wine: “Isn’t a one night stand a relationship?”
Entertainment Macco: You Joker! LOL
Entertainment Macco: What are your thoughts on same sex relationships?
White Wine: “I don’t give a damn – as long as it ain’t affecting me.”
Entertainment Macco: If you could choose to live anywhere other than Canada, where would it be and why?
White Wine: “I’ve never thought about it. I love Canada so much. I would need to be somewhere where I could live with the same freedoms, amenities and luxuries that I enjoy now. I appreciate everything I have here.”
White Wine: “I’ve never thought about it. I love Canada so much. I would need to be somewhere where I could live with the same freedoms, amenities and luxuries that I enjoy now. I appreciate everything I have here.”
Entertainment Macco: Tell me one accomplishment you would like to achieve in the near future?
White Wine: “Right now, I want to perform on the Monarch’s stage in Trinidad. That’d be a dream come true.”
Entertainment Macco: Why do you think there are more successful men in the entertainment industry than women?
White Wine: “I think maybe it has to do with the lifestyle and culture of music. Studios tend to be full of dudes and it’s an intimidating place for women. I also think that women don’t get as much respect as they deserve. I think there’s a culture around music and studio life, and it’s sort of like sports. It’s a competition. Inside the studio everyone is competing and only the strongest survive. Women tend to get pushed to the back unfortunately. I don’t really have any answers on how to fix it, or if it matters. I’m a person that believes truly that talent will prevail over all and I know a lot of talented female artists that are ready to blow.”
White Wine: “I think maybe it has to do with the lifestyle and culture of music. Studios tend to be full of dudes and it’s an intimidating place for women. I also think that women don’t get as much respect as they deserve. I think there’s a culture around music and studio life, and it’s sort of like sports. It’s a competition. Inside the studio everyone is competing and only the strongest survive. Women tend to get pushed to the back unfortunately. I don’t really have any answers on how to fix it, or if it matters. I’m a person that believes truly that talent will prevail over all and I know a lot of talented female artists that are ready to blow.”
Entertainment Macco: Let's talk pet peeves, tell me that one thing that absolutely annoys you in the entertainment industry.White Wine: “Hmm…in the entertainment industry? I can’t really say anything. I enjoy all aspects of it. To me it’s all a challenge.”
Entertainment Macco: What advice would you give to other upcoming producers/artistes who may not have Caribbean roots and are interested in being involved in the Caribbean music industry?
White Wine: “I’m not sure I’m even in a position to give advice, but I would say just believe in what you’re doing and get a good team of people around you that you trust. Most importantly – be yourself. I think at the end of the day everyone can respect that when they meet me I’m just a corny ass white dude from Toronto. I don’t pretend to be anything else. I might have a cultivated accent on occasion but that is nearly uncontrollable nowadays, it’s all practice to help assimilate my music and add authenticity to it. But at the end of the day I can only be me, and can only bring my perspective and my experiences to the music and the culture.”
Entertainment Macco: How can interested parties contact you?
White Wine: “I am on twitter as ‘whitewinemusic’ and I can be reached via email at whitewinemusic@gmail.com”
