Zoelah geared up and raring to go

Body Sway, Higher, and Together are her offerings for Carnival 2K11. And she vows her fans will not be disappointed when she delivers these tunes at the major Carnival fetes this year. “Zoelah Boyde is all about performing well and pleasing my fans this year,” she said. The Trini/Vincentian, who penned all three songs, added that for the first time she would be entering the International Soca Monarch competition in the Power Soca category with the track Higher, which was produced by Parry Jack. “What people don’t know is that I have always been writing up tempo soca from the beginning of my career. But because I wanted to establish my self as both a regional and international artiste and not just another soca artiste, I chose groovy soca. So when you think Zoelah, you automatically think groovy soca. “But this year, I want my fans to know that there are many sides to Zoelah,” she emphasised.

Gaining international recognition
Despite having to manage herself, because she believed her former management acted inappropriately and did not have her best interest at heart, Zoelah said her songs have been getting quite a lot of airplay internationally. “Body Sway alone reached number one the second day Toronto Lime.Com received it,” she boasted.

To the “copy-cats”
Zoelah also took time to set the record straight on the “entertainment talk” that a particular established female artiste had stolen her style of music and singing. “Let me just say it doesn’t bother me. You see when I was growing I remember listening to soca and telling myself I want to change the sound of soca music. Now in 2011 if anyone has adopted my style of singing—I have achieved that goal. “I’m kinda proud actually, because these are artistes who were there many years before I touched the stage. So…yeah…I’m proud,” Zoelah confessed with a smile.

Advice
Asked what advice she had for upcoming female artistes, Zoelah expressed: “I wanna tell the females getting involved in this business, that they should never sell themselves short. “There are still folks out there who genuinely care about you and what you stand for,” she advised. “Be respectful to yourself. Respect isn’t given, it is earned, and you can’t earn respect by selling yourself short. Dignity and ambition can carry you a long way with the help of God.”