ZIGGY returns with great intentions

Popular local entertainer Ziggy Rankin is promising to deliver great music in the season ahead, although it has never been his nature to do otherwise. In fact, Ziggy, real name Khori Francis, has, over the years, delivered a slew of infectious yet positive singles that have all managed to stand the test of time. Last month he proved that he is still current, and even amid a crowd of teenaged party lovers who are somewhat more inclined to Vybz Kartel, Mavado and Popcaan anthems, he created a euphoric calm that kept even the Gaza and Gully loving youths intrigued.

Lots to come

Recently, Ziggy released a single called Wine Fuh Yuh Lover. He told the T&T Guardian that the track was his way of bringing his music back to the roots, from where it was born. “I took two years off, took a little rest and now I’m coming back with the roots from the Best Village days,” said the artiste. He explained that amid that particular initiative, he was on a mission to create videos for a number of his previously released singles, among those, his collaborative track with the late Blazer Dan which is called, Who Do You Want. Noting that a video for Wine Fuh Yuh Lover was also in the making, Ziggy said two other tracks were set to be released. Something called Cartoon on the Sesame Street riddim, and another track called Caught In The Middle which was produced by singer/DJ Shane Howell. Ziggy also revealed that music lovers could look out for a collaborative single with Anguilla’s Nyne, who he said had a really good voice and was pretty versatile when it came to his musical ability. “Generally, I always try to give the best quality music and I always try to keep the messages clean and positive for the youths,” he rationalised.

Branding via Social Media

Ziggy has been putting in the work. Even when he’s quiet, he confirmed he is working to keep his brand as an artiste, competitive. Social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook and file sharing site, YouTube, are all stomping grounds for the artiste, who touched many when he sang the hit single Another One Gone Again at the Jiggle It event at Prison Sports Club in Arima last month. “Social media is very useful because the borders you can cross is mind boggling,” he said. Well travelled as a result of the career path he’s chosen, Ziggy said that other countries, from the Caribbean to international states and cities, all agree that T&T is the mecca of soca and certainly Carnival. He said T&T is looked up to in a bid to mix the music a lot, and for this reason, he has always tried to make his style a mixture of Caribbean flavours, with soca being the root of it all. “We have to be proud of where we from cause all the other nations look up to Trinidad and Tobago,” he asserted. 

Advising stakeholders of T&T’s culture to be more supportive, Ziggy noted that recently in St Martin, local artiste Shadowman hosted a video launch and it was surprisingly refreshing to see that everyone, including the prime minister and government ministers were there to lend support. Ziggy argued that that level of support was what was lacking in T&T. “We also need the support of the radio stations and media houses to push the culture. We take for granted that because we from here and the music playing and there’s a little buzz, we don’t have to push it further,” he noted.

Unifying Soca and Culture

On the issue of presenting soca and its stakeholders as a united body, Ziggy said he was all for that but said that because of the competitive nature of the artiste it would be difficult. “Instead of really pushing the musical genre out there, everybody looking for the biggest tune, the most popular tune that would give them the most shows and they aren’t really concentrating on quality,” he noted. He said that people power in T&T determined which songs, regardless of quality, would be pushed locally and subsequently make it to stages across the Caribbean and internationally. Ready for what the year ahead brings, Ziggy Rankin is assuring supporters that he’ll be back on the scene in 2012. Already, he says he likes the music he’s hearing from his fellow artistes, among these, Farmer Nappy’s Surrender. In the meantime, as he sets to penetrate the season, Ziggy is calling on fans to do their part and request the music they enjoy.