Being a British Trinidadian with a melodic voice and a bright personality, I chose to call myself KISKADEE, after the colourful Caribbean bird

Yes! Most of my gigs are in the UK, but I just returned from an 8 concert 6 country tour of the Caribbeann performing with Grammy winning producer KC Porter and the Voices of Baha choir (65 people). The tour was a wonderful privledge and performing in Trinidad was especially great as I could use my Trini dialect. See www.kiskadee.net for some articles on the tour if you like.

It is one step forward and one step back. One step forward because file sizes are now so small and therefore it is all easy to download and store. BUT!!! One BIG step backward because MP3 is INFERIOR to a wave file. No listen... why is it that every technology makes things better. Better resolution, bigger, better colours..... and yet when it comes to music, people are accepting an inferior technology!?!?! It doesn't make sense. I would like to see a 24 bit music standard. After all people spend a fortune on great hifi systems and now they play MP3s on them. Hmmm... this must change!

Yes, if the conditions were right, i.e. I wasn't a slave to them. For me, it is about getting my music (which is my calling in life) available for other people to hear. The main way of doing this seems to be promotion. And promotion takes a good network and a lot of money. Saying all this, it would be great to "make it" without a label.

The vocally strong singer/songwriter has just finished recording her debut album “Don’t Look Backâ€쳌.
Her Style of music combines her Trinidadian roots with a comtemporary new school RnB feel and has a social and spiritual comment.

Three of the tracks were produced by the internationally acclaimed Los Angeles producer John Barnes and two tracks were produced by UK producer Andy Whitmore.

During her recent visit to John Barnes’s Hollywood studios Kiskadee also collaborated with artists such as Chris Dixon (producer of Whitney Houston’s first album), Del Atkins Craig Cooper, Andrea Carter, James Harrah and others.

In July 2005, Kiskadee featured alongside Grammy winning producer KC Porter on a 6 country Caribbean tour. Together with a live band and a 65 piece choir, they travelled from the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Trinidad, Jamaica and Miami.

Born in England with little eyesight, Kiskadee, a British Trinidadian grew up in an area where she was part of only a tiny West Indian minority.

At the age of two Kiskadee learned piano and started singing. By five, she was playing pan and singing in the family steelband, the Rainbow Steel Band. It was not unusual for Kiskadee herself to be featured in the local press even as a young child, grabbing headlines such as: “Young Singer Reveals Amazing Versatilityâ€쳌

Kiskadee’s father from Trinidad was a steel pan maker and her mother from Guyana was an accomplished violinist.

After gaining a BA honours degree in French and English and then working for the BBC, Kiskadee entered the music arena full time as a singer, songwriter, pan player, producer and arranger.

“I really feel my West Indian roots,â€쳌 says Kiskadee. “Calypso, Reggae, Soca, Soul, R&B, I grew up with them all.â€쳌

Kiskadee is currently unsigned and is seeking management, publishing and distribution. Kiskadee’s songs have been played on numerous radio stations from BBC London to Choice FM.

Calypso, Reggae, Soca, Soul, R&B...

My father Michael Contant, a steel pan maker who taught me pan by the age of 5

My Mother, an acomplished classical violin and viola player who taught me piano at age 2.

Whitney Houston
Queen
Mozart
Lord Kitchener (calypsonian)
Abba
Edith Piaf
Red Snapper
Outlandish
Chic

Southern France could easily be my home. I spent a year studying there and didn't want to leave.

The instruments I play are:
steel drums (I have a collection of about 40!)
Piano / keyboards
Cakewalk Sonar 4 Producer

Did I mention that I am partially sighted? Which means that technically I am blind. I do have a little sight so I can see a general picture inclucing colors but no detail. It hasn't stopped me from anything really.