In keeping with my promise to always feature style sessions with local artists here is another one. I first heard Tennicia De Freitas sing late last year at this event Coma Alive Network Inc (CANI) held. Before that event, I had never heard of her. It’s always weird and funny how the good real talent gets buried.
Tennicia’s vocals are very soothing and calming to the ear and it doesn’t surprise me I didn’t know of her before. In Guyana we tend to like to favour the jump up soca and dancehall music more; or least this is what gets played the most on the airwaves. I decided to give her a very natural and simplistic look. They say less is always more right?! Because Tennicia fits into the soulful reggae genre, I decided to leave her in her natural element. This means no extensions, minimal make-up and uncontroversial attire.
I think there are few local singers who promote natural beauty. With music today we are always told to look a certain way or use or wear something to look cool or to even be better human beings.
If you listen to her latest song “Rhythm of my Heart” it has a very timeless and natural air to it. One of the many reasons I didn’t go for a typical pop culture look is because I think it’s too common and it would have made her look artificial when combined with her music.
As you can tell, I spent a lot of time trying to give her the right look for her music and how I see her as an artist. Only very few artists in Guyana spend time on calculating and aligning their outer image to fit the music they are singing.
We can say a lot about the Guyana Music Industry but in the most cases we often end up commenting on artists themselves. I think one of ways each artist can improve, is by paying a little more attention to making sure that what they are singing about is actually the image they are projecting.
Dress: That Look Boutique)
If you are a dancehall artist you must be controversial; you must be in trend with fashion and things of such nature. If you are into soul I don’t expect you to be looking like Nicki Minaj or Lady Gaga. Music connects us and helps us to relate to emotions deep down inside and I think for us to see music we also have to be the music to some extent.
Getting the chance to re-style Jackie Jaxx, Lisa Punch and Tennicia De Freitas made me realize how important it is to portray this element. It makes a big difference in how the public views you as a singer. Some may like it and some may not, but it’s important to get it right for identity and for your audience.
To hear Tennicia’s latest music you can follow her on SoundCloud and YouTube. Her song “Rhythm of my Heart” is so underrated.
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