Though he did not emerge the winner, second-time contestant in the Soca Monarchy Competition, Osbert ‘Vintage’ Cain placed again in the finals last Saturday night at D’Urban Park with his song ”Socaholic”.
“‘Socaholic’ speaks about my addiction for Soca music. It also speaks about my platform as a police officer. Though I’m a policeman, whenever I hear Soca music, I go crazy. So, as police officers we can have fun as well,” Osbert shared.
He first participated in the competition last year and came in third. Only three years in the music profession, the artiste is already making a name for himself and also as a dancer which explains why he has great stage presence. Osbert is the founder of the Hot Steppers dance group, which came into being last year. For a number of years, he was with the Crystalite Dance Company but his love for dance began while he was still in secondary school. Together music and dance make this young man an all-rounder.
Secondary school was where Osbert found many of his talents. He wrote his first song in fifth form. It was for the special girl in his life, one he loves dearly, his beloved grandmother. “I wanted to present my grandmother something for Mother’s Day,” he said. “She raised me, she’s my everything. We were in church that time and the youth group leader said everyone should present their mother something in church the next Sunday. I didn’t have any money to buy anything for her and I said to myself you know what, let me try writing her a song and singing it to her in church as her gift. She was blown away and still is amazed about that until a day like today.”
The song, “Show Some Love” was the beginning of the music career, he would embark on later. The choir leader of the Balm in Gideon local church was another enforcer in Osbert pursuing music.
Osbert was born here but taken to Antigua when he was eight months old. He lived there with his mother and grandmother. When he was 14 years old, he returned to Guyana with his grandmother.
Osbert is on a mission to not just produce amazing music but to also share positive messages. Another singer who does this also and who inspires him is Trindadian Soca artiste, The Voice, singer of hit song “Cheers to Life”.
When coming up with his stage name, after some thinking Osbert arrived at the name ‘Vintage’. One of the definitions, he said, is something of a high quality and character, which describes him well as a person.
The idea to enter the Soca Monarchy Competition last year came while Osbert and the Hot Steppers dancers were watching the competition the previous year. He recalled telling them he could sing but having never heard him, they found his statement funny, and were laughing at him. However, on realizing how serious he was, they encouraged him to compete.
“My song last year was called ‘Soca King’ because you know I wanted to win so bad so I decided to bring out a song as if I won already. Last year when I came to town to get my music out before the Soca Competition, I decided to go to HJ Radio Station and I tell them I could sing and stuff and I got a lil song. At this time nobody did know me. They were telling me about the whole long process that I needed to go through. During this time Mix Docta was on the radio and he said ‘Youngster come’. I was like ‘Yeah, you know I got a song and stuff’. He said ‘Leh me hear it, although I’m playing, leh me hear it’. I had always hear about Mix Docta and stuff so I was really happy and then he listened to it right away and said ‘Yeah you really good’ and then he took the song …from my phone and he played it on the radio station at the same time. People started to immediately hit and say ‘I hear yuh song playing on the radio’. This was the happiest moment for me and I must say shout out to Mix Docta for that.”
Since then, Osbert has released 16 other singles. He has also performed on quite a few big stages, including in Brooklyn, where he shared the stage with Trinidadian Soca artiste Patrice Roberts.
Among his many supporters, is his grandmother who is always admonishing him to return to church or release a Gospel song. Though he is not a regular at church anymore, Osbert did go on Old Year’s Night and sang for the congregation. He noted that he would never be ashamed to sing Gospel music as the church’s teachings have moulded him into the person he is today. In addition to his grandmother, Osbert also made mention of Selector Andre as one of his supporters saying also that his supporters are just too many to list them all.
Meanwhile, he has also excelled in his life as a policeman, first finishing as the Best Student of his batch. While a trainee, he was once Best Driller, Best Shooter, and won the First Aid Competition as well. However, he has been rethinking being in the force stating that it has not been as supportive of him. He had approached the police hierarchy for sponsorship and was refused. Nonetheless he is still making strides in his music with the help of those willing to assist. In fact if there is one thing he could change in his life, it would be choosing not to become a policeman.
“Being in the force is not bad, but it doesn’t mix with wanting to be a full-time artiste,” he noted. “There is going to come a time when I’m going to have to leave the country and it’s going to be a whole set of run around like last year when I had to go to Brooklyn and sing. I had to write for a pass to get a letter to leave the airport because I can’t just jump on a plane and leave Guyana as I like. I need to get a letter from the commissioner before I could leave the country. There are going to be times when my job would need me as an officer and I would have to perform and it just won’t work out.” However, for the time being, he intends to make the best of both his job and music career.
Currently he is working on two songs, “Fete” and “Small Days”. Both songs are expected to be released by next week.
His favourite Guyanese dishes are Shine Rice and Patwa Curry, while when it comes to favourite colours, he likes black and white, exactly the two colours he was wearing when he sat down with The Scene.
As regards his marital status, Osbert said he was “single and ready to mingle“.
Growing up he attended the Christian Union School for the nursery, primary and secondary levels in Antigua and after returning to Guyana, he finished his secondary education at Bush Lot Secondary School.
Vintage is expected to perform tonight (Saturday) live in concert alongside artistes like Timeka Marshall at the Stage 8, Dutty J’ouvert at the National Park
He can be followed on Facebook at Vintage Music and on YouTube at Vintage Music or Selector Andre and contacted via email at vintagemusic97@gmail.com
