“Guyana holds a special place in my heart,” expressed 20-year-old Chutney and Soca singer Emily Moore. Born in Canada, the Toronto resident’s family’s roots run deep in Guyana. Her father hails from Enterprise, and her mother from Annandale, both on the East Coast of Demerara. Singing Chutney music has become a profound link to her parents’ homeland.
Moore elaborated that despite her Canadian birth, her household was imbued with a strong Guyanese cultural influence. Her father, in particular, filled their home with the sounds of Guyanese music, which eventually ignited her own passion for singing. Notwithstanding her versatility in various music genres, she discovered a natural inclination towards Chutney and Soca. Her latest single, “Stay Away,” celebrates financially independent women who revel in their freedom and firmly warn deceitful men to keep their distance. The song is delivered in Guyanese Creole, a testament to Moore’s connection to her roots, even while growing up in Toronto.