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I felt like an abandoned baby left on a doorstep - Sista Joyce
Poised to release two tracks next week, Sista Joyce spoke to Virgin Islands News Online where she reflected on her love for singing which started since the age of six in church and the many disappoints that she has encountered but has always found the strength and determination to continue following her passion for “conscious” music.
On top of the issue for Sista Joyce at this time though is her two tracks- Black Man, which she said is a tribute to the black man and Stay Together, which is considered a lover’s rock. The two songs are from her album ‘Rise’, which she hopes to release soon. The two tracks will be released next week Wednesday February 1, 2012.
Sista Joyce has already released three albums - ‘New Dae’, ‘Hypocrisy’ and ‘Freedom Sitee’ and noted that she currently has songs for two albums but that the difficulty is financing.
“I have chosen to release these two tracks from the album because people have been asking for them and wondering what has happened to Sista Joyce so I just want to let them know that I am still here.”
She said the cost to release the album is $7000 of which $3000 would go towards mastering the music and the balance towards CDs and promotion. She is hoping that her album release would be a grand affair, where she would invite other local artistes and also Sugar Band from St. Kitts. She noted that she is very close to the Sugar Band and St. Kitts, where her mother is from.
Asked about support from the public and Government, Sista Joyce lamented that it has not been forthcoming despite her persistence. She recalled December 2011 when she was invited to attend an inaugural Female Calypso Competition in Montserrat and approached government for assistance but said they could not even give her a flag.
“I felt like a baby in a basket that someone had left on another person’s doorstep,” Sista Joyce said of her feeling while in Montserrat. “I was the loner, every other country had their contingent and flags waving and it was just me...the people in Montserrat saw my situation and were very comforting towards me and that I was very thankful for.”
What she termed as depressing for her was when she was invited to the Culture Centre recently to view Melanie Amaro on X Factor USA. "This was depressing for me because here it is they weren't giving me any support but then inviting me to watch Melanie Amaro on flat screen."
Sista Joyce said she will continue to represent the Virgin Islands with chin up despite being treated like an ugly step-sister. “I will go back (Montserrat) this year and I will even buy my own BVI flag because the last time I asked the Government for a flag to take to Montserrat they told me they couldn’t give me because it was the Minister's flag.”
Sista Joyce, who was the first Runner Up at the 2011 Calypso Competition in July, said she also does not understand why the private sector has also been reluctant to sponsor her despite them sponsoring other events that even promote vulgarity.
“I am a Reggae singer, I sing conscious music, which is food for the soul...Imagine I was behind LIME like a dog, doing what they told me to do and despite that they just said they couldn’t help me...If I was to study people in this world I would have stopped singing long time ago...But Jah going to send help in other ways and I will never fall weak and belittle myself. I am a positive woman.”
She said what is sad is that the “outer world have locked Sista Joyce to themselves but here in the BVI I am like an outcast...I am looking to get adopted,” Sista Joyce joked.
Nevertheless, even in a dog eat dog world there are always good Samaritans to whom Sista Joyce is grateful for. “I would have to say thanks to persons who have helped me in the past including Ocean Conversion, Myron Walwyn, my Manager Keith Gardner Jr. and Dwayne Staun.”
Sista Joyce also had special mention for Frank Mahoney, who she said she has tremendous respect for as a promoter. “Even though we started out on the wrong footing, he was the only person, who paid me something that was payable and worth of my talent.”
Staying focused, Sista Joyce said she is also getting ready for the upcoming Festival Calypso Competition. One of her songs so far is entitled ‘Woe to the shepherd that lead his sheep astray”.
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