00:00Good evening, I'm Janelle Hope with TV6 News and we're at the National Academy for the Performing Arts
00:05where the region's biggest stars are gathering for the Caribbean Music Awards.
00:09Trinidad and Tobago hosted the Caribbean Music Awards this past weekend in a star-studded display of Caribbean excellence.
00:17The talent of our region was broadcast to an international audience
00:20with globally renowned media outlets like Billboard and BET providing coverage for the event.
00:26TV6 had the opportunity to chat with Soka star Nyla Blackmon before she took to the stage to host the
00:33awards.
00:34Hosting the Caribbean Music Awards here the first time in Trinidad,
00:38I feel so honored because I get to represent for my people, I represent for my music,
00:44I represent for the whole of Trinidad, Tobago and the Caribbean
00:48and I love doing things that excite me and are new so that's how I feel tonight.
00:54Jamaican artist 450 also shared in the excitement of the evening,
00:59expressing his gratitude for the opportunity to share his craft with the world
01:02and for his nomination for Best Dancehall Album of the Year.
01:06It's a massive and great accomplishment for me and I'm grateful for the fans and my team.
01:11I'm grateful for the Caribbean Music Awards and the whole Trinidad right now and the love and support over the
01:17years.
01:17And when asked about how he felt about the evolution of dancehall music on the international stage,
01:23he had this to say.
01:24It's about elevating the music itself, the sound and the impact we make on the world with our music.
01:29Speaking with Paul Tom, Global Public Relations Lead for the awards,
01:33TV6 was able to get a peek behind the curtain to discover what it really takes to host an event
01:39of this magnitude in the Caribbean.
01:41I know that this has been something toyed around for a few years and it's always been the intention to
01:46bring it here.
01:47And I think Trinidad, you guys spearhead so much.
01:52Carnival season, I was here earlier this year for Carnival season.
01:55I think it's extraordinary.
01:57In regards to hosting it here, from my, I think we all have our areas of expertise.
02:01So from a public relations standpoint, I wanted to make sure that I prioritize Trinidadian media.
02:07And not only just the big publications, houses, but also to the content creators that are really taking it home
02:14from a digital aspect
02:16and putting Trinidad on the map, right, in more ways than you can imagine.
02:20TikTok, social media in general.
02:22And inside the theater, one Trinidadian artiste dominated the night by winning three of the nine categories she was nominated
02:29for.
02:30What does it mean for you to be here tonight?
02:33It means a lot for me to be here, just seeing all the artists come out and, you know, really
02:38give the Caribbean Music Awards
02:41something for the people to be talking about.
02:43It gives hope for the people that come in after us who are here right now.
02:47And then for the people who are here right now, it's our motivation.
02:50It's something extra for us to look forward to.
02:53You get, you know, acknowledgement for what it is you're doing.
02:56And every genre of the Caribbean gets its place.
02:59In her final remarks, the self-proclaimed Queen of Steam had this to say.
03:04Yo, you don't know, it's Lady Lava and this is TV6.
03:08Stop blocker coming in fast.
03:09High beam.
03:10Janelle Hope, TV6 News.
03:13Go on.
03:15Bye.
03:15Bye.
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