Gospel/calypso artiste Carlton Louison is feeling Justified

SINGER Carlton Louison began his musical career solely as a gospel singer but he later fell in love with calypso and added it to his repertoire. Last December he released his first album Justified with songs chronicling his journey in the genre.

"I started in gospel and I still do gospel. I like both (gospel and calypso) equally," he told Newsday in an interview.

Originally from San Juan, and with a strong church upbringing, Louison got his start in music singing hymns with his siblings while their grandfather played the organ. He grew up loving R&B, soul, and gospel music greats including Mahalia Jackson, and Aretha Franklin, Luther Vandross, and Stevie Wonder. Louison's first stint at professional singing was at 17 and with an acapella gospel group called Visions of Glory that was formed by his aunt Hazel.

The family group performed all over the country and did two music videos, My Lord and Nothing is Impossible.

"We were really popular back in the day."

In 2006 he released his gospel album Praise Him Up!

Calypso, calypso music

Four years later he would get involved in the world of calypso. Back then he was working at Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (he is still employed there as a customer service advocate for corporate clients) and was intrigued by the company's long history of annual calypso competitions.

"As a Trinidadian, I felt then I wanted to learn pan or to sing calypso...(our) indigenous music."

In 2010, Louison entered a TSTT talent competition and sang David Rudder's Calypso Music.

"And I won it. And I thought I probably should explore this genre."

In 2012, he captured the AmChamTT calypso monarch title and in 2014 he was a finalist in the prestigious Young King's Calypso competition, and placed third in the Arima Monarch competition. He also kept entering the TSTT annual competition, placing second in 2013 and eventually winning in 2016.

He later began working with veteran calypso writer Gregory "GB" Ballantyne to help with his writing.

"I did not know how to write (calypso) at all."

He said GB is his main influence in calypso writing while Rudder was his main influence in terms of vocals.

In 2018, he wrote his first calypso, a social commentary called Glorified Gangsta.

"I saw people calling gang leaders 'community leaders' and I had an issue with that."

Louison made the Calypso Monarch semi-finals in Skinner Park, which made him believe that he could write calypso. In 2019, he wrote Cell Phone Addicts and was once again a finalist of Young Kings. He explained cellphone addiction is a worldwide phenomenon and everyone could understand it. Also in 2019, he performed the song at Carifesta XIV which was held in the country. He would go on to be in the winners' row in some regional competitions.

Asked about his musical style Louison said he liked to push the proverbial envelope.

"I like to be innovative. You will not see me doing the normal calypso. Even in gospel, I try to be innovative and fuse different styles. I like to describe myself as an innovator."

Criticism

But he has received criticism from people who believe gospel and calypso should be kept separate.

"I have gotten that. But I see God differently from a lot of people in the Christian community.

He continued: "Calypso is our native thing. Once you don't compromise your Christian stance in your lyrics I see no problem with it. If I sing 'take ah next woman' or endorse revelry, smoking or drinking or abusing your body contrary to scripture, then you can say Carlton gone off-track."

Louison speculated that if he was singing classical music then a lot of people would not have an issue.

"Because it's calypso and there's a link with Carnival, and evangelicals especially do not celebrate Carnival, there is a kind of taboo with it. But the essence is in the lyrical content. If I compromise my biblical standards then you can call me upon it. That's my stance."

He said his relatives also have mixed views about his calypso music.

"The ones really interested in my career have supported it and have no qualms about it."

He said few Christian people see where he is coming from but he believes he can even reach a larger audience with calypso and still bring the gospel in it.

"Or I could just reach people with the music by singing calypso. Few people understand it and a few oppose it. But I'm kind of radical in my thinking generally, not orthodox or conservative like a lot of us in the Caribbean. When you go outside you see the difference. It opens up your mind not to compromising, but it opens people to do other genres. A lot of artistes sing in more than one genre. The personal conviction that I have, I don't think anything wrong or untoward with singing calypso.

He continued: "I see calypso as my arms and the gospel as my legs. My feet are shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. With calypso, I can reach places where the gospel may not be appreciated."

Feeling Justified

Louison described his six-track album Justified as basically a culmination of all his calypso songs from 2010 to 2020.

"I used the title because I feel justified in doing this. No condemnation. And I have worked in the calypso arena for ten years of my life, so the content is justifiable as well."

The album features the tracks Glorified Gangsta, Cell Phone Addicts, Str8, Judgment Day, Great Is Calypso, and Fixing T&T, and he wrote all but the last two.

"(Listeners will) experience some humour, political commentary, and social commentary. And it will encourage them to speak about certain issues in society. It will motivate them to be a voice and not just keep their voice silent."

Louison said the response to Justified has been moderate.

"Covid has put a spin on everything."

He reported he is working with MusicTT to help re-release it.

Asked if his end game included the Calypso Monarch crown, Louison, who turned 50 last month, said he was not so much into competition any more, but rather planned to travel and spread his music as wide as possible. He also planned to do collaborations with international artistes both in calypso and gospel. He reported he was currently working on a new gospel song.

"It is just part of me."