Prenzo: Focused On A Mission
by Onica Dick (The Poetess Neki)
He hails from San Juan, Laventille Trinidad, but moved to Tobago at the age of 15, where he has lived for the past 19 years. The second of 11 children, with five boys and six girls, his childhood was a vibrant mix of family life and discovering his passions. A standout childhood memory is visiting the Emperor Valley Zoo, where he was captivated by all the animals and the natural world. He emphasized, “I loved holiday times but really and truly, I love nature and how animals’ function.”
He even has fond memories of visiting a water park in St. Ann's as well as Coney Island; two places that sparked joy and wonder.
He attended Belmont Boys' Primary and Tranquility Government Secondary schools, where his love for music and poetry blossomed. He expressed, “I think my favourite primary school teacher realized from early that I had a very analytical mind along with a fascination for the rhythm and structure of poetry. I truly believe that this early love for words is what is responsible for my development over the years as it relates to music and this has become the cornerstone of my songwriting.”
Another part of his childhood included his hobby of football. “I was so in tune with football; I got a scholarship to play with Harvard Football Club, St James. I was also at Sky FC; I played for primary school, where I scored a lot of goals. I was even the captain of the football team at one point and I used to run long distances, marathons, 5Ks, around the whole Savannah in Port of Spain.”
One unfortunate part of his early life is the death of his mom at the age of three. “I was so young when my mom died so I have no memory of her and I only knew my father around the age 14. I basically grew up with maternal grandmother.”
Prenzo's musical journey began in his youth, singing with a group in primary school called Love Movement. They performed at major concerts and shows, often doing two shows in one night at venues like Queen's Hall. This experience gave him a taste of the stage and the power of positive music.
Quite recently he took part in a talent show at the Milford Road Esplanade where the judges were longstanding soca artiste Shurwayne Winchester and Adanna Roberts. He has also had the opportunity to perform at open mic nights and local events, including Apex Bar and the Amphitheater with Wade Caruth.
I ask him about his choice of artiste name. “When I was younger, I had a neighbour who never called me by my full name (Prenzon); he would always tell me, Prenzo is my name for you and I think that this is how the name materialized to become my artiste sobriquet."
His first release was ‘Love Yuh’ (2019 but his first official release, "Wuk Up" (2022), on the PTP (Pay The People) Riddim out of Barbados, was a milestone as it was released on all platforms including Spotify and Apple Music. The song showcased his unique style and lyrical prowess and he went to Trinidad to push it where he got airplay on Red 96.7 FM and Boom Champions.
He shared some of the lyrics with me, "Gyal me want yuh wuk up yuh waistline gyal;
Gyal me wah yuh wuk up, gyal me wah yuh wuk it
Carnival is rum, carnival yuh free, Yuh can do whatever yuh want on the street "
He reveals that he also has some unreleased Afro Beat and R&B songs as well.
The artiste who has recorded about 12 songs thus far explains, “Most of my recordings are done at Gemini Records; then Mixed and Mastered at Urban Brass Music Group from Barbados and I also work along with Power J, a St Vincent producer. I like how they are working so far.”
He shares some of the lyrics of two other releases. He has one called ‘Girls in the world’ where he emphasises that
“This song's for all the girls in the world, This song's for all the beautiful ladies, Cause when you wine up your waist my girl, I like it like that."
In another song ‘Take It’ he says,
“You causing heart attack, when you wine like that, baby girl you know you are the queen inna di pack"
Prenzo believes that music should be about substance and connection. The independent artiste who has no assistance from other writers adds that he prefers to jot down his ideas before entering the studio and his focus is on creating music that people can relate to. “You want something to last; it is not about singing one or two words; it is about a clear storyline with meaningful and catchy lyrics.”
I ask him about the impact he intends to create with his music. “Locally, I want my music to resonate with everyone in T&T, I am bringing something different, unique, something that will open the eyes and ears of everyone, that they say they can see potential of this person that will soar very high, something magnificent, something great.”
“Globally I also want to create a very big impact; God has been telling me to go on this path for a while; the journey will be a bit difficult, but I am confident that I have the voice to capture a worldwide audience. I have a very unique voice.”
Prenzo is no stranger to challenges. Getting his music out to a wider audience is a constant effort. He believes that for Tobago to truly foster its musical talent, it needs its own identity, its own road march, and its own competitions to push artistes forward.
Despite the hurdles, his best moments are performing for a live audience in 2023 at Barcode, EDay-I Love Soca Series on the same night with soca artiste Erphaan Alves, and feeling the crowd's energy, a feeling he describes as "magnificent" and "great." He admits however that he needs to work on certain things. "I need to improve as artiste in terms of stage performance, command of the stage."
Inspired by the likes of Voice and Bunji Garlin, he sees himself becoming a veteran in Tobago's music scene within the next five years, with a goal of releasing at least three new songs this year. He would also like to collaborate with Adanna and Voice and if he could have an international collaboration he wants to “go the Afrobeat way with artistes like Biscuit, Burna Boy and Chris.”
His advice to other aspiring artistes is simple: "The journey is a rough journey, some might start and some might fall off. If you're really taking this thing seriously, it's a long and hard journey." But he adds a hopeful note: "When you're about to give up, you may get through.”
Despite the numerous challenges of the music industry here in T&T he is of the firm belief that “everyone has their time to shine; everyone has their golden moment. The goal is to keep focused and your turn will come, especially for the ones who have the talent.”
A humble, headstrong, and determined individual, Prenzo has as his motto: "One goal, one mission, stay focused on your goal, never give up on your mission." With his passion and a golden moment on the horizon, he is set to make a name for himself, one powerful song at a time.
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