ROSENERI - Music remains my greatest passion
by Onica Dick (The Poetess Neki)
Kisheon Jovian Adriel Edwards aka Roseneri, born on June 15, 1989, is an artiste with a story rooted in the pulsating culture of Tobago. He spent his early years in the village of Lucyvale, Speyside, and later moved to Delaford. He is the second of three children to parents Noel and Wendy Kerr Edwards.
His early education at Speyside Anglican and Delaford Anglican schools laid the foundation for his desire for learning. He later attended Signal Senior Comprehensive and Speyside High. Kisheon fondly remembers his primary school teachers, Pearl Orr and Ora Best, as well as his high school teacher, Mr. Dalrymple, who took it upon himself to teach mathematics even without a formal class. “Whenever we didn’t have a teacher, he would look over us and still try to teach us different Mathematics steps.”
Before Kisheon’s artistic journey there were the simple, joyful moments of his youth. His childhood was filled with football, a passion that would later inspire his stage name. As he stated, "The name came about because of football and playing football on the beach as a hobby. We also used to view it on TV, the Champions League that is, and we would pick teams. My team was AC Milan, others would have Barcelona and while listening to one game the commentator referred to them as Roseneri." The word stuck with him, and he eventually adapted to Roseneri; a name he felt that was quite unique.
Prior to that in his village, he was known as "Foodie," a nickname that carried over from his father. "One time there was a competition in the village, and my dad sang won. So, when I moved to Delaford they labelled me as Foodie son. However, that name was only for a time."
I asked him what he inspired him to want to become an artiste and this was his response. "When I was attending Signal Hill Comprehensive and there were those times to free up and keep things like class parties, some of us who used to have the responsibility to set up the sound system; there were times we would have the mic in our hands and riddims would be playing and a random person would ask you to sing, so we developed holding the mic and singing on riddims and then I started writing songs in school; sometimes a chorus and then trying to complete it at another time." The encouragement he received from his friends fueled his early passion.
In 2007, Kisheon released his debut reggae song, “Repentance Time,” under Tapa Tap Promotions; this marked the beginning of his professional journey. He shared some of the song's lyrics, “Repentance time, ah start to see clear and decided in life to make music ah career; Say everywhere I go, people in fear, conscious music they want to hear”.
While his roots are in reggae, Kisheon has since found his niche in soca music, embracing it as the local genre with immense potential. He’s recorded 13 songs to date, and he currently uses Gemini Records. Some of his popular tracks include 'Puncheon' and 'Paint Up'.
In "Puncheon" he tells us
"Puncheon have mi feeling real nice; This carnival have real vibes; Puncheon doh know when a go sober; This is sure hangover; Puncheon..." while in 'Paint Up' he assures us that, "We come to pretty up the carnival, Paint Up; Everything go paint now; Your face could get paint up..."
He is an independent artiste and writes all of his own lyrics, and he is on a mission to create a strong impact.
"My intention is to create an impact both locally and globally. So far I have entered the Soca Titans competition twice; the first time I would say it was a career building exposure. The second time time it was a platform building opportunity as well. I will continue entering the competition with the intention to win like everyone else as well as to help build the tourism product in terms of entertainment and where Tobago artistry is concerned. At the time of the interview, he was awaiting the results of his registration entry into the soca monarch auditions. Unfortunately he did not make it, but his journey is a continuous one. In relation to making that global mark, I am presently independent, however it is my hope to get some sort of global recognition to boost Tobago's image internationally; to work with other artistes to boost the art through collaboration with different types of music and to captivate diverse audiences so as to introduce them to that genre of music.
He finds inspiration in dancehall artiste Ninjaman, admiring his ability to command the stage with originality and powerful delivery. Kisheon has had the opportunity to perform at local events like the Bacchanal Calypso Tent, Delaford Harvest Weekend, and the Neal and Massy Credit Union Pop Up Fair.
"I remember for the Reggae performance at the Delaford Harvest Weekend which took place on the Louis Dor Playground, there were other artistes like Prophet Benjamin, Gardah Knight. It was my first major performance on a stage; I had a feature; the crowd response was exceptional, they pull up the song multiple times, I sang songs, that were appreciated by the crowd, in my mind I did real good and that is from where I started to build the soca music."
"This year I also got to perform with 'D Entertainers Calypso Tent' managed by Lady IB during the National carnival. It was my first time performing with them.
The performance at the Neal and Massy Credit Union Pop Up Fair was last year around October Tobago Carnival at their headquarters, in Port of Spain on Borde Street.
Kisheon’s journey has not been without challenges, especially in finding adequate studio space early in his career. "In 2012 TAPA was not functioning for a while because they had a major delay of finding adequate space to set up their equipment. During that time, I spent some extra time trying to develop the local genre because the persons at the radio stations would tell us that soca is our thing."
However, he considers his encounter with producer Gemini Records to be one of his best moments as an artiste. This partnership has helped him professionalize his career, allowing him to quickly turn an idea into a recorded song.
Looking ahead, Kisheon wants to improve his visibility through more live performances. He dreams of collaborating with local artistes like Nailah Blackman who he appreciates for her creative sounds and different tones; Bunji Garlin for his lyrical theatrics and his ability to keep a riddim and tempo while globally, he hopes to work with Vybz Kartel, an artiste known for his ability to create hits across various genres.
In the next five years, Kisheon envisions himself creating more music, touring, and expanding his reach globally. His advice to aspiring artistes is simple: “Once you recognize your God-given talent, you have a responsibility to use it to the best of your ability.” He emphasizes the importance of patience, respect, and perseverance in a challenging industry.
For Kisheon, the resurgence of interest in cultural arts in Trinidad and Tobago is a sign of great things to come. He believes that Tobago's own carnival will create new opportunities for local artistes, entrepreneurs, and band leaders
For those interested in his journey on social media, he can be found on
Facebook: Kisheon Edwards; TikTok: kish_kish60; Instagram: king_kish31 and YouTube: Roseneri Music.
As the interview comes to a close, he basically reiterates, "I am a fun-loving and adventurous person who enjoys the outdoors, fishing, and hiking, but music will always remain as my greatest passion."
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