Corie Sheppard Podcast

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1725191/open_sms] In this week’s episode, playwright and cultural force Tyker Phillip brings real Jamette energy and opens up about the making of her acclaimed play Poison, a gripping drama born from the haunting lyrics of Dexter Dapp’s “Breaking News.” She breaks down her creative process, the casting of Nikolai Salcedo and Tafar Chia, and why she chose intimate spaces to make the audience sit in discomfort. We dive into her Belmont roots, her work with Belmont Freetown, and how mentors like Raymond Choo Kong, Tony Hall and Sprangalang shaped her path. From Mansplain to her iconic flag woman performance, Tyker speaks on what it means to create art that is culturally grounded, politically charged, and spiritually necessary. Click the link in my bio for the full episode #coriesheppardpodcast #tyker #belmontfreetown #poisonplay

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1725191/open_sms] In this bonus episode we get back with super producer XplicitMevon for an unfiltered conversation that dives even deeper into the beats, stories, and realities behind some of Trinidad & Tobago’s most impactful music. Mevon recounts his transformative experience leading a music workshop in Anguilla—where he was welcomed like royalty—and contrasts that with the lack of recognition at home. He shares the powerful, never-before-heard backstory behind “Anxiety,” the emotional collaboration with Patrice Roberts recorded just days before tragedy struck. The conversation explores: * Why soca is often seen as an “old man’s genre” and how that’s locking out young artists * The origins of Trapso, blending hip hop, soca, and Trini slang * Creating timeless hits like “Ponani,” “Annie,” “Come Home,” “Sugar Daddy,” and “Every Time” * The systemic barriers that keep emerging talent off the radio and out of fetes * How memes and double entendre still shape modern soca * The importance of documenting these stories for the next generation Whether you’re a longtime fan of Caribbean music or simply curious about the creative process behind Carnival anthems, this episode is full of honest reflections, cultural insights, and moments that might change the way you hear the music forever. 👉 Subscribe, share, and click the link in my bio to hear the full story. #Soca #Trinidad #XplicitMevon #Calypso #Trapso #Carnival #MusicPodcast

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1725191/open_sms] Just in time for Christmas in July, in this  inspiring episode, we sit with super producer XplicitMevon Sooden. Mevon Soodeen—aka Explicit Boy—is the Trinidadian music producer behind some of the biggest soca, soca parang & hiphop hits in recent years.  In this episode of The Corie Sheppard Podcast, we dive into Mevon’s journey from a self-taught beatmaker in St. James to producing Carnival and Christmas anthems like Pone Annie (with Rome), Come Home (with Nyla & Skinny Fabulous), and Take Me Home (with Freetown Collective). We discuss: 🎶 The story behind hits like Come Home and why major artists turned it down 🥁 How hip hop and Fruity Loops shaped his unique soca-parang production style 🎤 Collaborating with Rome, Kyle Phillips, Jeffers, Kit Israel, Freetown Collective, and more 💻 Leaving a government IT job to build a full-time career in music 🍽️ Parang, Christmas culture, and controversial doubles combos (smoke herring, anyone?) 📈 How Mevon is shaping the next generation of Caribbean sound If you're a fan of Caribbean music, Trinidad Carnival, music production, or just love a good origin story—this one’s for you. 🔔 Subscribe for more deep dives with the voices behind the culture.

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1725191/open_sms] Episode Description: In this episode, we sit down with pianist, singer, and producer Johanna Chukaree — better known as D Piano Girl — for an honest and uplifting conversation about creativity, healing, and purpose. Johanna shares her journey from early classical training and national music festival wins to a corporate career in engineering and HR — before finally stepping fully into her artistry. We get into the story behind her viral Savannah Grass cover, the emotional layers of her new single Forever, and how she blended Bollywood rhythms, Hindi lyrics, and Trinbagonian spirit to produce a deeply personal anthem. We talk about her process, her voice, and how music became a way to process life, raise her vibration, and reconnect with joy. From working out Phase II Pan Groove intros as a child in Woodbrook to making original music heard on major stations, Johanna opens up about learning to believe in herself — and how that belief shapes everything around her. 🎹 This episode includes: • The making of Forever and her Hindi-infused production choices • The impact of her Savannah Grass performance • Boogsie and Phase II being musical influences • Her time in the Marionettes Chorale • Hosting 12 & Under with Vaughnette Bigford • How she balances artistry with purpose and peace 🎧 Click the link in our bio for the full episode. #coriesheppardpodcast

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1725191/open_sms] In this episode, Lou Lyons shares the journey from growing up in a strict Tobago household with no TV to co-founding Freetown Collective and becoming a voice for cultural introspection. We talk about his early love for vinyl, the creation of Full Disclosure, and how the pandemic pushed him deeper into music and self-discovery. Lou reflects on the spiritual responsibility of artistry, learning guitar while studying law, and how he and Muhammad Muwakil built Freetown from spoken word roots to international stages. We also discuss: * The impact of calypso on all Trinbagonian music * Collaborating with Machel Montano on “Represent” * Why he left Lord Shorty off his soca Mount Rushmore * The importance of documenting music legacies and teaching pan over recorders * The spirit behind “Feel the Love,” “Light Man,” and his upcoming album A deeply thoughtful conversation about culture, conviction, and creative purpose. 🎧 Click the link in my bio for the full episode #coriesheppardpodcast #loulyons #freetowncollective #calypso #soca #kaiso #trinidadandtobago