Elra Ermay: Press

Elra Releases ‘Emotive’

It was a joyous Monday evening for the select group of people gathered at the National Cultural Centre to celebrate the launching of Elra Ermay’s second album ‘Emotive’ this week.

Warm and personable, Elra personally greeted specially invited guests before delivering an expressive performance of some the material on her CD. Witnessing the exclusive performance was Elra’s family, friends and supporters, including the acting Prime Minister Phillip J. Pierre and Minister Felix Finisterre.

Dressed in sparkling white, the singer took the stage with the capable Sugar Cane Band for an engaging delivery of ‘No Turning Back’. Elra then busted a few moves with back-up dancer Stan, during the upbeat ‘Could You Be’.

The small audience had the privilege of previewing the video for the poignant ‘Safe Again’. Although still in production, the short clip was nonetheless quite touching, with Elra’s stirring vocals enhanced by touching visuals.

Back on stage in gauzy brown gown with elbow length gold gloves and a gold flower in her hair, Elra channelled legendary jazz vocalist Billie Holiday with a captivating rendition of the patois ballad ‘E Quittez Mwen’. She then performed that rare thing among Caribbean musicians, a duet, pairing up with Ronald Glasgow for the sweet and romantic ‘I’m Here to Stay’.

Joe Dubois noted that this “labour of love” showcases Elra’s undeniable vocal skills and technique. The CD, which the singer personally financed, includes jazz, reggae, ballads and inspirational music.

It is not often that an artist accomplishes the difficult task of producing an album that eclipses the success of the first. However, manager of the Hewanorra Music Society (HMS) Etienne who says that last year Elra received a royalty cheque worthy of her work, observed that ‘Emotive’ was a great follow up to first album ‘Longing’. This “beautiful” album that makes the best of her great soprano voice and in which she continues to demonstrate her versatility and maturity he says, is one any artists could be proud of.

Two singles from the 11 tracks CD has already been released. ‘No Turning Back’ and ‘I’m Here To Stay’ are already capturing the public’s ears, boosted by her memorable performance at this year’s Queen Show.

Elra’s delightful experimentation with her creole jazz number "E Quittez Mwen" has seen her selected by international judges to participate in the Francophonie games in Niger Africa, later this year. This is only the latest notch in the belt of a performer who is recognisable in Saint Lucia and the region.

Elra’s talent has been on display since her schoolgirl days, winning her the Nicholas Frederick award for Best Chantwelle at the Ave Maria Primary School and pushing her onto the national stage during her secondary school years at the St Joseph’s Convent. Elra performed with the Trinidad Theatre Workshop when they staged Derek Walcott’s ‘Ti Jean and His Brothers’ and ‘Dream on Monkey Mountain’ in St. Lucia.

The St. Lucia School of Music has recognized her unique vocal skill with several voice awards and in 1994 she was the winner of the first Christmas/New Year Song Contest. Elra represented St. Lucia at the World Championships of Performing Arts in Los Angeles in 1999 and wining first place in the original works category and second in the Broadway category. In 2004, she was a finalist on the Digicel Rising Stars regional singing contest.

She produced her first CD ‘Longing’ in 2000.

Hotel secrets no longer secret!





Pastries and cake anyone?
Pasta in various shapes and sizes and sauces; breadfruit and saltfish balls; Creole fish Bajan style; fried rice; banana cake; mango chutney and plantain chips, music and cocktails usually served to tourists were available for all and sundry for a fraction of their usual cost at the first St Lucia Rhythm and Spice Festival.

On Sunday hoteliers and employees took their craft to the Pigeon Island park in what they say is an effort to acquaint St Lucians with what really goes on behind the guarded gates of most of the island’s hotels. According to St Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association (SLHTA) president Allen Chastanet, St Lucia has one of the best tourism products in the world but this fact is lost on the majority of the island’s nationals.

Chastanet, who has often called for an end to the debate on the benefits of tourism, pointed to the Oprah-Superman-made famous Ladera Resort’s status as number one in the world and the several awards claimed by the Sandals chain, Beach Villa Cottages, LeSport, Windjammer Landing and Almond Morgan Bay among others. But whether it was the $20 entry fee or the UWP’s political rally being held in Cul de Sac, the event drew a very modest crowd and a few hotels had to haul home several trays of unsold food. But those who came were rewarded with tasty morsels and attractive prizes that included airline tickets, jewelry, helicopter tours and the grand prize of a 5-day cruise.

Also up for grabs was a prize for the most unique outfit using the traditional madras cloth. The winner was singer Elra Ermay sporting a Shazi creation—actually from all appearances Elra may have been her own competition. The nation’s young and old don’t seem quite prepared to give up their sequined skirts, espadrilles and Capri’s for madras. The Rhythm part of the event featured bands on the hotel circuit. The Almond Band, a versatile group of young men who can actually sing, performed conscious rhythms including a tune from the once upon a time popular Lucky Dube.


Elra Ermay won herself airline tickets for wearing her madras
Chastanet was pleased as punch and promises an expanded version next year. “For a first time event I think it was well done and with all the other activities going on we had a pretty good crowd,” he said. “Those who were there left with a good taste in their mouths.” “I was very excited and it went extremely well. We were trying to showcase the best of tourism in St Lucia and I think many people were pleasantly surprised, particularly at the quality of entertainment that is available on the hotel circuit and the chefs who were preparing meals using local ingredients.”

On the matter of the increase in financial allocations to the tourism industry Chastanet says it is an encouraging sign. “The PM made special mention of the money that will go to marketing the destination—this has been a sore subject with us that the majority of funds allocated to the SLTB has not been going to marketing,” he added.

“The SLTB says it spent about $16 million of the $25 million it received last year, but we refute that,” Chastanet went on. “At the end of the day only about $4 to $5 million went into the market. This year government is spending $1.2 billion and the amount to be spent on marketing the island is less than 2 percent—not much when I think of the number of new rooms we have coming on stream and the contributions that the sector makes.”

Approximately 10,000 people are employed directly by the hotel sector that has a wage bill in excess of $180 million and pays half a billion in utilities and taxes. In the 2006/07 Budgetary Estimates government has proposed to increase the allocation to the sector, through the St Lucia Tourist Board, to $29.6 million. Of this amount $25.8 million will go to marketing. The tourism sector accounted for 13.5 percent of the island’s GDP in 2005.

Jazz on the Beach was a blast!

Pastries and cake anyone?
Apparently the organizers of Jazz on the Beach didn’t get the memo that Cable & Wireless was the sole sponsor of St Lucia Jazz events. They had instead opted to go Digicel for their event which for the past few years keeps getting “bigger and better!”—the event that is! Their decision also means that they get little support from the St Lucia Tourist Board. But it appears that this hardly hurt the event, which attracted hundreds to Reduit beach on Sunday afternoon.

The atmosphere at Digicel’s Jazz on the Beach is reminiscent of a party on a Miami beach. Great music and plenty of female eye-candy. (Funny how at the beach women are uninhibited about showing off as much of their, um, goods as possible). Judging from what was displayed at the beach St Lucia has some beautiful women! I can’t say the same about the men, those at the beach anyway. What exactly were they hiding under those long T-shirts? Beer bellies?

And as for those who did take their shirts off, they might as well have kept them on. Truth be told, were it not for Robert Lansiquot showing off his Body Inc chiseled physique while taking a swim, the ladies would have had nothing to look at! (Take a bow Robert) Nonetheless my friends and I were left on the beach wondering: Why do women always get the short end of the stick? But wait, I said the attraction was the music right? Among the performers for Jazz on the Beach were Elra Ermay, Robert “Zi” Taylor, Vert X Band and Lion I. Each from different music genres.

Elra Ermay definitely surprised me. My former St Joseph’s Convent teacher was sexy! She wore body hugging white pants and a blue knitted shrug and she sang her butt off! Hitting the high notes with ease, she had the crowd hooked. Robert “Zi” Taylor is always a crowd-pleaser. His versatility with the saxophone and his comfort on stage set the audience at ease. And his Reggae/R&B style blended with the afternoon sun. The Vert X band was expected to be right up there but just as they were starting to play the soca rhythms the crowd was waiting for the band leader announced that Lion I would take the stage.

Although many in the audience admitted that they liked Lion I’s song Confidence, closing the show was probably not a great idea. Instead of ending on a party note, people just kind of slinked off the beach as Lion I sang. Many were also taken aback by his More Fire performance. Lion I was accompanied by flame-throwers who would blow fire every time he said “more fire.” The audience at the front of the stage quickly stepped back for fear that chicken might not be the only thing being barbecued on the beach. Despite that little incident, the artistes, the atmosphere and the sponsors made Jazz on the Beach a great event that will surely be held for many years to come!