BACKAYARD

  • Ms Triniti

    Jeanette Trinity Bhaguandas is a multi-cultural mishmash of influences. We sat down with Triniti at the Backayard offices in Kingston to hear from the gyal herself what it is that's behind her exotic looks and fresh voice. She describes herself as "a complete mutt-mutt and proud." Her father, a Trinidadian and her mother, a U.S citizen from Pennsylvania, chose to raise their daughter in London. In childhood, Triniti's parents tried to make her focus on her budding tennis career but when a wrist injury forced Triniti off the court, she landed in the studio. Music had always been her passion and fire and at the age of 15, she was even offered a record deal. "When my wrist got better, my parents were like, 'enough of that rubbish, go back to school and go back to tennis!' she says with a sarcastic laugh. Fortunately, at the time, she agreed with her parents because it was a tennis scholarship that eventually brought Triniti to the US. By age 17, she was a world-ranked professional tennis player. While enrolled at San Diego State University, she was approached by the athletics department. "They wanted me to sing the National Anthem for a volleyball game. I said yes. Then they were like, 'Yo, can you do a basketball game?' Then they were like, 'Can you do a football game?' The next thing I knew I was singing for the San Diego Padres [Major League Basball]." In order to pay for studio time, she began teaching tennis during the day and spending her nights recording and researching for producers. She needed to find someone who understood her sound-- a mix between Caribbean, hip hop and R&B that she calls 'Ragga Hop.' This lead to Q Million, her current producer. With his help she got signed to the Columbia label. Her sound, however, couldn't fit perfectly in their molds. While the label tried to decide whether they could market her as pop or reggae, Triniti realized it was becoming too political. A year later she parted ways with Columbia. Fortunately, she walked away with all of the songs she had recorded during her studio time there. This gave her a head start in pursuing independent deals since she didn't have to record any new material to compile an album. After the break with Columbia, Triniti did what came naturally. She began hustling to get even more stage appearances. "My first show was at the only reggae place in LA, 'Reggae Gold,' and I just started the circuit from there," she explains nonchalantly. She had already begun production on pressing her own 12-inch records when hype started to build in, of all places, Japan. So much hype that Japanese trading company JPT ordered 200 copies of her album 'Ragga Hop' and when those sold out, reordered until they had purchased a total of 17,000 copies to be distributed throughout the Japanese massive. Her overseas success allowed her to release three more albums in Japan and she is well into production on her fourth. Opening for acts like Ja Rule, Fat Joe, Kevin Lyttle, D12, and Elephant Man, Triniti recently accompanied Sean Paul on both his US and Japan tours. So far, collaborations include work with artistes such as E Dee, Baby Cham and on the remix of her latest single, "We Burnin," Beenie Man. Triniti explains, "You gotta understand, from pickney I was looking up to Beenie Man. So for him to call me. I was like, 'Whaaaatttt!'" She has also recorded with producers like Troyton Rami (Gimme Di Light), Lenky Marsden (Get Busy), Sly and Robbie, and Scientist. Not too bad for an artist who was dropped from the first record label to sign her. Beyonce's first label dropped her too, Ms Triniti, so we look forward to seeing what you've got coming up.

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