Massive Gosein returns to chutney with ‘Indrani’ Saturday, November 27 2010
TRINIDAD NEWSDAY - By SEETA PERSAD - Former chutney soca monarch and Carnival tent manager Nirmal Massive Gosein gave up calypso ten years ago to promote his own Carnival tent in TT. This year he returns to the chutney arena with a brand-new hit, “Indrani”. The song, which is produced by Kenny Phillip, has Massive’s own lyrics and melody, unlike many other releases that use melodies and musical arrangements from the Bollywood industry.
Gosein said, “As artistes we have to be more creative. While it is good to steal a melody and experiment with it, I believe that the so-called chutney singers are overdoing it by only producing songs with stolen melodies.”
Noting that the people of India, who are creative enough to produce these melodies, are those who have studied music for many years before going to the studio. He lamented, “We have the biggest stars in the industry here stealing melodies like it is absolutely nothing and just writing a few words that rhythm and presto they have a hit song.”
He added that he condemns this kind of behaviour and is calling on the chutney artistes to stop this nonsense and start creating melodies that reflect the fun music we have in this country.
He noted that Trinidad and Tobago is supposed to be the land of steelpan, calypso, and chutney, and this is what should be projected in songs created for the fete seasons.
Although he has invested a lot of time and finance in producing a new song this year, he has also put in a lot of effort for the upcoming Carnival season.
The Massive Roving Tent will see the talent of Crazy, Black Stalin, General Grant, Soca Elvis, Impulse, Lady Adana, Sheer Platinum Dancers, Xtreme Breakers, Vikash Dancers, Nirvana Dance Company, DJ Sheriff and a whole lot more.
The tent will open on February 11 at Club Victory, 128 Caratal Road, Gasparillo and it then moves to the St Mary’s Ground, Moruga on February 12. The tent is free to the general public.
Massive Gosein started his stage life as a drummer for some of the country’s biggest stars in East Indian classical music such as the late Sonny Mann (“Lotay Laa”), Sam Boodram, Rajesh Yankaran, Boysie Basdeo (deceased), Sookraj Indar (deseased) Sampson Radhay (deseased) and others. He comes from a talented family of musicians and singers whose members have made their mark in the local music scene.
Massive has played the dholak (handrum) in more than 85 recordings produced in TT, and he launched his first cassette in 1994 entitled Jump and Wave. The songs included “Neemakharans in This Chutney Jam,” “The Ten Rules for a Successful Marriage,” “Tell Them Singers Around Massive Come down in Town,”and “Bhaigan Ka Choka.”
His second cassette/CD release was in 1995 entitled Fire Truck, with songs, “Soca Chamkey,” “My Name Is Love Boy,” “Sweet Wine,” “Bhaigan Ka Choka” (remake), “Mih Indian,” “Mata Roya” and “Dobinya.” This release brought tremendous success for Gosein and he was contracted to tour New York, Miami, Canada, England, Suriname, and Guyana.
In 1998, he released D Massive in Action with songs such as “Gobaa Ki Mar Mar,” “Bhabuni From Caroni,” “Tumhe Mai Yaa,” “O Maa” (Mother’s Day), “Waistline” and “Happy Birthday to You.”
Gosein has participated in many major competitions, winning titles for Chutney Drummer and Best Dressed Artiste. In 1997 he won the National Chutney Monarch and in 2000 he won the second Independence Chutney Soca competition. He repeated this feat in 2001 also winning People’s Choice and Best Dressed Artiste.
In 2002 Massive created history by being the first Indian artiste in the Political Calypso Competition. In 2007 he again won the National Chutney Monarch winning $150,000.
Here are the lyrics of Massive’s new tune for the competitive stage in 2011.
