Chrystal Cummins-Beckles tried something different last year and it paid off in a major way.
A collaboration with another musician helped her to second place in the Pic-O-De-Crop finals in 2013, and this year another association has placed her where she has never gone before since entering the calypso arena in 2006 with a social commentary written by Sir Don.
She is one of four women named for the July 4 Party Monarch semi-finals at Kensington Oval and will be vying for a place in the battle royal at Bushy Park with Pantuk. She will be appearing in position nine.
Chrystal landed a place in her first attempt in the Party Monarch with the composition from former tentmate Lady J, which was arranged by Ricky Brathwaite.
The Headliners Calypso Tent singer is overjoyed about her Party Monarch selection.
“To be honest I feel really good, because it’s something different and I get to explore a side of me that I never really did before, with a song that I didn’t even write. . . . I wanted to do something new and show people there is more to Chrystal than commentary,” Chrystal told WEEKEND BUZZ.
While she has sung some ragga soca tunes through the years, it was never for competition. Now that she has been bitten by the party bug, Chrystal said fans can expect more of the same and she is even thinking of entering the Sweet Soca segment in the coming years. In fact, she said Lady J already has a ragga soca for her for the 2015 competition
She said Pantuk is about pan and the fusion between Trinidad and Barbadian culture. Chrystal said she gravitated to the song almost immediately.
When asked for a peek into what people can expect from her next Friday, Chrystal would only say: “Expect a good showing and representation of myself.”
“You will not be seeing Chrystal doing anything that is outside of the song. The song is about music and enjoyment. You will see Chrystal enjoying herself,” she added with a laugh when pressed for more information.
The 29-year-old will also be looking to do well again in the Pic-O-De-Crop competition this year with the self-penned Enough Is Enough and a collaboration with David Weatherhead titled Another View.
“This year I just tried to change up certain things and try to work with other people to see how I could better me, as an artiste. I am looking to do well this year. Even if it is not position wise, just to know [that] at the end of the performance, at the end of the day, I’ve improved and I’ve done something good and my music is out there and somebody likes it and enjoys it. ’Cause that’s what it’s about for me too, not just competition but making sure your music lives on. Because some people’s songs don’t live past August 1,” she said.
As has been the case for several seasons, Chrystal also plays keyboards in the Scotiabank Junior Calypso Monarch band and has written for Mighty KT, Quinn P, Ah-Dee-Lah, Nubian Queen and Adonica who have all made it to the semi-final round. She has also arranged songs for some of the other junior contestants.
