The island’s most idyllic East Coast spots inspired the name of North-West London’s newest breakout music/modelling sensation and fashionista Laurie Basheba Nicoll.
“My favourite place to visit in Barbados is Bathsheba. The scenery and views are amazing [and] it’s somewhere I could never get bored of,” she tells EASY via email recently.
“So when I was thinking of a name, I decided I wanted a name that meant something to me. It came to me one day and I thought maybe, and that I’d [thing about it] for a while. Then the next day I was on the train to the studio and a woman was carrying a bag with a map of Barbados on it, [with] Bathsheba highlighted in bold writing. That sealed it for me; I felt it was a sign. When I got to the studio I asked my producer Dean Barratt what he thought and he agreed. I later decided to take out the “TH” to make it easier for people to remember and spell.”
Truth be told, any quick internet search for one of the MOBO Unsung Finalist for 2014 would reveal she wears her partial Barbadian heritage like a badge of honour.
Her mother hails from the island, and local entertainer Terencia TC Coward is her cousin. She also likes to spend time on the West Coast with aunt Yvonne Caspar-Richards: “My aunt and family own Spago in Holetown and Sugar Hill, so I am regularly on the West Coast, but I love to spend time on the East Coast.”
The rolling shores and musical vibrancy of the island created the singer’s initial interest in music Basheba recalled hearing everything from reggae to soca to R&B to country music when spending time here, and when she returned to England she would buy the new songs she discovered.
The sounds of hymns, both ancient and modern, also influenced the No More songbird.
“I loved walking past churches on Sundays, and hearing people singing hymns. The unity and beautiful voices was inspiring. That had a big influence on my music.”
She has described her music as a “blend of soul, blues, gospel with elements of different dance styles such as drum ‘n’ bass and jungle.” Basheba is enjoying growing success with singles Dirty Love, which amassed over 50 000 views on Vevo, No More and Hold On. Her EP Bad Friends, Good Enemies is slated for an October release.
Basheba is already excited about her upcoming trip to the island for Christmas and New Year, and said she would love to make some new fans in the place where she first fell in love with music.
“I would love to do a gig in Barbados. It’s definitely something I plan to do in the near future. I’d like to build a fan base in Barbados, and share my music.” (LW)
