Shawn Da Mastamind Noel
|
Shawn Noel the youngest of three boys was born in Siparia, Trinidad. While attending Siparia Boys' R.C., he learned to play the guitar and the cuatro. By age eight he was a member of his family's parang group Dulzura Caliente where his mom, Hazel Noel, was the lead vocalist his dad, Simon, was the guitarist, his brother, Selvon, was the pannist, his other brother Shedron played the box bass and Shawn of course played the cuatro. He then joined the church choir and taught himself to play the keyboards.
At St. Benedict's College in La Romain, Shawn studied the sciences, but his love for music never wavered and by form five he joined Joseph "Joey" Rivers' band, Rhythm & Moods. At Joey's studio, Shawn learned to create his own beats, and this was when his mom, realizing her son's potential, purchased a computer and some producing programs to encourage Shawn's musical growth.
By the time he graduated, Shawn then started studying to become an electrical engineer this is where he was approached by Junior of the Censation Band, he quickly grabbed at the opportunity and became the keyboardist for the band. The Censation Band had recently teamed up with Bunji Garlin and this is where he first met his first inspiration, Daryl Braxton, who at the time was producing for the vocalist in the band. Shawn let Daryl listen to some of his earlier attempts at producing, and he encouraged him to sit in on some of his recording sessions and this inspired Shawn to take producing seriously.
In 2003, the Censation Band, now known as The Asylum, was on tour in the United States and while on tour, Bunji Garlin became aware of Shawn's talents, he was producing beats Da Ma$tamind is now responsible for 13 compilation albums using the bands equipment, Bunji invested in a laptop and it was fuel to Shawn's producing fires.
He then hooked up with Roger "Bhudda" Munroe, a well known producer from the Producer's Coalition of America. Bhudda took Shawn under his guide and introduced him to professional producing software, giving him a crash course on it's technicalities. By the end of 2003 Shawn had produced several songs on Bunji's Graceful Vengeance album, including "Warrior Cry" (Trinidad and Tobago 's Soca Monarch 2004), The Latin beats of "Snake Oil Part 2" and the soulful rhythms of "One Family". He then went on to co-produce the Nightshift Riddim, working with Machel Montano, Benjai, Gailann, Maximus Dan, Mistah Shak (his eldest brother) and Collis Durante.
In 2005 Shawn did it again, he produced two riddims that year, the Pot O' Gold and the Nutmeg Riddims, and Bunji Garlin's song "Blaze De Fire" on the Pot O' Gold Riddim again won him 1st Place at the International Soca Monarch competition. It was also in 2005 he started his very own music production company Mastamind Productions with his wife Natasha. They also produced their very first album, Pot Of Gold, featuring the songs from the Pot O' Gold and the Nutmeg Riddims.
In 2006 Shawn pulled a hat trick and produced and composed the music behind Shurwayne Winchester's Don't Stop, which won him 1st Place in the International Groovy Soca Monarch. It was also this year that Mastamind Productions started their annual Soca compilation, Da Mastamind Project, and their Christmas compilation, A Mastamind Christmas.
In 2008 He produced and composed the music for Adrian Dutchin's No Place Like Home. Which won him 1st Place in the Guyana Soca Monarch. 2008/09 also signified the start of Mastamind's singing career. He entered the entertainment arena, releasing a Chutney Soca collaboration with Soca artiste Patch, entitled Rum and Roti.
Rum and Roti, received heavy airplay and soon was a crowd favorite. So popular was the song, it showcased Shawn's ability to sing, that he was offered and excepted a position as a frontline vocalist in Shurwayne Winchester's band Y.O.U. The track also secured Mastamind and Patch finalist positions in the Chutney Soca and Groovy Soca Monarchs. His latest release "Wuk-Up Heaven", a definite summer hit, with a heavy Bajan influence has been receiving alot of great feedback and Mastamind has been performing throughtout the U.S. and Canada. Wuk-Up Heaven is one of the many releases from Shawn Noel's album presently entitled "Foolish Brilliance" Scheduled to hit stores December 2009.
Shawn now known to many as "Da Ma$tamind" is now responsible for 13 compilation albums, his music can be bought in just about any record store and is available digitally on Itunes, Trinidadtunes, Amazon and a host of other digital stores. His company Mastamind Productions plans to continue to create music, through their many voices one sound initiative, they will continue to promote young and veteran soca/calypso artiste worldwide. Stay tuned Da Ma$tamind has Just begun.
Shawn Da Ma$tamind Noel
Advertisement
Also in Features
-
Profiles
Olatunji Yearwood - 'The Profile of a Born Star'
On hearing the well-loved phrases "Hello? Are you there?!", "Yip, yip, yip, uh huh, uh huh!" and "Yeaaaa boi!", only one name comes to mind: Olatunji Yearwood.
Read More | 0 Comment(s)
More Features Profiles
-
Talk Yuh Talk
We have failed Hati
I stood shocked, flabbergasted and amazed, as Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago Mr. Patrick Manning bravely and boldly declared that he was not sending any of our personnel from our Protective services to assist in the rescue and recovery excercises to our caribbean neighbor Haiti during the time of disaster.
Read More | 1 Comment(s)
More Features Talk Yuh Talk
-
Editorial Features
Set Sail With The Kaj Resort 2010 Collection, Shore Culture
On Sunday June 20, 2010, Kaj Designs welcomed the Caribbean Fashionweek (CFW) audience to the scintillating charms, textures and tones of the Caribbean as it set sail with the Kaj Resort 2010 collection, Shore Culture. Tobago's premier fashion label presented a sea of undulating fabrics in rich tones of magenta, fuchsia and teal with flowing, easy creations befitting of a luxurious vacation of leisure.
Read More | 0 Comment(s)
More Features Editorial Features



