Meet Shaquille Noel.
Music is described as vocal or instrumental sounds combined in such a way as to produce beauty of form, harmony and expression of emotion. I decided to start the article off with the definition of music because we are going to be covering a local musician named Shaquille Noel. Shaquille is a very talented individual who just so happened to attend the same primary school as I did which is St. Margaret's Boys' Anglican School. The school has produced many talented young musicians over the years and I am honoured to get the opportunity to interview Shaquille and learn about everything he has been up to.
1. Could you tell us a bit about yourself like your upbringing, what schools you went to and so on?
I was born on April 21st 1994 at the Port of Spain General Hospital in Trinidad and Tobago. Fun fact, I was born on the same day that Brian Lara broke the world record. It's funny because my mom was a teacher, now retired and I started school one year at the age of five, sitting in on one of her classes at St. Francis Girls School in Belmont before transferring to St. Margarets Boy's Anglican School then to St. Mary's College. In 2013 I started my tertiary education at Miami Dade College- Wolfson Campus.
2. What age did you get into music?
I got into music at the age of six years old. I remember being a part of Mr. Enrico Camejo's music classes, needless to say that was the highlight of my weeks as a child.
3. What was your very first instrument?
My first instrument was the Steel pan, I was introduced to it at St. Margarets Boys' Anglican School which is a school that is known for it's musical excellence throughout the years.
4. Who or what inspired you to start music?
It kind of just happened really when the school introduced us to the Steel pan and from there an interest in music started growing.
5. When did you start playing drums?
I started playing drums at the age of 12. I remember being awestruck by Kail Thomas' ability on the drums and Garth Sinnette as well. They would have the entire school in an uproar with their rhythms and I thought to myself "I want to be that cool one day, I want to learn the drums!"
6. When did you realise that you were passionate about music?
I believe it was not too long after I started learning the drums. I became engrossed in listening to different styles of music and watching videos of musicians and music from all around the world, seeing the crowds react to them and seeing how music affected people's emotions. I knew this was something I would want to do for the rest of my life. Music became an art in my eyes and I desperately wanted to learn how to paint.
7. I know that you also arrange music, when did you start arranging?
I started arranging when I was about 16, listening to songs and putting my spin on them. It was just a hobby initially. I would say it wasn't until 2015 when I took a Big Band & Jazz arranging course at college did I seriously start grasping the concept and methodology behind arranging and started taking It more seriously. I wanted to follow in the footsteps of arrangers such as Ray Holman, Len Sharpe, Leon Edwards, Clive Bradley, Clive Alexander, Duvonne Stewart and become exceptional at the art of arranging for steel orchestras.
8. How did you become a part of Imij & Company and Vizion Music Entertainment?
Upon returning from my studies abroad I was eager not to waste any time getting into the professional world locally as I knew I wanted to be a full time musician. I was contacted by Rodney Harris who I had known from my short tenure at the Divine Echoes Orchestra and he told me they needed a drummer for Vizion's upcoming gigs. I said yes when I heard the members of the band were some of the people I looked up to musically ever since I started and it has been history ever since.
Imij & Company was slightly different as it was a recommendation from past drummer Gerion Williams who was moving on to join Bunji Garlin's team. I always had an interest in the band and finally had the opportunity to become a part of their decorated history books.
9. How did you get the opportunity to headline the Drummerville Festival at Queen's Hall and how was the experience?
I was contacted by Drummerville's executive team which consists of Brennon Vergil, Gerion Williams and Elliot Francois and they expressed their interest in having me be a part of the show. I was very much nervous but excited to be a part of the only local festival that highlights percussionists from all corners of the country. That experience was one of the highlights of my drumming career, knowing that I was the headliner for such an event made me work even harder at my craft. As a drummer most times your role is to support the artist or singer but this was a space where I could have showcased my approach the drumming with no boundaries on my musical creativity. I was and still am very thankful for that opportunity.
10. You also teach at St. Margaret's Boys' Anglican School, which just happens to be the primary school we both attended. How does it feel to now be teaching music where you once learned?
It feels really great to know that I am giving back to the ones that helped shape my destiny. If it had not been for my time at St. Margaret's Boys' I would probably have been a journalist but really, I enjoy teaching there and I learn as much as I teach to the abundance of young talent Trinidad and Tobago and by extension Belmont and the environs has.
The coming generations of musicians are very much exceptional and I am proud to be a part of their development.
11. Where do you see yourself in the next five years?
Wow, well in the next five years I see myself continually developing my craft and brand and becoming a recognised name regionally and internationally for music. In the next five years I see myself performing all around the world, making music that would be honoured for a lifetime to come and leaving a legacy for others to learn from.
12. Do you have any advice for people that want to get into music as a career?
For anyone trying to get into music as a career I say go for it. Music is sometimes a career people frown upon but do not be swayed. Be consistent, diligent and work harder than you have ever worked before and it will pay off. The best advice I can give also would be to diversify yourself, learn different instruments, learn your theory and be as complete a musician as you can. This will set you apart from the others in this extremely competitive field. There is no better feeling than waking up and doing what you love every single day.
You can check out Shaquille's page on Facebook here
Or here