FL: Tell us about Lucy & Vagabond, How did you come up with the name, How did you all get started?
LUCY: Well it began late one night in 2014-2015, Vagabond and I were talking about carnival; the next day I messaged him late in the night regarding the name and what was missing in the carnival space; what we wanted to see, view and everything carnival; from costumes, event details, designers etc. The following morning I woke up to all the information to the social media accounts. Generally what you see being published on our micro blogs is what we discussed (re: obsess over) and still discuss daily among ourselves and team.
Vagabond: The concept started from Lucy and I actively feteing, which resulted in people asking us every season (like clockwork) what is there to do during Carnival. During 2014-2015 we got to talking and my mind told me to not wait any longer. At that point I went ahead and created accounts for all major platforms, between then and now we’ve been growing and reshaping our vision as things progress.
FL: As one of the leading sources for everything Jamaica Carnival, how do you think carnival in Jamaica has evolved over the years and way?
LUCY: In the past 6-7 years it has EXPLODED. The emergence of the two new bands; Xaymaca and Xodus have changed the scene exponentially; From concept, execution, event production, new designers (Monday wear/ Costumes), competition wise the level of work that has gone into the development in such a short space of time (IN MY OPINION) has been jaw dropping to witness over the years. It’s forced (ing) everyone (more importantly government) involved to really pay attention and give it the due justice it deserves. For fellow Jamaican Soca lovers, while there is resistance generally it’s now having its place within the typical Jamaican social calendar which is (amazing)!
Vagabond: Jamaica Carnival has seen a year over year improvement leading up to 2017; at which point our Carnival space transformed into something we’ve never seen before. This was courtesy of the Xodus Carnival & Xaymaca International’s contribution to truly pushing the Jamaica’s brand of carnival further than before. Now that we’re onto Year 4 of the diversified space; the evolution of our carnival can be seen in our costumes, fete packages and external investors; that is, Trinidadian promoters seeing our country as a place worthy of their brand’s image. This is just the beginning of what’s sure to be a much bigger picture.
FL: What makes the Jamaica Carnival different from any other carnival?
Vagabond: I genuinely believe it comes down to our energy and cultural spin on things. Through Dancehall & Reggae we’ve given a lot to the world, and to have masqueraders visit the island and experience those pieces of us in a Soca space ultimately gives them an authentic Jamaican experience.
LUCY: Picking up on What Vagabond has said Jamaica offers value. Value in the carnival experience. Value in entertainment. Value in our culture which revolves around Dancehall, Reggae,Food, Attractions and importantly the people. It’s an entire experience from start to finish.
FL: What are you looking forward to the most about Jamaica a carnival, and what tips or suggestions do you have for first time Mas players in JA?
LUCY: I’m looking forward to carnival week specifically Road March. From Sunday that leads up to carnival Monday till Road March. There’s an energy that’s a mixture of excitement, anxiety, happiness and anticipation that really you have to be within the space to feel it.
My advice to first timers in Jamaica is PLAN AND PACE! Jamaica is really good value for money but you HAVE to plan. Be aware of your surroundings. Go outside of your room to explore the FOOD and culture outside of carnival if you can. Be polite, Jamaicans love persons with manners. Morning and Good evening will take you far.
Vagabond:Most certainly looking forward to how young/newcomers of the space develop and mature their contributions to the culture. Whether it be a lyme or a cooler fete; to see fetes/event brands grow is particularly special to me. Tips for Jamaica Carnival: Get familiar with the goods and services associated with our mas, our mas is based in Kingston which hosts various food and entertainment options. They owe it to themselves to experience these perks.
FL: As a brand devoted to the Caribbean and carnival culture, what are your thoughts on the recent actions of social media platforms blocking carnival culture, and what suggestions do you have to help fix the situation?
LUCY: The first word that came to mind during the entire censorship was and still is “ignorance”.Individuals who aren’t aware of the significance of carnival will only see the surface which is “scantily clad women/ men gyrating in the street” vs Thousands of people of all races, class, social background coming together to celebrate the joy of Mas; A celebration created by our ancestors during times of hardship. The islands are sooooo vast with each island having its own identity for carnival. In racial and social tensions that affect us all, it’s a step backwards instead of forward.
VAGABOND: It’s a bit heartbreaking and for the most part disappointing. It stems solely from ignorance. With persons in ‘higher power’ unaware of how someone else’s culture work, and to have THAT much control over how much of it gets out to the world is concerning.Suggestion would simply be to get extensive consultation on these matters going forward. They’ve made claims of fixing the issue but we’re approaching 2020 and most of the Caribbean content is still being throttled by the Facebook owned company.
FL: With your “Carnival Influence,” how do you plan to help continue to push the culture forward? Lastly, what can we expect from Lucy & Vagabond in 2020?
LUCY: More original content. More collaborations with Caribbean creatives. Our Website.More avenues to really make soca (culture) accessible to a much wider audience . Community based projects that will benefit the future masqueraders (The children) but also the Caribbean community.
VAGABOND: Our backbone is made of the emotional/sentimental aspects of the culture, and with that we intend to give more to the people. To inform them who their designer is, who their band is, the origins and backstories of the various key players in the space — further adding to how special this genre and culture is to us and everyone in the world. For 2020,a lot of collaborative projects and quality content to make Soca/Carnival in Jamaica and the world alike to have access to more information as they Carnival Chase.
