Coldero Coming Hard for 2K6! - Written by Niama Sandy

Seasoned and versatile performer Leon Coldero is setting up for Carnival 2006 with several new projects. Currently headlining at the Bob Marley Café at Universal Studio City Walk in Orlando, FL alongside the band Mystik Nrg, the incomparable performer never skips a beat- literally and figuratively!

With arrangement and production by Shawn "Da Ma$tamind" Noel, and lyrics by Clyde "Kool" Headley, the up-tempo "Saddle Up" will be featured on the upcoming Ma$tamind Project compilation album.

"It's not a groove, it's a wild song. You have to saddle up! Picture yourself like a jockey on a horse. And who ever wants to be the jockey it could work both ways," Coldero explained merrily.

While the idea for the song was present, the production stalled for a moment.

"Sometimes in writing, you just draw blanks and nothing's feeling right. We had issues with the song. We had a rhythm going, we had an idea for a song and it just kept changing in the studio. We asked Kool to come by and he started singing this "Saddle Up," and that started feeling good. It just became better as we continued. We wrote the song right there in the studio.
"

"Saddle Up" also marks the second time the Coldero has worked with Shawn Noel.

"Working with Shawn was a great experience! That's something that you find as an artiste working along with producers, it makes the job so much easier when you're in an environment where you feel comfortable," said Coldero.

The first venture is titled "Parangin' in Brooklyn."

"I always thought that there are many Trinidadians in Brooklyn and it would be nice to do a Parang track for them to make them feel at home."

The tune was Noel's first foray into the Parang arena and marked the first time back in the studio for Coldero since "Long Distance" recorded in 2004.

During his hiatus from recording, Leon has been very active with his band Code 868. Code 868, titled after the area code of Trinidad & Tobago, though based in Florida performs all over the United States, Canada, South America and parts of the Caribbean.

Currently, Coldero is finishing production on a 14-track album tentatively titled Overseas. Scheduled for an after-carnival release, the album, in addition to "Saddle Up," will feature original songs as well as covers. On Overseas will be "I'm Alright," and "Groundin' Off," which producer Jason Lee describes as songs that attempts to "bring back melody to music," with "new vibes and new lyrics."

The album will showcase Code 868 in collaboration with some of Soca and Reggae's brightest talents featuring Eddie Charles, Roger George, Uncle Sam, Beenie Man and others. Executive producing the album will be Coldero himself along Pradeep Sawh.

"I have a passion for all art forms and all cultures as far as our music is concerned. If I have an idea for a song or someone comes to me with an idea for a song and I think it's a good song and I can do justice to the song then it doesn't matter whether it's a Chutney, Parang, Soca or Calypso-that's me, that's Trinidad!"

With that kind of attitude it's no wonder Leon Coldero, a proud son of the land of Steelpan, has his eyes on the prize for the upcoming Carnival season!

Coldero is all for the growth an expansion of Caribbean culture explaining that it may have been slightly inhibited through problems with marketing and packaging, and the fact that for most Soca & Calypso music is viewed as being seasonal.

"Our art form is originally called Calypso, we have tried different things and a lot of artistes don't want to call the music Calypso. Calypso it is the mother genre and it is more recognized throughout the world than Soca is. If you hear Dancehall, the first thing people think about is reggae. Whether you hear Rapso, Soca, or Ringbang, it's Calypso, not to say that confuses people."

Other than looking forward to a very successful 2006 in regard to his own career, Mr. Coldero hopes to create a development initiative for Soca music and its artistes.

"I would like to see more of our music being played, so more artistes can get work and also so that more songs can get popular. I think our music is a great music. It's dance music and it's happy music and if we were to put things into perspective as far as management is concerned we could go a lot farther in a shorter period of time."