So I returned home during the Independence season last year which was chock-full of activities. On such event was Belmont Lounge hosted by marie-claire at Symzee's -a local spot known for Jazz on a Thursday night. I did an impromptu performance and marie-claire complemented my singing. She was so sweet, humble and just so encouraging! It seems after that night we just kept running into each other and as fate would have it, I am compelled to let the world know about this gem of a talent local to Dominica and no stranger to the world stage.
marie-claire was born in Roseau, Commonwealth of Dominica, West Indies and raised in The Bronx, New York. She began singing while studying Archaeology in her senior year at Brooklyn College, when she performed at an open mike night at the Village Vanguard. The very next day marie-claire and her best friend left for Texas where she spent a year and a half performing on the jazz and country western circuit. She attended a performance of Mozart’s, Don Giovanni and was inspired to pursue a career in opera.
Undaunted by remarks of the extensive training involved, marie-claire embarked on her latest endeavor. Eight months to the year, while working in the classical music department at the Austin Tower Records, marie-claire was approached by the musical director of the Austin Lyric Opera Company who overheard her singing to La Boheme. After only two auditions marie-claire became a member of the Austin Lyric Opera Company. She completed the season and began her full time study of opera, at the Conservatory of Santa Cecelia in Rome, Italy where she lived for three years. Her return to the states took her through Los Angeles, where she continued her study, and then back to New York where she studied with Raymond Buckingham.
The connection with Mr. Buckingham led to two performances at Carnegie Hall with the New York Grand Opera Company. She also studied with Wayne Saunders of Opera Ebony, performing in several recitals in the New York City area. She has been featured in The City section of the Sunday New York Times, performed at Joe’s Pub, Lyricist Lounge-Central Park Summer Stage 2001, Siren, Izzy Bar, and Lot 61 to name a few. She has performed at the . Annual Hip-Hop Film Festival (November 2002) and Bounce at The Bronx Museum of The Arts. marie-claire has been featured in the films, Lovin Jezebel and The Roommate and part of the cast of the second season of The Chappelle Show on Comedy Central. She has also graced her amazing voice on DJ Logic’s Album, The Anomaly. marie-claire’s passion is to seamlessly blend opera and hip-hop, as she finds the two genres covering the same themes with their highly dramatic lyrics. CNN said, “She is the real Hip-Hopera, hearing is believing!
In 2005 marie-claire was featured in the 2nd season of the Dave Chappelle Show on Comedy Central. Marie-claire has also graced the pages of local magazine Domnitjen and regional magazine, “Liat’s Island Where”. She performed at Dominica’s State House, the solo recital:’ A Night at the Opera’, at Jazzwalk singing the classic jazz standards of George Gershwin and Cole Porter and at Cable&Wireless,”Creole in the Park” doing hip-hopera. During that year, marie-claire co-created, co-produced & hosted video best- the first ever video music show in Dominicaa. Locally produced, it served as a platform for local artists.
2006 was equally busy for marie-claire. She headlined with artists such as Morgan Heritage, Richie Spice and Barrington Levy in Dominica as part of Nature Fest and in St. Lucia as part of Love Fest. marie-claire 's love of film inspired her to form her own production company, girlfullofgold productions ltd., a local company whose directive is bringing the stories of the region to light through the art forms of film, music videos & live TV. marie-claire also had two live TV shows in Dominica, jazzlive, which featured the best jazz musicians on the island including marie claire and belemont lounge which featured reggae, dancehall, hip-hop and r&b. Both shows were geared towards providing local artists with a platform to express themselves through their art, and both were aired live on Sat TV and Q95, which stream world wide. marie-claire was also featured on WCK 2006 cd release, the track entitled, ‘Hustlin’.
In 2007 marie-claire sang for heads of state from all over the world, including Hillary Rodham Clinton.
marie-claire visited Jamaica in 2008 for stints at Christopher’s Jazz Café, Weekenz & Red Bones Blues Café to rave revues.
marie-claire kicked off an equally busy 2009 with a performance at the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival in Montego Bay. She still has three albums to record, opera, jazz and the evolution continues, her tour of her show, ‘Opera Goes To The Movies’ across the Caribbean and plenty of live performances. Upcoming shows include Ocho Rios Jazz Festival.
Look out for her on an island near you!
Opera singer, Hip-hop lover, Nature Isle daughter...marie-claire you are officially Lime Certified!
Q&A
1. I see on your facebook profile you are"single"....what are you seeking in your ideal man?
nothing cause he does not exist.
2.What is the most high tech gadget you own?
my most high tech gadget is my laptop.
3.You have great skin marie-claire, can give us the secret?
my mother has great skin, i get it from her.
4.Do you remember your first crush?
yes, i was in love with prince.
5.Can you tell us you top three vacation spots?
sicily, italy/new york city/dominica
6.You grew up in Bronx and now live in Dominica, how have these two places impacted your music?
the bronx, new york city and dominica are two of my favorite places on earth...well i create a mixture of musical genre's, like a bouyon does , but i mix opera w/hip-hop, reggae, jazz, dancehall and r&b. these 2 places influenced my music cause i grew up with all all these genres in both places.
7.If you had to be on a deserted island with one person, who would you pick?
i would pick my mother cause she is a soldier.
8.Ever have an embarrassing moment on stage?
no embarrassing moments on stage.
9.What has been your proudest moment in your career?
proudest moment would be performing at carniege hall and then being invited back.
10. Is there any artist you would like to collaborate with?
i would love to work with buju banton.
Go With Your Gut
11.Kingstown or Kingston?
both kingstown and kingston
12.Wisdom or knowledge?
both knowledge and wisdom
13.Short and sweet or tall and talented (guy)
tall and talented
14.lace or leather?
both leather and lace
15.basement party or rooftop party?
both basement and rooftop party
marie-claire at Air Jamaica Jazz Fest'09Finish It...
16. i feel sexy when i perform.
17. i relax by chilling at home alone.
18. condoms-trojans
19. opera music is the best in the world, can go with anything.
20. marie-claire- the evolution continues.
Sample these four songs that shows marie-claire's incredible range: "Red," "Feva" feat S.K.I.N.N.Y aka Shadowflow,"Desperation" feat Rin and "Summertime."
www.myspace.com/marieclairegiraud
Marie Claire Imagine Dat Artist Profile
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