Nathelie Taylor, Gleaner Writer 
Lima performs at the Jamaica Carnival Portland 'Blowout Fête', Folly Oval, Portland, on Sunday March 13. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
A WOMAN once remarked that Lima Calbio was "the best thing to happen to carnival this year." One wondered then how fitting such a glowing tribute was to an artiste whom many were not familiar with. Soon enough, though, the
compliment proved to be of merit.
Lima has left her mark in the hearts of revellers, many becoming enslaved by her playful set and bewitched by her seductive voice not to mention her voluptuous curves.
It's easy to like Lima. She has charm, personality and presence. Plus, her smile puts one at ease immediately. There are no airs about her. What you see is what you get.
The youngest of seven siblings, a
loving wife to a supportive husband and a mother to a doting daughter, Lima is sometimes that little girl who dreamt about bright lights, big cities and captive audiences. More so, Lima is the woman living that dream and loving it.
In a dreamy voice, she reveals
childhood fantasies. "I used to see myself travelling and I used to see people screaming my name, all of that."
MUSICAL FAMILY
Performing is as natural to Lima as breathing, a part of her that's been honed since she was a child. "I grew up in a musical family. But, I was the first one to branch off into bacchanal." One of her brothers now plays guitar with Traffik band, while another does his thing in pubs.
Since 1995, Lima has been performing occasionally in Jamaica on the invitation of Byron Lee, an experience that allowed her to move forward with her career. She joined the Trinidadian band Blue Ventures as their lead vocalist in 1991, touring with them to places such as the Bahamas and North America. But, Lima craved more. "It wasn't enough for me ... So, when I got the call to join Byron Lee and the Dragonaires in 1995, I came.
We travelled so much, I was practically living out of a suitcase nine months out of the year."
It may sound exhausting, but this was Lima's dream in action. She thrived on her hectic schedule. "From the get-go, they loved me ... That was a good
feeling. My first carnival here was in '96 and I had a fantastic time." She got
married soon after and had a daughter, "then decided I had to go back home to do my motherly duties."
Jamaica's lure was too strong to resist for long and Lima returned for the 2001 2003 carnival seasons with her former band Blue Ventures, on the request of band leader Bobby Quan. "I spent four years with them, from 2000 to 2004, but I decided, again, that I wanted more I wanted my solo career."
Last year, Lima joined the Onyan-led Antiguan band Bagon, known for hits like I Command You, Workie and Engine. But it was not on a full-time basis. "I prefer this. At this stage of my life, I don't want to be with a band
full-time."
Lima's affinity for Jamaica's carnival may seem strange, because she comes from Trinidad, which has a rich
carnival culture. Lima explains that cost is dissimilar. "Your costumes are so cheap; $6,000 might be a lot to Jamaicans, but that's just TT$600.
But most of our costumes are over TT$1,000 and we pay like TT$2,700 for an all-inclusive section."
JAMAICA EASY
"Trinidad's crowd is so hard to please, but Jamaica was easy for me. Also, Byron Lee going to the country areas. Is good! Y'know, it makes everyone feel like a part of it. It's not just Kingston. So, it's different, but it's nice."
Not a 'winer' girl, Lima uses her voice to gain attention while on stage. "I
concentrate on my vocals. People know me for this powerful voice. They're always like 'she's so tiny, where this voice come from'?" They'd perhaps be surprised to know that Lima has had no formal voice training. It's all natural.
Lima has learnt to care for her voice. She has had to listen to it and respect the changes it goes through during
performances. "I remember when I started working with Byron Lee, I used to spend up to two hours and get very hoarse. Then I learnt not what to do. I will give my all on stage, but I know how to pace myself. I hardly get hoarse anymore."
Lima has to execute more discipline in voice control and breathing techniques, because she suffers from asthma. "Sometimes the dust and smoke is not really good for me but, somehow, I've managed to control it. When I start to feel a bit tight, I just relax."
The general nature of soca rapid beats, fast rhythms does not do justice to her voice's capabilities. But lately,
this self-styled "versatile vocalist"
has been able to explore her voice's
capabilities, because soca has become softer. "Soca doesn't really lend itself to much singing. But now, with the groove songs, people make more of an effort to sing. When I did Water My Garden, people were like 'my gosh, Lima, I now hearing your real voice'."
WINNER
Water My Garden fertilised more
success for Lima than just voice
exposure. So confident was she that the song was a winner, Lima recorded it with her own money. With a smug look, she says, "I've made back that money and more. The song has been doing very well ... I've been having a ball with it." Her repertoire includes Only The Fittest, the first song she released when she returned to Trinidad in 2000, Ready For The Road, Same Old Something and Sugar Factory. She also has three collaborative efforts with Onyan With or Without You, Do Anything and I Want It.
Lima has immense fun on stage. Water My Garden, for instance, brings out her playful side. "I go to give a good show. Sometimes I'm unable to do all that I would like to do, because of the short space of time, but you will get a show. I ain't going to give you no half-picked duck," she laughs.
Nevertheless, her policy is that whatever happens on stage should never negatively affect her reputation. Cautious on stage, Lima takes care not to wine too low or expose too much. She dresses sexily, of course, but not churlishly.
"It must not be a vulgar
performance. People must be able to respect me, 'cause I always have my daughter and my family in mind."
Lima does not indulge in
alcohol before her set. "I want to face my crowd on a sober head. I want to be sure that I had on that and that I bend down so. I don't need alcohol to deliver on stage."
Instead, Lima's energy is fed off her audience. "When I see the people, it's like I could just go on and on. But, that doesn't mean that if they don't put out, I won't either ... So, if there are five people there, I see 50,000. But, a crowd that obeys your every command, it's like wow!".
HAPPILY MARRIED
Lima, who coyly claims
'thirties' as her age, has been happily married for the past eight years. While not always there physically, her hubby's support for her career is incredibly
tangible. In a voice filled with love, she recalls: "He once told me 'it's a good opportunity. This is what you enjoy doing, this is what you're best at.' I've always had that support."
So, when she's getting on bad on stage, she's not doing it for male attention. On several
occasions, however, she's had to put randy male fans in their places. "You see, when I have that mic, I am in charge, so I can embarrass them very nicely and let the crowd laugh at them."
Those she works with also know that respect has to be maintained. On the advice of her sister many years ago, Lima proudly proclaims that "to this day, none of them can point a finger at me and say 'you selling pink or blue saltfish.' I get the respect." When they get out of hand, Lima slaps them down with humour. "I'll say 'but that is incest'. I would make everything into a joke. Make it into a joke and then they'll say 'you know what, she's a waste of time.'"
Her career, certainly, is not a waste though. She's being
invited frequently to perform at music festivals throughout the Caribbean and would love to work on her first album. And, if God permits, Lima will be
performing for a long time to come.
She knows she won't be
performing forever, though. Then what? "I love doing house. Getting things to match and colour coordination and stuff, I just love that." Of course, Lima wouldn't give up music entirely. "Apart from soca, I'd like to do my own cabaret shows. Take it down nice and easy. But that is far down the road. Now, is mash up business!" she says, her laughter ringing with conviction.
