Intimate Portrait Of Nehilet Blackman

She is kind, honest and fun-loving both on stage and off. Many have fallen in love with the Queen of Favour herself - Nehilet Blackman. In anticipation for her upcoming launch, Gospel Globe's Esther James (Essy) had the distinct pleasure of chatting with her. This is a ‘Intimate Portrait’ of our Trini Queen that represents Christ wherever she goes.

Essy – How did you begin doing music?

Nehilet – Well I was born into a family of music. It was by my father the late great Ras Shorty I, inventor of Soca and Jamoo, and my mum. For those who don’t know he was a secular artiste, known as ‘Shorty’. Back in those days, I was born around the time that he gave his life to Christ.

I grew up in Christianity and music. So when he gave his life to Christ, he gave his life to Christ with music, and used the gift that God has given him to glorify Him. I grew up in a family with a full house of fifteen (15) siblings, really it’s 23 brothers and sisters that I had, and everyone was talented. I started singing on stage at the age of 3. I wrote my first song at the age of six. Back then we were called the ‘Junior Love Circle’. That was in 1986.

Essy – What do you think is the most valuable lesson that you have ever learnt?

Nehilet – Umm there’s so much! I would say it’s from my father. Putting God first is very very important because when you put self you find a bunch of complications. So learning to put self out and put God in is most valuable lesson that I have learnt growing up and something that I’m always reminded; that it’s not about myself but about God and not having any fear.

Just to be comfortable on stage also with my girls in the band just telling them that it’s not about you but about God. That God is your best friend! If you’re singing for your best friend then you have no fear .So just taking self out is the most valuable lesson that I’ve learnt. When you also do something for somebody you do it freely. I’ve learnt that from my father. Blessing people and being a blessing.

Essy – Can you share with us any mistakes that you have made in ministry that you’ve learnt from it, and now used it to change your approach in ministry?

Nehilet – (She laughs) I wouldn’t go into full details, but basically I would say when I first started my all girls band, I was not prepared. SURELY…  Even though I said I was relying on God, I think that I was just excited and happy. I lost my focus along the way and I ended up in deep trouble. I’m refocused now, but I stopped for a while and put myself in a position of full accountability.

I was accountable to my pastor yes, but there were certain things that I never used to communicate to my pastor. Being married and a responsible young lady that stood for something I still didn’t think that I was fully prepared. The mistake, was not understanding the responsibility of being a leader and what it takes at that time.

Essy – Name one thing that fans don’t know about you. It can be personality wise, things that you do for fun, yuh know?

Nehilet – I’m not afraid to be alone, but I’m a people’s person.

Essy- You feel the need for company always?

Nehilet – YES! For example, everybody in my family did their solo album, and I’m kind of petrified about doing an album by myself.

Growing up with my brothers and sisters, when going out I’ll always try on ten, twelve outfits before, and then ask 10 people. Marge will always know what she’s wearing, and say "Oh gosh you care what people think?!"

I haven’t grown from that stage. I still will call my best friend or my husband to find out what it is to wear. As much as people think that I’m a leader, I still need people kinda way. People mean a lot to me and I listen, even though I’m strong headed I listen a lot. I take people’s advice, I may fight it but I sit and think on it. I love people!

Essy – What sort of things go through your mind before you go on stage? How do you prepare as well?

Nehilet – I just ask God to use me as a vessel. To just take my voice, take my body and just let me be an expression of Him. That’s what goes through my mind.

Essy – Tell me, which do you prefer the most? Being on radio, in studio on the road or in churches, and why?

Nehilet – Humph! I doh have a choice. Anywhere! Take me anywhere and I do what God has called me to do. I just love it all! I don’t have a place. In the clubs on the streets I just love it so I’ll do it!

Essy – With that being said, how would you speak to people that don’t believe that soca or jamoo has its place in the church? What would you tell them?

Nehilet – Check it out for themselves! Everything speaks for itself you know! And if you listen to jamoo and the words in it and everything, God speaks and you will hear. So before you judge just try and research and look into it.

Essy – Now I know that your parents named you right. What does the name Nehilet mean?

Nehilet - It was my granmother’s name and she was named Nehil, they named me Nehilet. My father never told me the meaning of my name, but I did a lilttle research and I got ‘Queen to rule’ and ‘Of good nature’. I also heard it’s a Jewish name.

Essy – What sort of weird mispronunciations have you gotten?

Nehilet – Oh gosh! Plenty! Niblet, (she laughs), Nicolette, Nehi, all kinda thing. Once it sounds like my name I will answer. I don’t frustrate myself.

Essy – Share with us an embarrassing moment that you’ve had and you laugh at hysterically now.

Nehilet – Ahhh! Oh my Lord alot! One I can recall was when I was 20, this was in (year) 2000. My father had just passed away and I was going through a little insecurity/vain stage, and had a little pride that kind of way so I used to wear contact lenses and those were my days of vanity….

The song ‘Light of the world’ was pretty popular at that time. I had a kind of prideful way of going on stage, and I had on a lip gloss that apparently had a lot of glitter in it. So I’m singing the middle of the song and in one of the verses I licked my lips and began to cough until I choked in front of the whole audience. Then Isaac couldn’t play the guitar and sing. I was in a mess and I laugh now but I was totally embarrassed!

Essy - Which is your favourite song that you’ve done on album or stage?

Nehilet - ‘Favor’ because that song is a true reflection of my life and what I’ve been through and that’s just me talking to God you know. Definitely!

Essy – What bible character do you identify with most?

Nehilet – I would say Esther because she used her beauty to rule a nation to save people. She didn’t flaunt it per say but she used wisdom with it. I would definitely look up to her a bit. My mentor is Solomon, I love Proverbs and I love Solomon.

Essy – Do you have any nicknames you’d like to share with us?

Nehilet – My middle name is Ebony. My friends call me NEB, that’s my initials actually. Nehilet Ebony Blackman. So they say Neb, my mum used to call me Netty when I was a child. I have no idea why.

Essy -  What inspires your sense of style?

Nehilet – Humph. It’s just something that comes to me I actually know how something supposed to fit, the colors and the ‘feel’ that I want. Everyday is a different feeling. Designs just come to me!

Essy- You own a boutique don’t you? Tell me about it!

Nehilet – Yes but right now I’m doing basically orders. I’m doing band clothing. I only have samples right now until I have time for that fully. The line’s name is Jamoo Designs but I have a boutique at my house called Jamoo connections - meaning that when I travel I bring in accessories and stuff. Things that I connect to apart from my own designs.

Essy- This is a fun one! If you had the power of God for one day like Bruce Almighty what would you change in our world?

Nehilet – Doubt. It is what makes people not see God. So if you take it away you give people vision to open their eyes to truth. Not to force anything cause God gave us freewill, but take it away and they will see what’s in front of them.

Essy – What country would you tour if you got the opportunity to?

Nehilet - Well I’ve been to a couple places well eh! Africa, Asia, Europe, Canada to the States, to South America and through out the whole Caribbean. But there’s one that I’d like to go to and that’s Egypt, also India

Essy – In closing are you working on any projects and releases that we should look out for?

Nehilet - Well it’s my entire All Girls’ Album! It’s almost complete! I’m really excited about it! I took the opportunity to do a 14 track album. I took 7 to myself and gave 7 to the girls. So you’ll be hearing me but you’ll be hearing these girls.

To me there’s so much talent from so many females and males in Trinidad and Tobago. I have plenty and I decided to share the stage ‘cause I have some talented young girls and decided to share what God has given them. I have an eleven year old which is my neice, she’s the youngest in the band. I also have the other girls.

Essy- Can you call their names for me?

Nehilet – I have Iantha Hicks, she’s the bassist and sings lead vocals and writes her own songs. I have Alannah White, she’s on drums; Crystal Bascombe on drums as well. I have two drummers. Halima Gooding on guitar; Anessa Sherine Aziz, she’s on guitar vocals and she’s a lead. Rayanne is on Keyboards, Nyliah and Nehilet my nieces, they’re on vocals and percussions. Karma Ramsey, she is on lead vocals and back up vocals as well. All the girls sing and write their own songs!

Essy - If you had the opportunity to be an animal for one day what would you be? (She actually asked me how was it that I didn’t ask this one as it’s her favourite question)

Nehilet – I would like to be a dolphin, because they get to see the underworld, still connect with people and make them happy. Dolphins get to have the best of both worlds!

Be sure  to support Nehilet and D`All Girls Band in their album launch Saturday 17th October 2009 at Faith Assembly International, Arouca Trinidad. Stay tuned to Gospel Globe for more!

Written by :

Esther James

 

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