WITHOUT doubt, Tennicia DeFreitas is one of the sultriest and most explosive young singers around. And under tutelage of the Kross Kolor Studio, she is certainly chalking up big points as the next local song diva to make a positive difference on the international scene.

Born on December 10, 1991 in Kuru-Kururu, a village on the Linden Highway in the East Bank region of Demerara, Tennicia Nekeita De Freitas grew up in her grandmother’s house, the place she still calls home. Her childhood days were not so easy, since she did not know her father at that time, and her mother worked very hard then to take care of her and her younger brother. She spent all of her nursery and primary school years in Kuru-Kururu, where she started dancing and singing. However, she loved dancing a lot more.

In 2003, she graduated from the primary level to attend Christ Church Secondary, and it was during that year that a star was discovered. Having decided that she would perform at the Father’s Day service in Christ Church, she decided to try her luck at singing a song she had heard and loved. Her performance was loved by all, and she then realised that she had a gift and had to learn to accept it. Later that year, she was advised by one of the leaders of the church — who remembered her performance — to enter a teen talent competition being held among the churches in the district. She came out successful, winning the competition and deciding to take her singing to another level.

In 2004, she was again encouraged to enter another competition, which was hosted by an artist of Kross Kolor Records, the label to which she is now signed, and she decided to take another chance at exposing her talent.
Unfortunately, she did not place in that competition, but great things were in store for her anyway. The songs were recorded at Kross Kolor Records, and the manager, Mr Burchmore Simon, was impressed with her voice. He later decided that he wanted to work with her as one of his artistes, and spoke to her mother about his intentions, promising that he would help her to be successful. Her mother trusted his words and agreed to his decisions, so he took Tennicia in like his own daughter, and Tennicia became the youngest member of the Kross Kolor family.

Simon lived up to his promise, because the following year Tennicia was featured on the “Wine Till Yuh Drop” album. This was the second album of its kind, and it featured her first released single, “You Like The Way”, for which she is still recognised. A promise was made, and to date it has never been broken.

In 2006, Tennicia was crowned the winner of the Children’s Calypso Competition, which she won for three years (2006-2008). Being an all-rounder, in 2007 she placed first runner-up in the Miss Guyana Talented Teen Pageant, also winning the prize for the best talent. Later in that year, she represented Guyana in St. Kitts and Nevis at the Digicel Haynes Smith Miss Caribbean Talented Teen pageant, where she did not place but managed to win the prize for the best ambassadorial appearance.

Her manager saw the potential in her and decided he wanted her to move on in the calypso competition, so he entered her into the junior category in 2009. She placed third, but managed to win the support of the audience.

Without giving up, she later became the winner of the 2010 National HIV & AIDS Song Competition in Guyana and the Junior Calypso Monarch. With the piece entitled ‘Don’t Want to Be Born’, which became a big number in her country and around the region, Tennicia became the recipient of the Guyana Cultural Association (GCA) Youth Award (New York).

She went on to place 2nd in the junior competition the following year, and won the first Healthy Lifestyle Song Competition of that same year. She is once again the reigning Junior Calypso Monarch, and copped 2nd place in the Health Song competition. Those titles saw her participating in other events, with her latest achievement being her becoming a lead vocalist of the Heat Wave Band International, one of the more popular bands in Guyana.

Being a part of the band has thus far brought her opportunities to perform on many stages across the country, including in the Carib Soca Monarch competition of 2013. On March 30th, 2013, she appeared as a guest performer at the Retro Reggae Concert with Jamaican artiste Lady G, to perform the song ‘Thank Him’, which was originally done by Lady G and Cheville Franklin. Lady G, along with other popular artistes, such as Admiral Bailey and Flourgan, were featured at the concert. The Heat Wave Band provided musical accompaniment for the artistes.

With an aim of becoming a well-rounded performer, she is a student at the Guyana National School of Music, and currently holds certificates in music theory grades 2 and 3 from the Associated Board of the Royal School of Music (ABRSM), with respective distinctions. She is also a member of the Parkside Steel Ensemble. All of her successes came under the strong guidance and leadership of her manager, and the entire Kross Kolor family, for which she is deeply grateful.

Whether it’s working in the studio, recording, learning about the music business, or playing the double-tenor pan, Tennicia believes that success comes with consistent hard work and dedication, with a good attitude and respect for others. She is currently working on releasing other songs which will showcase her versatility, and she believes that losing is not failing, but should be used as a stepping stone to greater achievements.

By Alex Wayne