Umi Marcano

With a keen aptitude for the performing arts and incomparable abilities for music and dance performance, Umi Jaja Marcano set the foundation for his career in the entertainment industry many years ago as a mere toddler. Umi, named after an African, tribal word for “Life”, was raised between the areas of Diego Martin and St. James, on the island of Trinidad and was encouraged in many ways by his family to sing from as early as age three. While his father, who travelled internationally playing the guitar and the steelpan, instilled in him the principles of musicianship, Umi educated himself on the fundamentals of showmanship by watching music videos and emulating the performance styles of his Idol Michael Jackson. Although his earliest memories of music range from songs by artistes such as The Jackson Five, Soca singer Anslem Douglas and Reggae Icons Mr. Vegas and Red Rat, Umi’s passion was R&B Music. However, his love for Rhythm and Blues did not limit him from participating in other genres or facets of the arts.

At the pre-school level, Umi’s artistic respect for Michael Jackson influenced him to perform a Jackson dance tribute at his pre-school graduation. During his primary school era at Richmond Street Boys, Umi did Bongo dancing and competed in the school’s Calypso competition, a contest in which he not only placed forth, but also did double duty as both a performer and as a drummer for the other competitors. In his years as a secondary school student at St. Dominic’s Savio College, he captured the first place title in the Calypso competition with a self-penned composition entitled, “Stop De Violence” and he also became known for his role as a regular dancer at school shows.

During this period, he honed his musical and performance skills in church where he was a drummer and participated in plays as an actor. Directly out of school, the budding entertainer was given the perfect avenue to display his talent and develop his confidence for the stage in the form of his first job, which entailed singing to music tracks in local casinos. This live performance stint, led to him entering the popular talent competition, “Party Flava” where he received the award for Best Original R&B Song with the tune, “Why”. In late 2006, having gained experience and even capturing prizes in various competitions such as “Party Flava” and The National Amateur Talent Competition, he was coaxed by friends to enter the Synergy TV Soca Star competition, the very competition that would take his entertainment career to a professional level.

He entered Soca Star with the track, “Move that Body”, which was co-written by him and Trinidadian media personality Hans Des Vignes and produced by Rondell Ruiz. For him, the American Idol-like contest was indeed a learning experience which provided him with many “real-life” entertainment industry situations, which emphasized to him the ideals of being a true professional in terms of time management as well as audience and band control.

After winning Soca Star in early 2007, Umi spent the rest of that year performing at venues and events throughout Trinidad and Tobago including Club Zen, Dawn Fete, Youth Fest and S.O.S. He also released his follow up track, “Turn it Around” co-written and produced by Kasey Phillips.

For Trinidad’s 2008 Carnival season, the Soca/R&B crossover phenomenon enjoyed much success with his previously released tracks as well as his highly acclaimed song, “Flavour for Love” which was featured internationally on Vh1’s “Flavor of Love” TV show. Umi was approached by former Xtatik band vocalist Peter C. Lewis to join his newly formed band, “The Orchestra” as a frontline singer. Umi embraced this opportunity to apply all of the techniques which he had learnt throughout his competition and performance years and performed along side The Orchestra in major Carnival events such Insomnia, Gyal Farm, Bazodee Friday and most notably AC 3+3 (Machel Montano’s major Carnival concert). He was also afforded performance opportunities as a solo artiste in both Trinidad and Tobago as well as Barbados, and even recorded tracks with famed international producers Derek Brin and Alex Gregg.

Umi remains humble but maintains that due to his hard work and a steady foundation of support and love, his success was inevitable. Eventually he would like to expand his artistic horizons into the realms of screen and film acting and to also take Trinidad and Tobago to the world through music which reflects a crossover Caribbean sound.