After debuting the intimate concert experience in Trinidad during Carnival season in 2023, Saint Lucian cultural ambassador Teddyson John is set to bring Stripped: A Teddyson John Experience to local audiences for the first time on April 29 at the Royalton Resort, promising a deeper, more personal journey into the stories behind the songs fans know and love.
Best known for hits such as Vent, Allez, Lavi Dous, Coming Down De Road and Stress Free, Teddyson John has performed as a frontline vocalist with the Roy Cape All Stars during Trinidad Carnival, toured extensively across the Caribbean and appeared on international stages. Now, three years after launching Stripped in Trinidad, he is ready to share that experience with his home audience.
Described as an intimate musical concert, Stripped takes audiences beyond festival performances and into the emotional core of the music, revealing the inspiration, vulnerability and personal meaning behind each song.
The event was officially launched at a media function at the Coal Pot Restaurant on February 25, where 1st National Bank was announced as the presenting sponsor.
Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Monique Jacob said the bank was honoured to partner with Teddyson John for the inaugural Saint Lucia staging of the concert.
“When you speak of talent, Teddyson stands tall among the greats. Over the years, he has become a household name not only in Saint Lucia but throughout the region and beyond,” Jacob said.
“His voice is powerful, his performances electrifying, and his humility and passion for his craft inspiring. Teddyson does not just perform – he elevates, he uplifts, and he represents, and it is so fitting that 1st National Bank, another beloved household name and proudly homegrown, stands beside him today,” she added.
According to Jacob, the partnership was not accidental but intentional and meaningful, reflecting what the bank stands for.
Kwency Pringles Griffith, the founder of Vybe Radio which is another sponsor, described Teddyson John as more than an artiste, calling him a brother and a representative of Saint Lucian culture on every stage he performs.
Heaping praise on Teddyson for the strides he has made, Griffith said: “I am proud of you. You took it to another level; you are not just an artiste, you are the soul of it. When we go out there, and you say ‘ladies and gentlemen, I am Teddyson John from the beautiful island of Saint Lucia’, you represent the artistes down here. You are not Teddyson John on his own…. You are Saint Lucia, you are the voice of every artiste and it is for this reason Vybe Radio, myself, your family, we are happy to be a part of this.”
Wave 94.5 has also come on board as a sponsor. Representative Sarah Mc Lennon said the radio station had supported Teddyson John from the beginning of his career and was proud to be part of the new musical experience.
“It is truly an honour to stand with you tonight as we introduce a brand new musical experience, Stripped, an intimate acoustic journey, curated by one of Saint Lucia’s most powerful and authentic voices, Teddyson John,” Mc Lennon said. “This is not just about music but about vulnerability, storytelling, stripping away layers and returning to the heart of sound.”
Teddyson John was later asked by the evening’s hostess, Mareen Alexander, to explain what influences his music.
His response: “I love being able to have music that brings people together. My vibe is having somebody feel a certain way when you hear a song. Sometimes you may be going through your craziest day, and you happen to hear a song that makes you feel good, so I just believe in the power of music and what music can do. I just always wanted to be one of these artists who had a song that helps someone through something.”
Explaining the concept behind Stripped, Teddyson John said the idea was born during the COVID-19 pandemic when he and his band recorded acoustic versions of two songs and shared them on social media.
Based on the feedback, he recognised the need to access audiences outside of a carnival or a festival, and that gave birth to the first Stripped at NAPA in Trinidad.
“Wouldn’t you want to know about your favourite songs, the mind of the writer or the mind of somebody writing these songs?” he asked. “That’s what Stripped is. It is basically being able to understand the story or the vibe, what space that person was in before they actually did the song. So you get that kind of vulnerability and that kind of transparency behind the music,” Teddyson John said.
Performing and telling their story at Stripped on April 29, alongside Teddyson John, will be vocalist Michael Robinson, calypsonian Herb Black, Soca artiste Ricky T and Dennery Segment performer Umpa. The event will also feature Nailah Blackman of Trinidad.
“You will be seeing and hearing these artistes in a different light, and it will be an amazing experience,” Teddyson John said.
The event has the endorsement of the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority, which was represented at the launch by Director of Global Marketing Dexter Percil, along with representatives from Saint Lucia Distillers, media partners and members of the entertainment industry.