Destra Garcia has grown from strength to strength since her debut, and the entertainer is showing no signs of slowing down -challenging herself every year, taking her music and her fans along for the exciting and thrilling journey.

Destra Garcia

A guaranteed hit with music lovers everywhere, her energetic performance and eye-popping ensembles commanding the attention of the cameras, one might think it's easy for all her success to go to her head, but Destra knows the ropes in the competitive music arena.

Starting from the tender age of 10 years old singing calypso at her primary school, St Crispin Anglican, Destra participated in many interschool calypso competitions and actually won her first competition. Her talents further propelled her into the Junior Calypso Monarch competitions, where she emerged victorious at the Burrokeets Junior and Senior Monarch at 14 and 15 years old.

For the past four years Destra has won many awards and accreditations some of which include 12 Soca Awards and four COTT awards, three of which were the female song writer of the year from 2004-2007 and the best pan song for 2006.
She recently visited Jamaica (to perform at Bacchanal events being as she is Digicel's female spokeswoman in Trinidad and Tobago) and of course, TEENage caught up with the 'diva', poolside at the Knutsford Court Hotel, to have a heart to heart. This is what she had to share:

TEENage: How does it feel to be deemed as the Soca Queen of Trinidad and Tobago?

Destra: It feels real good to be ranked as the Soca Queen. I don't think Trinidad has ever had a soca queen before, we've had competitions for calypso queen, but I didn't enter. I didn't think I was ready for it and I didn't want to feel pressured.

TEENage: How do you manage to keep so fit and energetic?
Destra: (Laughs) I work out a lot. I do a lot of swimming and walking, but more so I do a lot of hiking, except for when I'm on tour I get lazy because most of the time I'm jet-lagged due to all the travelling stresses.

TEENage: How many countries have you travelled to and what's the overall feedback?

Destra: The feedback is always good. I have a special place in my heart for Jamaica. The people make me want to come back to Jamaica because they love the music, the vibe, and the energy. However I've been to almost every Caribbean island, North America, Boston, Orlando, Miami. Wherever there's carnival I've been there. This year I'm going to be touring in Amsterdam and Paris carrying on bad and mashin' up the place.

TEENage: What's your source of strength and perseverance, example family, etc.

Destra: That is a collaborative effort. In everything we do we put God first which is why me and my family are fasting for lent. My family and I are very close especially when I am depressed, but apart from them there is my management team, my band and my fans of course. When I get on stage and feel the love from them its awesome.

TEENage: Where do you want to take soca music?

Destra: Everybody is experimenting to see if we could all take soca to another level. I think soca is already good, I've decided to see if I can make it more marketable by taking it to people who have never heard it before. I'm all for experimenting but I want to keep most of the elements that already exist.

TEENage: What does Destra groove to everyday?

Destra: If I'm driving, I listen to what's current. For a while it was Beyonce, Maroon 5, Pink and Avril Lavigne. You can see from my songs that there's a rock influence but I listen all genres. However, when I'm in the gym I listen to only Destra. (laughs). Only I can energise me. (winks).

TEENage: Who has been your most exciting collaboration partner, and who are you looking to collaborate with both locally and internationally?

Destra: All collaborations are good but I have to have a chemistry with the person. The more successful collabs however are with Machel Mantano, Shurwayne Winchester, Sean Paul and Vegas. It was special doing something with Sean Paul 'cause he didn't even like soca 'til I came around, at least that's what he said unless he was lying to me (laughs). Sean is a soca virgin so I get to bruk him out.

TEENage: Do you feel pressured to live up to the high expectations your name draws?

Destra: No, never. 'Cause I know that as soon as I hit the stage I'll get crazy. The stage is my habitat.

TEENage: What do you look forward to the most when you are coming to Jamaica?

Destra: Honestly, festival, bammy and escoveitched fish. I'm looking forward to going to Faith's Pen on my way to Ochi.

TEENage: Why did you choose to become a soca artiste and not something else, like a lawyer or a doctor?

Destra: I didn't choose this, it chose me. Truthfully speaking, I was originally supposed to be a pilot, but it was too expensive so I decided to do sales and marketing. I was in a band while working in the day, but I couldn't get the time off so I just went in full time. If I had a choice I would have become a French teacher.

TEENage: What's the hardest part of being Destra Garcia?

Destra: Not being Destra Garcia (laughs). Trying to do my own private stuff. People always recognise me so that's the hardest part, that and also eating properly. Cakes and fast food, which I love, are not conducive to what I do. Singing and performing for me is just routine.

TEENage: Do you see yourself retiring anytime soon?

Destra: No man, I'm still young, I have too much work to do and I have to take soca to the 'wrurl'. Its not an overnight thing.

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