John Antoine has travelled the world, has been at the top of his game as a fitness instructor, won several international Aerobics Championships and readily admits he has hit rock bottom too. A humbling experience he says.
After overcoming many obstacles he says he is on a new mission, as he strives to rise to new heights on another leg of his journey- music.
Born in Saint Lucia, Antoine’s love for music began in Barbados where he lived with his adopted parents from the age of eight.
“I have been doing music now for over thirty years and when I first started I used to do a variety of music. However, Reggae and the Blues were my main go to genres,” Antoine told St. Lucia Times.
“When I really got deeper into music it was when I started performing with bands at the hotels. With bands like Extreme and Transfix, we made many local appearances. I also did Jazz at Babonneau and side stage Jazz at Pigeon Island with Transfix,” Antoine said.
The singer later felt that the time was right to go solo.
“At that point I bought a saxophone and the person I turned to for tutoring was Luther Francois,” he revealed.
“At the time I had heard about Luther when I lived in Martinique, where he was revered, but I did not really know who he was. After meeting him and asking him to teach me I have to say he is the most humble and inspiring musicians you will ever meet,” Antoine said.
After learning the basics from Francois, Antoine enrolled in the Saint Lucia School of Music, constantly honing his skills until he felt he was ready to unleash his solo act.
He soon became a mainstay at several hotels as a singing saxman before recording his original material.
Antoine describes his music as “conscious, positive reggae music.
“This talent is not mine it was given to me by my creator so in my songs you would hear me acknowledging God, my Lord or Jah. But I would not say that I am a Gospel singer,” he said.
His first recording was song called “ Saint Lucia Wake Up” in 2016 followed by “Just Cry.” He later teamed up with Merius Louis whom he describes as a great producer and one of the best in the Caribbean.
“With Merius I did Super Angel, a song dedicated to frontline workers which did very well. Then we did “Streets” an ode to mothers who have lost their children to violence, “Voices” dedicated to great Reggae artistes who have passed and “Jah Jah I love You,” earlier this year,” Antoine said.
He says he has been receiving airplay in several Caribbean islands and that Hype TV of Jamaica had “Super Angel” on heavy rotation. Radio stations in the BVI, St. Vincent, and Anguilla, he says have given him some love.
Locally, Antoine credits Calabash TV and Real FM/MBC as most supportive. His music is also on Youtube, Spotify and other streaming platforms.
With his music reaching as far as Germany, John Antoine says that he has his eyes set on that market.
“Reggae is big in Europe so what my producer and I are working on is putting out music to penetrate there and hopefully catch the attention of promoters,” he says.
“Right now I believe I have what it takes and it is just a matter of time. Like everything else you just have to be consistent, get the music to enough radio stations all over the world and score a few hits,” he emphasized.
Antoine is a personal trainer and massage therapist with a Master of Science in holistic therapy and nutrition.
However, he says he has been blessed with the gift of music and wants to share it with the whole world.
