Rhythms of St. Kitts and Nevis: The Evolution of Wylers and Caribbean Music with Dr. Jessica Swanston Baker

Strictly Facts: A Guide to Caribbean History and Culture

Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.

What if the rhythm of an island could reshape global music? In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Jessica Swanston Baker who both brings her rich family heritage and academic expertise to trace the roots and evolution of wylers, its integral role in Carnival, and reveal how Caribbean music has profoundly influenced the global soundscape.
Journey with us as we explore the dynamic evolution of Caribbean Christmas sports, with a special focus on the historical and cultural transformations in St. Kitts and Nevis. Dr. Swanston Baker sheds light on the technological advancements of the 1980s that propelled the development of wylers music, setting the stage for its contemporary form and challenging societal norms with its rapid tempo. Finally, we discuss the broader impact of globalization on Caribbean music in the 1990s and 2000s. Learn how affordable music technology enabled a new generation of musicians to bypass traditional pathways, reshaping the local and global music scenes. We also dive into the personal stories of navigating family history through ethnomusicology, highlighting the significance of tempo and poetic expression in Caribbean culture.
Jessica Swanston Baker is an ethnomusicologist specializing in contemporary popular music of the Circum-Caribbean. Her work centers on the intricate relationships between tempo, aesthetics, colonial legacies, and the intersections of race and gender in the region and its diaspora. Her book, Island Time: S

Cold Case Western Australia

They're the crimes that continue to haunt grieving family members and the wider...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Support the show

Connect with Strictly Facts - Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube | Website
Looking to read more about the topics covered in this episode? Subscribe to the newsletter at www.strictlyfactspod.com to get the Strictly Facts Syllabus to your email!
Want to Support Strictly Facts?

• Rate & Leave a Review on your favorite platform
• Share this episode with someone or online and tag us
• Send us a DM or voice note to have your thoughts featured on an upcoming episode
• Donate to help us continue empowering listeners with Caribbean history and education

Produced by Breadfruit Media

Bab

1. Rhythms of St. Kitts and Nevis: The Evolution of Wylers and Caribbean Music with Dr. Jessica Swanston Baker (00:00:00)

2. Exploring Wyler's (00:00:01)

3. Evolution of Caribbean Christmas Sports (00:13:22)

4. [Ad] Cold Case Western Australia (00:19:30)

5. (Cont.) Evolution of Caribbean Christmas Sports (00:20:18)

6. Impact of Globalization on Caribbean Music (00:21:59)

7. Navigating Family History in the Caribbean (00:30:09)

8. Caribbean Tempo and Musical Evolution (00:38:28)