If you have Twitter or Instagram, you probably know the name Briana Schwapp (@brischh) by now. Known for her wit and sharp tongue on Twitter, and plethora of carnival pictures on Instagram, Schwapp is openly passionate about her love for veterinary medicine, and a good ole’ carnival Tuesday. Studying at the UWI School of Veterinary Medicine (Class of 2020) in Trinidad and Tobago, today we chat with her about her love for animals and her passion for carnival, seeing just how the two take up space in her life.
CARIB VOXX: Altruism is a quality which many people find intriguing & endearing about animals. Can you recall your first heartwarming interaction you had with an animal that exemplified altruism?
SCHWAPP: To be honest, I’m on the fence about altruism in animals. There are some examples that I find questionable, some that I find convincing and I find there to be sound arguments on both sides. Animals act out of their desire to survive, and they may do things that we interpret as altruistic when they don’t actually have selfless intentions behind these actions.
That being said, I was fascinated with horses’ behaviour as a child. Horses are herd animals, and they act strongly on this instinct. I’d observe the ways that they communicated, refusing to leave each other’s sides during lessons, protesting if they were left behind by the rest of the herd. What appeared to be strong bonds really stood out in my 5-year-old mind. I loved figuring out the relationships amongst them and learning how to adapt our sport to their natural instincts.
CARIB VOXX: What are some of the systematic approaches that can be taken to create a healthier environment for Jamaican animals?
SCHWAPP: I think it’s important to first acknowledge and accept that animal-human relationships vary greatly within societies and worldwide. We have to be honest and realistic about the purposes of different species and how we can maximize the wellbeing of animals in Jamaica based on species-specific needs, as well as acknowledging cultural norms that may influence how animals are used and treated. It is important to focus on the pillars of animal welfare and how we can achieve those goals in our society. Additionally, I think that we should aim to regulate breeding of all breeds of dogs, and that spaying and neutering should be a requirement for ownership of dogs and cats. Low cost and frequent spay and neuter programs would be a great start. We also need to ensure that farmers across the island have access to accurate information and affordable veterinary care for their livestock. Lastly, creative, interesting and palatable public education programs will be essential to help achieve these goals and to make differences in how we treat and care for our animals as a nation.
CARIB VOXX: Your decision to study to be a veterinarian brought you to Trinidad & Tobago, the home of soca music. Did you fall in love with soca music while living in Trinidad & Tobago?
SCHWAPP: I know the exact moment that I fell in love with soca music. I was maybe 4 or 5 years old, on the road with my mom, and Big Truck by Machel played in the car. At that age with absolutely no reference for or understanding of the lyrics I felt possibly the closest thing to euphoria that a 5-year-old can feel. I’ve loved it ever since. What being in Trinidad does is ‘anchor’ you to the music – soca will never sound the same to you once you have been here, and my love for and connection to it totally changed when I came to my first carnival here in 2013.
CARIB VOXX: If you could pick one Jamaican artist and one Trinidadian artist to collaborate on your dream soca song, who would they be?
SCHWAPP: Well, my answer to this would have been Machel and Kartel but dreams do come true! I think I’d say Lyrikal or Kerwin and Popcaan.
CARIB VOXX: What are some of the factors that have contributed to the exponential growth and popularity of Carnival in Jamaica over the last few years?
SCHWAPP: Firstly, I think that the connections between Jamaica and Trinidad have been growing rapidly over the past couple of years as well as many Jamaicans are coming to Trinidad for carnival. When the tabanca hits everyone on Ash Wednesday, they want to do it all over again. Secondly, we can have a ‘redo’ or a first jump for people who missed mas in Trinidad, AND we add dancehall – so that makes it unique. I don’t think a lot of people understand that Trinidad Carnival is an immersive, massive, omnipresent experience and that it is entirely soca for months. In Jamaica you can get a condensed version that feeds that nostalgia and includes our dancehall culture. The other element that has contributed to our growth is that our costumes have evolved beautifully. People see these spectacular Trinidad Carnival costumes and they want to experience that magic in Jamaica too.
CARIB VOXX: Should DJ’s have the autonomy to play Dancehall in soca parties or does it detract from the authenticity of the experience?
SCHWAPP: Part of what makes Jamaica Carnival special is that we play dancehall. That cannot detract from authenticity of an experience that isn’t even ours – Trinidad Carnival is purely soca, it is much more than fetes and costumes, and it’s not something that can or should be recreated when we celebrate Jamaica Carnival within a specific population in one part of the country. We need to continue to make it our own and having dancehall as a part of it is partially what draws people to it (including Trinis!). That being said, DJs need to really read the crowd, balance the genres well, and try to create a unique experience in that fete or road march – we don’t need to try to ‘recreate’ anything!
CARIB VOXX: If the world was ending in the next 5 minutes and you were granted permission to play one last soca song, which would it be?
SCHWAPP: ZIG ZAG!
