The 4Triplets TT’s latest musical heartthrobs

The vibrant instrumental four-piece band from San Fernando, consists of former Naparima College, San Fernando, students Joshua Regrello (steelpan), Darren Ramsook (bass guitar), Lyndel Bertie (electric guitar) and former Presentation College, San Fernando, student Daniel Ferguson (drum kit). _Regrello, Ramsook and Bertie are students at the University of the West Indies (UWI).

Ferguson, who took one year off from school, will be leaving the band soon to head to the University of California, Los Angeles. Ramsook, Bertie and Ferguson are all national scholarship winners. Regrello is the son of San Fernando Mayor and Skiffle Bunch founder, Junia Regrello. The aspiring attorney-at-law is a tenor player and co-captain of Skiffle Bunch.

The 4Triplets combine their unique style with all genres of music and have just completed their Trinidad tour, entertaining crowds in their hometown of San Fernando at C3 Centre; Chaguanas at Price Plaza; Port of Spain at Fiesta Plaza and Point Fortin at Victor Chin Kit Park._ Regrello spoke to Newsday about the band and how, despite a hectic university life, The 4Triplets had managed to hold on and pursue a dream they have had since coming together three years ago. He said The band’s motto was “Team work makes the dream work,” and that what they did as a band of young instrumentalists was what provided them with that much-needed balance in their lives.

“What this band is and what we do, comes as a stress reliever and as leisure for us,” Regrello said. “So it is good to do it and to balance school work because university life can be very stressful.” The band, he said, began in Naparima College when the principal, Dr Michael Dowlath, was asked to send a group to perform at an event hosted by President Anthony Carmona.

“I play the pan and I remember the principal calling me to his office and telling me he wanted a musical piece, and I should make it special because it is for the president,” Regrello recalled. “I once heard a band play David Rudder’s High Mass and I knew I wanted to play that for the president but I felt I didn’t want to do it alone.” This prompted him to call on two of his schoolmates, a drummer and a guitarist, and they performed their hearts out._ “That was the first time we played together, we were the Triplets,” he said. However, as fate would have it, the drummer went abroad to study and they recruited Ferguson.

The 4Triplets has become very popular on the school circuit followed around by screaming teenagers. Just the image they wanted.

“You watch television and you hear of a boy band,” Regrello said. “A boy band doesn’t happen every year. It is something that happens irregularly.

“There is one in every generation and we want to make sure that we survive.” He said boy bands created a certain “hype and crowd.” “When people talk of the 4Triplets today in our teenage years, we want that when we become adults we will still be performing as the 4Triplets and still have the same fans and more. We have a passion for the music.” They rehearse together as much as they can.

During school time, practice sessions are less frequent but once school is out they are always in the band room._ The band is inspired by the “excellent musicianship” of Red Hot Chilli Peppers and local soca stars Machel Montano and Kees Dieffenthaller._ The band is always busy and has performed at numerous events throughout Trinidad, among them The Palliative Society’s Poor Man’s Dinner at the Trinidad Hilton; the launch of Angostura’s 1787 rum; the opening of Starbucks, SouthPark; at the Diplomatic Center for the Prime Minister’s Annual Christmas cocktail and numerous graduation balls.

The 4Triplets will host a concert on August 11_at City Hall Auditorium, San Fernando, from 7.30 pm – 9.30 pm followed by an after party until 11 pm. Also performing, will be reigning National Youth Extempo Monarch Kevan Calliste; reigning South Calypso Monarch Prince Calliste; Marina Mohan, DNA Productions; Jen-ai Mohammed and Sam Khan.

Follow them on social media: Facebook, Instagram, You- Tube, Twitter and Snapchat @ TripletsTT.