Fri | May 8, 2026

Women take control at studio 38

Published:Tuesday | November 2, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Pause
Carole Beckford is right at home at the turntables inside Studio 38, as she thrills an audience with her knowledge of music on Saturday night.
Janet Silvera is in her element as she speaks to the crowd at Studio 38, during Women at the Controls on Saturday night. - Photos by Erin Hansen
1
2

Erin Hansen, Gleaner Writer

Saturday night's Women at the Control event at Studio 38 proved to be entertaining, as playful banter between female disc jockeys reached boiling point, a lively crowd adding to the fun.

People came out in droves to see Gleaner journalist Janet Silvera from Montego Bay face-off with Kingston's Millicent Lynch, Digicel's Trisha Thompson, clothing designer Ashley Martin (she failed to show), sports journalist Carole Beckford and wine ambassador Marilyn Bennett for the Image Productions event.

The event pitted the six female professionals against each other on the turntables for some friendly fire competition, to raise funds for the Kiwanis Club of West St Andrew, which will assist needy students with their school fees.

While the first Women at the Control had an overwhelming response when it took place two years ago at The Deck in New Kingston, the event at Studio 38 brought some new flare to the festivities.

Grand entrance

The Gleaner's Janet Silvera boisterously rode in for her set on the back of a motorcycle, chaperoned by two young men, before taking the stage and dancing wildly for the welcoming crowd.

Silvera played a wide range of genres, from the classics like Beres Hammond to the newer dancehall sounds of Vybz Kartel. The journalist dipped into her track list to play hits from Tina Turner, Brooklyn's Ricky Blaze and Junior Reid, keeping the crowd stirring.

On another spectrum, the young Digicel professional, Trisha Thompson, who has no previous experience as a disc jockey, brought the house to its knees.

The young novice, who left the technical aspect to the house selectors, chose a playlist that mixed R&B with dancehall, bringing local dancers to the stage to showcase their moves.

Thompson seemed to have capsized the crowd, with a strong following of Digicel employees and bosses who crowded the tables near the stage, dancing and singing along to the tracks.

Beckford hit the crowd hard and steady with classics from Buju Banton and Michael Jackson, while Bennett and Lynch also had the crowd reeling.