"Sing what's indigenous to you..."

If you hear enough of a certain style of music for long enough, and (especially) at an early enough age, that music will be "indigenous to you" whether anyone else believes it or not, whether or not you look like a person who belongs to a given tradition, whether your surname indicates the "right" ethnicity, etc.

As a young white boy, from the ages of 4 to 10, I lived next door to a very exuberantly musical African-American church in central New Jersey. The pastor made it a point to book all the preeminent gospel groups of the 1950s for Wednesday evenings, often between weekend appearances in New York and Philadelphia. I couldn't help but soak up plenty of "influence."

The only people who have ever questioned my "right to sing the blues" have been white folks. And the most serious encouragement and complements I've ever received have been from black singers and musicians.

Who's to say that Ewan McColl, or whatever his name is, didn't grow up experiencing real, authentic backcountry Scots music (or whatever) as sung and played by someone in his industrial North-of-England urban environment? Something made him adopt a particular style and culture ~ and since he's the man who gave us the quote, I'm sure it's fair to say that his chosen milieu was, indeed, indigenous to him.

So, Morwen: Absolutely go for it, BUT...you do have misgivings, and they may or may not be well-founded. You may very well have the knowledge and insight and feeling to be a real calypso artist, even in the heart of Trinidad, and since you feel the need, you should give yourself the chance to succeed. Just be respectful; it's best to "tread lightly" when trying to insert yourself into a culture where you are, at least at first glance, a stranger. Your initial post seems to indicate that you have enough modesty, maybe too much, so don't be too reticent. Be as bold as you're able at first ~ but if you meet some initial success, just don't get TOO cocky too soon...