PERFORMING ARTIST Bridging Generations through Bahamian Music

Sharade Taylor and Sweet Emily

By Yolanda Hanna

Photographs Courtesy Of Rodger D Photography

Sharade Taylor

“I am building the foundation of my career as a rake ‘n’ scrape artist, stepping into my own ... I want to be in the element that I am supposed to be in.”

When Sharade Taylor created his wish list for 2023, he included the names of seven Bahamian artists he plans to collaborate with this year.

The smooth RnB balladeer recently transitioned to performing rake ‘n’ scrape music and has found his footing in the genre by merging his soulful vocals with the cultural sounds of The Bahamas. Sharade admits that rake ‘n’ scrape music has ignited a fire inside of him, a feeling he has never felt before.

Up and Away: So, what prompted the transition?

“I wanted to be a part of live performances and cultural shows, so I decided to try rake ‘n’ scrape and I love performing it. I grew up in the church, I love gospel and RnB music, and I never thought I would be singing rake ‘n’ scrape but it is fun and energetic. I do not know where I get the energy from; I guess I get it from the music!

“Last year was my first year performing rake ‘n’ scrape, and things went well. So, I started writing and recording because I wanted to fully commit to the genre and enhance the culture with my music. I released my first song, ‘Junkanoo Party,’ and since that time, the momentum has grown.”

The growth of that momentum included his dream to record with Bahamian artists he deeply admired. Sharade and his fiancée crafted a list containing the names of seven artists he considered legends, and he set a goal to record a song with each of them by the end of 2023.

In March, he accomplished the first of his seven goals when he released a duet with Sweet Emily called “They Ain’t Ya Friend.” Sharade first met the “queen of Junkanoo” when he was a little boy.

“I met Sweet Emily when I was eight years old. She came to Grand Bahama to perform at Goombay on the lawn at the Bahama Princess Resort. My dad was a security guard at the hotel, and I told him I wanted to meet the artists. He took me backstage and introduced me to Sweet Emily, (the late) Terez Hepburn, and all the other artists. The following year, I met her again. Every year, I would go to Goombay to watch the artists perform and I would say, ‘This is what I want to do someday.’”

Up and Away: Fast forward to 2023. How did the collaboration with Sweet Emily come about?

“In 2018, I quit my job as a special education teacher. I took a leap of faith and focused on my music career. I was good in the classroom, but I felt like something was missing. So, I started performing in the Port Lucaya Marketplace in Freeport. At that time, I was singing mostly RnB music and I needed some Bahamian music to entertain the residents and guests. I had a tough time finding tracks to Bahamian songs. I sent Sweet Emily a message via social media asking if I could purchase some of her performance tracks. She responded and we ended up having a great conversation, she asked me for my number, and the next day, she texted me all of her tracks! Free of charge. Sweet Emily told me that she was sowing a seed into my life. I was so thankful, and we kept in contact ever since that day. When I wrote ‘They Ain’t Ya Friend,’ I felt like the song was missing something. I called Sweet Emily, and I told her I have a song that I wanted her to jump on. I sent her the lyrics and demo, and she said yes! That is how the song came about.”

Up and Away: Now that you have collaborated with Sweet Emily, what is the status report on the wish list?

“My dream is to collaborate with artists I consider legends – Sweet Emily, K.B., Veronica Bishop, and others. I want to do seven singles with each song featuring a legend. This is my way of bridging the gap between new/younger and seasoned/mature artists. I already have one song in the bag (laughs). I have another one in the making and five more to go! And I know I will get them.

Up and Away: What is next for Sharade?

“I am working on new music constantly because I want to push more music out to the public. I am not only working on the seven songs, but I also have a personal project in the works. So, look out for me, Bahamas! I am coming, and I am coming hot!””

Sweet Emily – The Undisputed Queen of Junkanoo

“My mission is to help preserve Bahamian music.”

She has a lengthy career in Bahamian music and a catalogue that has survived decades. The Bahamas’ only “Queen of Junkanoo” Emily “Sweet Emily” Williams has been described as “a forerunner for females in the music industry” in The Bahamas.

Sweet Emily has stood the test of time. Her journey through the music business has taken her over peaks and through valleys. Numerous albums, singles, and memorable collaborations are proof that she is one of the best voices in The Bahamas.

Always candid about her music career, Emily is always willing to share her story with any artist seeking her advice, who hopes to leave an indelible mark on Bahamian music, similar to the one she has already etched in history.

She began performing with bands in the 1980s, released her biggest radio hits in the 1990s, transformed her life in the early 2000s, and shocked Bahamians when she gave her life to God and walked away from cultural and secular music.

In 2019, Emily returned to cultural music and, this time, she was given a new mission and was motivated by a new calling to become an influencer in the music business and a mentor to new, up-and-coming artists.

“I’m passionate about mentoring and working with new artists and I see myself as a bridge between the more seasoned generation and the younger persons who are trying to come into the business, because if we don’t open the door for some of them, some of them will not come through.”

Her recent project with new rake ‘n’ scrape artist Sharade Taylor is evidence of her commitment to her new assignment. She admitted that when she was a new, young artist coming up in the industry, mentors were rare.

Up and Away: What prompts you to want to work with younger, upcoming artists?

“Most of the artists who came up in the music business in The Bahamas when I was young were not fortunate to be mentored by the older more seasoned artists. I do it because it is a privilege and my calling. God sent me back to help those younger artists who want to break into the business. I look at myself as a bridge. I have the power to pull some of these younger artists with me, to steer them down the right path.”

She continued, “Back in the day, if you were lucky to work with a Ronnie Butler, Smokey 007, Dry Bread, or Ezra, you were fortunate. When we were growing up in the industry, many of us never had that kind of opportunity.”

Up and Away: You mentioned opening the door for younger artists to come through. That is a good point, it is not easy to get through the door. How do you think we can fix that?

“I believe we need more opportunities for artists to work consistently throughout The Bahamas. Not just festivals, regattas, and homecomings. Those are good, but we need places where artists like Sharade and others can work consistently.

We had places like that back in the day, we do not have them anymore. A variety of opportunities where everybody can work and be fulfilled is needed. The creative arts industry comprises a multitude of talents and we need to incorporate all creatives. It will require a collaborative effort between public and private entities to accomplish this.”

Up and Away: So, you are mentoring, recording, and still performing. Sweet Emily is going strong after almost 40 years in the music business. The Bahamas is celebrating its 50th year of Independence. Do you think we still have Bahamian pride?

Yes, we do! Bahamians love our music and our culture. However, when you compare our music to other countries in the region, their music has become more popular. The world has changed, and people can access everything on their phones. We need to do a better job of promoting our music and educating our children about Bahamian music and culture. An in-depth education is needed. I visit schools and I ask the children to name a Sweet Emily song, they cannot name one. So, we still have some work to do. But we are a young nation with less than 400,000 people, and we have had major achievements that we should be proud of.

Up and Away: What does the future hold for Sweet Emily?

My passion is helping people, and I will continue to mentor artists. I am mentoring multiple artists now and see myself as a true mentor and a godly example. I would like to have my own entertainment company one day that prepares artists for the music industry, offer training, and assistance navigating their careers. Working towards getting my music into more international markets, I want to win a Grammy someday! I know that God has something more for me to do. UA