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www.vision-newspaper.co.uk Autumn 2014/ ISSUE 24
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ETANA: Reggae’s Princess Regent
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Women in Dancehall
Tomorrow’s (Jazz) Warriors
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Vision/ Autumn 2014
e Editor h t m o r f Note
Jamaican Diaspora plays major role in keeping economy afloat
Greetings, dear readers!
In the pick of the hurricane season and off the annual blossom of the Caribbean economy, the beaches are resting abandoned, demanding new alternatives. Blessed with tropical climate and wonderful environment, the Caribbean is a shortlisted holiday destination by many. However the most solid economical support comes from Jamaicans who are based overseas and return home regularly. Last year the High Commissioner in London Aloun NdombetAssamba encouraged the British Jamaicans to continue to return home by saying: “Jamaica will never tell you that you can’t come home”.
September 9 with a proposal for creation of new ministry for overseas Jamaicans.
Along all efforts of preserving the culture and national spirit within the Jamaican Diaspora, the islands grasp a vital economic profit by its Jamaican originated visitors. SANTA CRUZ, St Elizabeth — Member of Parliament for South East St Elizabeth Richard Parchment embraced this on
he says is the value of that community to the economy. “The most money Jamaica earns is remittances from abroad,” he stated.
He was urging the establishment of a government ministry dedicated to overseas Jamaicans because of what
United Kingdom; particularly London which has a large Jamaican community, estimated at 4% of the Londoners. Statistics show that British Jamaicans often make trips to Jamaica for
Hellshire Beach, Jamaica
In the past few years, over one million Jamaicans migrated to United Kingdom, United States and Canada. One of the largest pools of Jamaicans exist in the
leisure, recreation and holiday, which highly contributes to the economy throughout the whole year. Employment under the Ministry of Labour and Social Security’s overseas work programme has increased by 11,411 Jamaicans, who benefitted from job opportunities overseas during 2012/2013.
“So, if remittances bring more money than we earn in bauxite, tourism, don’t you think that we need a full ministry to deal with our Diaspora?” said Parchment, who represents the ruling People’s National Party (PNP). The existing Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade has the current authority over any international relations of Jamaica and what the responsibilities and regulations of such institution for overseas Jamaicans would be like remains uncertain at this time. ‘Would the establishment and maintenance of additional separate institution cost Jamaica additional expenditure?’, is just one question that challenges the balance behind profit and lost behind Parchment’s urge.
SPORT Lara calls for change in West Indies cricket by Yemi Abiade
from 1990 to 2006 said; “For me, West Indies’ problems don’t lie with the players. It’s far deeper than that, with the organisation, what they are doing to enhance our cricket from a very low level.” “What you see on the surface, it’s what our cricket is all about, which is not a lot of fabric in it. Until we start doing that – then you can look at the players and make them responsible for their performances. You look at some of our players; they are the most sought-after players in the IPL (Indian Premier League) - the likes of Sunil Narine, Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard - why as a team you can’t put it together?” He rounded off by saying: “I believe the structure they are playing in, away from home, seems to be a little more organised than what they are accustomed to.”
Lara’s comments are perhaps fair, considering the Windies’ recent Test history. From 1995 to 2005, the team won 13 Test matches (42 per cent). However more worryingly, they were triumphant in only six out of 31 Tests (19 per Brian Lara batting for West Indies against cent) during the India at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, subsequent 10 years, including a Barbados, 2002 consecutive losing run from 2005 to February fortunes, which places them 2009. Such a dismal record in good stead for upcoming has left serious question matches against India at the marks over the performances start of October and England of players past and present, in the spring. as well as the West Indies Cricket Board. But recent results may suggest a change in the team’s
© Ukexpat
West Indies cricket legend Brian Lara has called for significant changes in the way the sport is run in the region. Despite a resounding victory in their recent Test match against Bangladesh which was won by 296 runs and the fact that they have won their last four Test matches, Lara has expressed concern at the organisation of cricket in his native land. This is particularly in light of the team’s upcoming threeTest series against England next spring. Victory in the last four Test matches has not affected Lara’s conviction that the West Indies Cricket Board must improve the structure of the game in order to keep its stars within a ‘cricket-mad’ area of the world. On the subject, former captain Lara, who represented ‘the Windies’
Jah Cure set for Europe/ page 5 +++ Chronixx vs Jamaican Government / page 8 +++ Musical Bumps - Commentary/ page 6
by Gabriela Radeva
We are back and jam-packed with lots of exciting content to keep you informed and entertained. As usual, I’d like to acknowledge our fantastic team of contributors; I also extend a warm welcome to new business columnist David Myles and relationship columnist Sandy Daley, renowned author of ‘Who’s Vagina Is It, Really?’. On that celebratory note, Etana, Reggae’s Princess Regnant’, make her debut on our front cover. Find out about what she’s been up to you on P.6! By contrast, we also introduce a topical debate about the plight of female artists within dancehall; your thoughts on the matter are much anticipated! With some groundbreaking fashion and beauty news and tips to keep you through the winter, get stuck in to your quarterly dose of interviews, new music, sports talk and more. This is all yours for free as everybody has a right to know ‘whagwahn’! Manners and respect
Nadine White
Imprint VISION NEWSPAPER
Chief Editor: Nadine White nw@vision-newspaper.co.uk Contributors: Gabriela Radeva, Yemi Abiade, DJ Amber, Gordon Wedderburn, Sandy Daley, David Myles, Deana Myers, Errol Williams Comments are welcome under: admin@vision-newspaper.co.uk
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Community
Vision/ Autumn 2014
Liberation Corner by David Myles
Warmest greetings to the readers of Vision newspaper and welcome to my column – ‘Liberation Corner’, which is inspired by a now defunct bookshop in North West London with the same name. Within the past six years, I have witnessed a high number of black businesses close. It occurred to me that part of the reason for the failure of the former businesses was due to many people being oblivious of their existence; all of the above inspired me to take a stand. Being inspired by the works of writers such as Dr Amos Wilson and personal conversations with the late Sandra Hurst, ‘Liberation Corner’ will focus on the permit of recycling the black pound to strengthen our social and economic position within Britain. It will feature interviews from business owners within the Black community. My objective is to provide a valuable platform to raise awareness of the various businesses that exist within our community. I recently caught up with a former university lecturer, radio host and business man known as Kilimanjaro. (pictured below) Greetings Kilimanjaro Rise up the self, my brother. When did you go into business? I began selling coconuts after finishing school in 1982. In 1994, I began trading from my shop Zumba which was based in Balham until earlier this year. Could you give a background into your grocery shop? I concentrate on keeping both the groceries and shop fresh. We sell fresh organic stuff such as green bananas, yellow yam, puna yam, green plantain, dasheen, coco, ginger, lemon, limes - all of the fresh produce. I also stock some tinned and canned items too. Okay, so where is your food sourced from? Well, actually it’s not sourced from one origin. It comes from all over the world, especially the Caribbean. Of those particular foods, I think that the most valuable is the sweet potatoes and the yellow yam because the Caribbean community need to eat these things! Most produce that I sell actually comes from Jamaica. The other items come from Uganda, Trinidad, St Vincent and Grenada. What made you name your new outlet Kilimanjaro Afiwe foods? Most people knew me and know
me as Kilimanjaro so I decided to use my own name on my own business. ‘Afiwe’ (‘a fi we’) is a Jamaican Patois expression meaning ‘it is ours’. As a radio presenter on Galaxy Radio Station, I’ve always liked its slogan “Afiwe radio station”, so add it to my business name. This also helps to emphasise that Kilimanjaro has something to do with the station. I hear some members of the Afrikan community say ‘we have no power’. However, according to research, Afrikan Americans are predicted to have a buying power of 1 trillion dollars by 2015 and in a 2012 report it was suggested that the UK black spending power was approximately £300 billion. This capital does not appear to be utilised by the Afrikan community. What do you feel can be done about this? We lack leadership skills within our community in this country and one of the most important things we need to do is to study the ant. When you see the ant move, all of them do so sequentially. Every single ant moves back and forth in unity, right? A change of course needs to happen. Excluding the corporate supermarkets, could you give an insight as to why some Afrikan grocery shops are more expensive than non-Afrikan owned businesses? I wouldn’t even say that some are expensive. There are two things to look at when it comes to businesses. You could literally stock an inferior quality of goods and sell them cheap or stock superior goods and maintain your price. Remember if you do not pay your rent or bills, then you go completely out of business. We need to understand, as Afrikan people, that there are inferior goods out there and superior goods out there. For example people will ask me ‘how much is that big bunch of thyme’? I will say 1 pound for the fresh bunch
and 50p for the other one. They have a choice. They cannot have the superior thyme for 50 Pence, because it’s costing me 70 pence. I would be out of business. In the past 5 or 6 years I have witnessed the closures of a lot of Afrikan business. What do you believe has kept yours in operation for so long? I look at it as a place where I have created an atmosphere where people can come and feel comfortable. It is not just my business, it is also their business and I always make that clear. A lot of businesses have not created an atmosphere where people feel relaxed to even in! The little smile, the little hello - these things count. What advice would you give to someone wanting to start their own business? Consider the location - talk to and study the people within the geographical area. Ask questions but be careful who you tell your ideas to. Find out whether the community would support it. If yes, then go for it. If you don’t try it, you might regret it. Remember, England is not the only place to start a business - the world is a global village and you can do it elsewhere. Note: ‘Afrikan’ is the pan-African alternative spelling to the noun ‘African’; the columnist has opted to exploit this stance! Kilimanjaro can be heard on London’s Galaxy radio (102.5 FM/www. galaxyafiwe.com) every Tuesday with brother Ayo from 7am – 12pm and Sunday with Brother Anu from 10pm – 1am. In early 2015, UK Black Links are expected to launch a printed directory of black businesses within the UK. For more information, please contact 0203 137 6449 or 07856 473 039; or email info@purple-pages.net Kilimanjaro ‘Afiwe foods stall is situated at 78 the Broadway indoor market in Tooting. It is a 2 minute walk from Tooting tube station.
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Proverb of the Month “Si mi an cum live with mi a two different thing „ English translation: To see me and come live with me are two different things. Definition: This is a warning for persons to be mindful of the choices that they make as sometimes appearance can be deceiving. This is similar to saying: Don’t judge a book by its cover.
Skylarking Lowering Your Phone Bill The house phone bill was exceptionally high, so the man of the house called a family meeting on a Saturday morning after breakfast. He announced: People, ‘ere mi now - dis wrong. You haffi cut back pon the long distance and cell phone calls dat unuh mekking on the house phone. De phone bill getting very high, and me not even use the house phone fi dem calls any more. Mi use the one ah mi office. Mum: Same here. Mi hardly use de house phone, because mi mek most of those calls pon mi work phone. Son: Me too. Mi stop use the house phone long time. Mi always use mi company mobile weh dem gimme. Helper (Maid): So, wha de problem? Look like all ah wi a use wi work phone then!
Pay Rise The Jamaican helper (Marie) asked for a pay increase. The wife was upset about this and decided to talk to her about the raise of pay that was requested.
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She asked: ‘Now Marie, why yuh feel yuh deserve a pay increase?’ Marie: ‘Well, ma’am, three reasons why I want de increase.’ The first one, mi iron better than you’! Wife: ‘Who said you iron better than me?’ Marie: ‘Your husband say so.’ Wife: ‘Oh!’ Marie: ‘The second reason .. ah can cook better than you.’ Wife: ‘Nonsense, who said you were a better cook than me?’ Marie: ‘Your husband again’ Wife: ‘Oh!’ Marie: ‘The third reason is that I am better in bed than you ...’ Wife: (really furious now): ‘My husband says that as well??’ Marie: ‘No ma’am, your husband’s best friend Andrew. Wife: ‘How much yuh seh you want again?’
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Vision/ Autumn 2014
Real Talk with Sandy Daley
Keep your relationship private! When it comes to love, nothing is off limits except your relationship itself. Nothing destroys a relationship faster than rumours, hearsay and as we say in Jamaica, “Carry go bring come”! Should your hot new romance remain a secret? Should it be hidden from everyone but your immediate family? Make mention of it only when you are walking down the aisle? Unfortunately, you may have to do these things in order to keep your relationship intact! The great philosopher Aristotle wrote, “Love is composed of a single soul, inhabiting two bodies.” Nowhere in that quote did he mention your girlfriend Tameka or your nosey mother-in-law. Most people would say that whatever happens between a man and a woman is their business and I agree wholeheartedly with that
The great philosopher Aristotle wrote: “Love is composed of a single soul, inhabiting two bodies.” Nowhere in that quote did he mention your girlfriend Tameka or your nosey mother-in-law.
Make a statement
statement. When details of your relationship become common knowledge then this can give way for negative talk and destructive rumours to ruin the union between you and your partner. You also do need to take into consideration that not all of your friends really want the best for you. Unfortunately, the slang word “frenemy” is a real thing, as that friend that you love and trust might not be a true friend after all. Therefore their comments and advice about your relationship concerns may not be genuine and well-intended. If problems arise in your relationship, new or otherwise, you must sit with your partner and discuss them. Your friend or frenemy, cannot help you here.
!
New relationships are especially susceptible to miscommunication and misunderstanding; outside
interference will not help. “But Sandy, don’t you realize that people know who you are now, and they are interested in what you are doing-especially if you are dating?” a friend asked me recently. “I think that you are living underneath a rock if you can’t see that,” he went on to say. “My work is public yes,” I responded, “But I try my best to keep my life, and even my family life, out of the spotlight as much as possible. The public does not need to know everything about me.” Given an opportunity to relate just to each other, a man and a woman will have a chance of creating a beautiful relationship without the negativity, the jealousness or the speculation from onlookers. Hopefully you will not be included in the recent statistics which suggest that most couples go their separate ways
after only three to five months of dating. These stats do not mean that your relationship is doomed, but it should act as a guide of sorts, and encourage you to do all that is necessary in order to have a successful relationship or marriage. The wonderful feeling of knowing that your partner wants to be there with you is great, and many say that this should be enough but this is not true. Relationships can be tough, difficult to maintain, and you must be patient with yourself and your partner –even during the rough patches. Privacy, I believe, should be a top priority in a relationship, as this gives you both the opportunity to unite on an emotional level. As difficult as this may be at times, even for Sandy Daley, this is a principle which I will apply to my relationship (when I meet the right one of course).
Sandy Daley is a columnist, radio and television personality and actress. She is also the author of “Whose Vagina Is It, Really?” Sandy can be contacted at: www.sandydaley.com or on facebook: womanincontrol@facebook.com
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Music
Vision/ Autumn 2014
Straight from Yard with Irie FM’s DJ Amber Greetings Yardies The summer is officially over and there’s a lot to discuss about what’s going on a yard. But instead of getting into the doom and gloom of the economy or that the fact that Jamaica is now under attack from the Aeges Egypti Mosquito which carries Dengue fever and the Chickungunya virus (or Chick V); I would rather say ‘give thanks for the rain’ as Jamaica was experiencing drought conditions for several months before August. Speaking of drought, the summer was also lacking the phenomenon known in Jamaica as the “summer song”. Usually there’s one song that is playing everywhere you turn – whether you like it or not. Either way, this song ends up growing on you until you end up liking the riddim, the lyrics, melody or even just a one line. It’s that song that every selector has cued to “buss the place” inna dance or on the radio; when it’s played, the crowd sings along with the track like a choir. That was missing and the songs which did come close to the above were ‘Nobody
Has To Know’ by Kranium, ‘Miami Vice’ by Vybz Kartel and ‘Everything Nice’ by Popcaan. However, apart from ‘Miami Vice’, none of these songs were released in the summer. They came before and were already hot in the streets by summertime, so these aren’t “summer songs” but rather, songs which spilled over. Don’t get me wrong, I love that songs can maintain a buzz, long after they are introduced to listeners. But as a disc jockey who receives thousands of new music on a daily basis, I resolve to say that the music has become more about quantity than quality. Whether it’s a party song, social commentary or conscious reggae/dancehall type of track, nowadays there are more random artists and producers than there is production and promotion of quality music and artists. In this technology driven era, music production has become nothing more than a hobby for some, while it remains an important business for others. Personally, I do listen to most of the music that I get in e-mails and on CDs but honestly
Jah Cure set for Europe by Deana Myers
International recording artiste Jah Cure is pumped up and ready for a one month tour of Europe. This is dubbed the ‘Life we live’ tour which officially commences on 29th October and ends on the 30th November. The tour is geared towards promoting his upcoming album and single, both entitled ‘Life we live’. The album is due for a 2015 release. I caught up with Jah Cure for a quick conversation:
It is not difficult inuh. As a matter of fact, with technology we can communicate very often via Skype. I talk to my daughter and see what she’s doing…you know, keep up to date with the family. When I’m on tour, I am working and my family fully supports that. Why is it important for artists to tour and what sort of emotion do you experience when you enter the stage and hear thousands of people screaming your name?
You have toured Europe before and built up a sturdy fan base there. What can they expect from you, this time around?
This time around, it’s not gonna be much different as Jah Cure always gives fans an inspirational performance. So there’ll be nothing but good vibrations for the people. You performed in the UK once before. What do you have to say to those fans who eagerly anticipate your return?
I am missing my UK fans - I love them so much! I know that some of my biggest support comes from them. I can’t wait to feel the energy from them whilst performing, I’m definitely looking forward to that. Whilst you’re on tour, away from your family for so long, what kind of impact does it have on you and how do you cope in terms of maintaining communication etc?
good music.
Touring is very hard. It is not easy especially when you’re at it, night after night. It’s a lot of hard work and sleepless nights but once you enjoy it, it becomes a part of you. When you see the expression on the faces of fans, it gives you that feeling of appreciation that helps to drive you to continue making
Talk to me about the album and what is next for Jah Cure?
The album will be out in 2015 and I am currently promoting my newest single 'Life we live', which will be featured on it. Another single will be released later down in December. The album will be comprised of 14 tracks - all new songs except for 'That Girl'. So look out for the album next year! Nuff respect to all my fans, Jah Cure love unuh.
This summer was lacking the phenomenon known in Jamaica as the “summer song”. Usually there’s one song that is playing everywhere you turn – whether you like it or not. Either way, this song ends up growing on you until you end up liking the riddim, the lyrics, melody or even just one line.
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a large percent of them won’t be played. This is not because of factors such as quality, content and limited time in parties and on the radio.
All in all, it is up to music lovers around the world to give that stamp of approval to artists and their work. So the best thing for them to do would be to make songs that will last a lifetime! Hopefully next summer, a hit will jump at us that is so sweet, it will be on everybody’s lips. In the end, music alone shall live. Until next time, big up to mi yardies in the UK and Canada. Walk good! DJ Amber
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ETANA: Reggae’s Princess Regent by Nadine White
For the seven years, Etana has comfortably and graciously maintained her place as one of the most relevant reggae artists, full stop. Since bursting onto the scene in 2007 with social commentary ‘Wrong Address’, she has provided the world with hit songs such as ‘Roots’ and ‘I Am Not Afraid’. By all means, each of her songs has offered perspective into topical issues such as: love, spirituality, social and political affairs.
Recently, she joined the campaign for the legalisation of marijuana and penned the song ‘Hemp Eyes’, insisting that the plant is a medicinal treasure. This was something of a PR risk but true to her resilient stance, ‘The Strong One’ aligned herself with the greater mission of enlightenment! Only leaders demonstrate such principles. Every album has showcased the variety of musical influences such as acoustic folk, country and western and ska, providing definitive scope to the term ‘Free Expressions’ (2011).
Vision/ Autumn 2014
Musical Bumps! by Ruffkut Lady D aka Deana Myers I need to address a couple of topical issues within dancehall. As a promoter and part of the music industry, I represent it, as well as artists who contribute to the genre.
Foota Hype & Ishawna saga
from left to right: Etana live on stage/ behind the scenes of the Richest Girl video shoot in Downtown, Kingston/ Queens of Reggae European Tour, Paris, France/ Reggae on the River 2014, California, USA/ “Trigger” video shoot in Kingston, Jamaica
Hints and traces of World music, Jazz and Soul can be heard on Etana’s fourth digital recording ‘I Rise’ which is due for release later this month. Helmed by Clive Hunt, who has worked with just about everyone from Grace Jones to The Rolling Stones, this body of work is unlike any of her other’s in sound, but still remains soothing and varied in terms of content. Featured tracks ‘Trigger’ and ‘Richest Girl’ have already been enjoying wide airplay, yielding chart positions. Having come under new management, she said the following of this project: “The concept is all about being able to get up every day with new strength. With every album comes new experiences. My vocals are deeper, more emotional and much bigger”. Balancing responsibilities as a wife and mother to two young children, Etana has also managed to expand her brand into merchandise via ‘Strongones Shop’ on her website. Items up for sale include jewellery, T-shirts, natural soaps and skirts which are all of her own innovation! Whilst Etana does not agree with the rampant idea of a reggae revival, citing it as “quite disrespectful to all artists who have been here and continue to work hard at making good music”, she does acknowledge some key changes happening within the genre. One example of this is the emergence of ‘uptown’ artists who choose to sing ‘rebel’ music, which typically deals with abject, ‘downtown’ issues. This appears to be a winning formula. What’s more, Etana commented: “white reggae bands are on the rise and they are doing well on the charts such as the Billboard”. When asked why she believes this to be the case, she suggested a “difference in strategy”. Courtesy of LB Entertainment, Etana will be heading to London town on Sunday 19th October for a highly anticipated concert alongside Sanchez, with support by Aysha Loren and Cassandra London. She tells fans to expect “more positive energy, more vibes, more new music”. ‘I Rise’ is available for pre-order and is out on 28th October 2014 under VP Records.
I can recall congratulating Foota Hype and Ishawna a few months back, when they were dancehall’s newly betrothed couple. I am now saddened to hear that ‘dem lef’ and the pair have since engaged (pardon the pun) in a verbal brawl via social media, stage-shows, radio interviews etc. Apparently, Ishawna took advantage of this split and voiced a few tunes about it all. However, what is disturbing to me is the fact that Foota Hype, who is also her baby father, made some serious allegations in a recent interview which went viral. He claimed that Ishawna, Joe Bogdanovich (the CEO of Downsound records – where Ishawna is signed and formerly Foota Hype too) and Skatta Burrell are intimately involved! This lowered the public image of his child’s mother and his former co-workers. My take is this: before you come into the public, ‘shub’ your dirty clothes under your bed, instead of hanging it out for all to see. Foota should have thought of the consequences of casting these aspersions, especially for his child. In this interview, Foota also mentioned that the reason behind his and Ishawna’s break-up was due to her wanting him to do ‘freaky’ things such as oral sex and threesomes. He and Ishawna have been together from “Wappy kill Fillup” (a long time), you’ve known of her sexual preferences for nine years and it’s only recently that you decided that you didn’t like it? Who are you trying to fool? Foota also brought D’Angel’s name in to the equation by saying “Ishawna is worse than Angel”. That was unnecessary – shame on him! I understand that he is only human and experiences emotions, like everybody else, but he is a responsible adult. Big people – organize yourselves! Dancehall is evolving and many of you, who are lashing out over personal matters, are affecting the collective moment. Me done talk.
Dung Inna Yuh Throat
Finally, there is a “dung inna yuh throat” trend, which is currently going around within the dancehalls, whereby women push bottles down their throat in a supposedly seductive manner. It’s sort of coming in like a new dance move or something - these women should get some self-worth! To them, I ask: do you really look at yourself the next day?! It disgusts me, to see these women’s self-esteem gone to the dogs. It is a similar issue that led to two videos circulating on social media in the Jamaica recently; two (allegedly four, but only two can be seen in the available footage) Jamaican females exposed themselves to brutal, sexual acts…for the sake of money including that same ‘down in their throat thing’. They allowed themselves to be filmed and treated like pigs, no…worse than pigs! Now, one of the most disturbing things about this matter is that the video was orchestrated and shot by domineering, scornful white tourists. I am not being racist but the videos speak for themselves; not only do the men physically abuse these girls but they also antagonize, racially and verbally abuse them. Mothers, parents, guardians and neighbours – let’s grow our children the right way and lend a nurturing hand to each other’s child, when we see that they are straying because they can easily end up with wrong crowd and go off the rails. I say what I have to!
Music
Vision/ Autumn 2014
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Film Jamaican Mafia scores big The latest Jamaican narrative offering ‘Jamaican Mafia’ was premiered in the USA last month, to critical acclaim. This took place in New York, followed by equally sold out screenings in Atlanta and South Carolina. This independent movie was written by budding actor and screenwriter Mykal Fax, director and writer of successful underground film
‘Bashment’. Fax also stars in ‘Jamaican Mafia’ alongside veteran actor Paul Campbell and singer D’Angel. Although it has obvious connotations of violence and gangsterism, Campbell insists that there is much more to the film, saying: “It is regarded as a gangster film, yes, but the story is not necessarily on the ‘shoot ‘em up’ aspect. It is more about
loyalty, family values, the relationship between my character and his nephew Zoolian (Mykal Fax) and that’s the decency that is going to resonate more than the other aspects of the film.” The production team are planning to take the movie to further destinations such as Canada, the UK and Jamaica in the next couple of months.
Tiana
The Duchess of Dancehall
The return of Oliver Samuels
by Deana Myers
Over the years, female dancehall artists have survived the test of time as they strive to hold their ground in this competitive industry that has little accommodation for females. Artists such as the Queen Lady Saw, Mumma Nancy, Diana King, Patra and Macka Diamond have carved their own space in the industry and set a trend for young aspirants to follow. Tiana ‘the duchess of dancehall’ has followed suit, making her mark as a leading lady since she burst onto the scene in 2009. She has toured Europe twice and gathered a wealth of overseas fans, having conquered destinations such as Holland, France and Switzerland. After a recent tour with Alkaline, she left many in awe with how she commanded the stage, receiving forward after forward. She even performed in South America on alongside fellow Jamaican artist J Capri for a show in aid of persons living with Alzheimer’s. This is a big deal because a lot of females are sidelined when it comes to stage-shows as they are often not given the chance to shine on the big stage particularly as headliners. Just the other day, Tiana was also featured in ‘Riddim Magazine’, one of Europe’s leading entertainment publications. Here, her latest hit song ‘Batty Rider’ was described as “the perfect example of a dancehall revival”. Sure enough, this single has been blazing on the airwaves locally and internationally. She is also promoting another single ‘Pon Mi Head’ in Jamaica at the moment, which was produced by her manager Carlington Wilmot for his Outaroad production label who is working tirelessly to help secure even greater success for his artist. This is definitely happening gradually as she continues to carve out a prosperous career, having scored popular tracks in the past such as ‘Freaky Man’ (a counteraction to Vybz Kartel’s ‘Freaky Gyal’), ‘Bruk out
Revered as the Jamaican King of Comedy, Oliver Samuels has been ‘large’ in business for many years and shows no signs of slowing down. He will be returning to London from October 26th with an exciting new play in tow, ‘Dolly House’ which boasts an impressive cast of actors such as Audrey Reid, Ruth Ho Shing and Dennis Titus. This play is the depiction of the drama, tragedies and constant comedy that occur in Jamaica’s multi-dwelling structures, commonly known as
and whine’, ‘Pum Pum Phat’ (a remix to ‘Ravin’ by Popcaan). One of Tiana’s biggest achievements is winning ‘Top Female Artiste of The Year’ at the 3B Entertainment Industry Awards (2012) in Kenya beating fellow
nominees Ce’cile, Lady Saw, Ikaya and Tifa. Look out for a one to one interview with Tiana in the next issue, where she talks about her musical journey, her love of hardcore lyrics and her personal life.
‘tenement yards’. It will be doing the rounds at some of our inner city’s most prominent theatres and is sure to be another hit with the audience. Oliver has said “Unnu jus ain’t seen nutten yet!”, so be sure to get your ticket; the details can be seen on the flyer on page 5.
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Vision/ Autumn 2014
Alkaline Bleaching?
Chronixx Vs Jamaican Government Chronixx is known for his conscious musical content and this is a stance which he maintains both in and out of the studio. The young reggae artist took to Instagram to voice his opinion about his country’s poor government: “I’m laughing at the Jamaica government… I’m laughing at this dumb government who has never erected a live music venue in honour of reggae music even though it is the only reason why people are still visiting this beautiful island of bankruptcy.”
Alkaline has the streets talking, once again! Pictures have recently surfaced which show the controversial youngster sporting a lighter complexion. This has sent the rumour mill whirling with speculations that he is bleaching his skin, which he is yet to confirm or deny. However, he has always maintained that he is not trying to ‘copy’ Vybz Kartel, in terms of image and the content of his music. Many argue the contrary.
In another part of this rant, he namedropped Minister of Youth and Culture Lisa Hanna, who replied: “I love your music… however, I want to remind you that both yourself and other artistes are benefiting today from the trade agreements now in place for cultural and creative services… stop blaming and lumping ‘all’ politicians together, it
Minister of Youth and Culture Lisa Hanna & Chronixx are in a verbal dispute on Instagram over the state of Jamaica
is unfair and untrue”. The correspondence between the pair went back and forth for some time, highlighting the long standing tensions
between many disgruntled Jamaican citizens and its Government.
Mavado & Kartel Collaboration
Robbo Up-and-Running
Having recently visited Kartel in prison, a source close to Mavado has hinted at a collaboration. Although unconfirmed at the moment, this news would certainly be welcomed by fans of both artists. Since the self-proclaimed World Boss’ incarceration, he has continued to release new, popular material as Mavado builds upon his career Stateside.
Having parted ways with powerhouse station BBC 1Xtra in September, triple Sony award winning DJ Robbo Ranx has kick-started a broadcasting venture, ‘RobboRanxRadio’. Streaming from www.robboranx.com, his ‘Dancehall 360’ show made a grand debut earlier this month and will air every Thursday at 10pm. Needless to say, scores of dancehall patrons are absolutely ecstatic with this news; the figures on his podcast reflect this. Congratulations, Robbo.
SPANNER BANNER cuts off locks
THE VOICE USA’s got Reggae!
GAZA SLIM Vindicated
Best known for reggae track ‘Life Goes On’, Spanner Banner also co-wrote massive Chaka Demus and Pliers’ hit ‘Tease Me’. He has aligned himself with Rastafarian faith for at least fourteen years. However, in a recent home video which he uploaded onto Youtube, he declared his “commitment to serve Jesus Christ” through Christianity. During this ten minute clip, he takes a scissors to his hair and snips away at his dreadlocks! Additionally, Banner pensively speaks on some personal ordeals which he and wife Suzie Q (popular radio personality) have been through, of late.
Tessanne Chin’s victory on ‘The Voice USA’ last year was an internationally significant moment for reggae music. This season of the show has seen another talented Jamaican songstress take centre stage. Hailing from Kingston, Anita Antoinette stole TV viewers’ hearts with her rendition of Bob Marley’s ‘Turn Your Lights Down Low’. Tipped to take the crown this year, she is now under judge Gwen Stefani’s mentorship. This is fitting, as Stefani has been known to record with dancehall artists in the past such as Lady Saw and Bounty Killer. By the way, Anita is no ordinary 25 year old…she’s the daughter of reggae great Clinton Fearon, who joined the Gladiators in 1969!
After months of battling perjury charges in connection to the infamous Vybz Kartel’s murder case, Gaza Slim (also known as Vanessa Bling) has been absolved in a sudden turn of events. Initially, she was meant to have her day in court on 11th August but this was postponed. Eventually, the case against her was dropped on the grounds that Kartel’s conviction is currently being appealed. At the moment, she is promoting a new song with I-Octane ‘Cya Do It’ and plans to record more Gospel music as an ode to her consolidated Christian faith.
SEAN PAUL ditched by Atlantic Records
After a decade of spawning hits under the umbrella of Atlantic Records, it has recently been confirmed that Sean Paul has parted ways
with them. Whilst the Grammy award-winning ‘Like Glue’ star was unavailable to comment, this news was confirmed by label chairman and CEO Craig Kallman. He released an album ‘Full Frequency, in February of this year which produced a number 1 single and a series of impressive collaborations. To this day, Paul remains one of the world’s most pivotal ambassadors for Jamaican music.
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Krishane surfs the Atlantic This year, a lot of young artists of Jamaican descent have been reaping the fruits of their hard work and talent, proving themselves as forces to be reckoned with. There was Samantha J’s signing to Columbia Records, Omi to Sony affiliate label Ultra and, more recently, Melissa Steel to Atlantic Records UK, who have also snapped up twenty year old singer Krishane. He made the transition via a recording and publishing agreement that he had previously held with 1 2 One Entertainment. As talented as he is, this is no ordinary young man; more specifically, he’s the son of the legendary reggae artist Barrington Levy. With that striking resemblance, one could have very well guessed the family connection! This level headed young man shares some of the sound advice which his father once imparted to him: “Whatever you choose to do, do it 100% to the best of your ability. The aim of the game is to show no shame.” That latter part rings in one’s ear like the shrill ‘whoaaa’ ad-libs which Barrington is known to have scatted across many classic tracks such as his cover of Bob Andy’s ‘Too Experienced’, ‘Under Mi Sensi’, ‘Murderer’ and ‘Here I Come’. And just as he began his career at a young age, as did Krishane who also adds “I’ve always had Dad as a backbone, as well as my Mum and the rest of my family”. He has come a long way from being in his Mother’s tummy and kicking whenever he heard the sound of music. In 2011, Krishane
migrated from his home in the Jamaican parish of Manchester to London, UK. Upon moving, he made an immediate transition into a higher education course, mindful of the moral prescription which many Jamaican youths hear from their parents: “mek sure yuh have somet’ing inna your head!”. Whilst doing so, much of his spare time was dedicated to singing. Having worked with some notable producers such as Michael Angelo (Sam Smith and Tinie Tempah), young Master Levy is cementing a reputation as ‘one to watch’. Produced by Bless Beats, his fantastic debut single ‘Drunk & Incapable’ was premiered on Mista Jam’s show on BBC Radio 1xtra last month and was officially released on October 12. This island pop/reggae track plays out a charming, initial exchange of sentiments between two sweethearts – a timeless concept. It also features Melissa Steel and iconic Grammy award winning deejay Beenie Man. He reflects on the building process behind the record: “It was a monumental moment. We were actually in the studio, vibing to Bob Marley when a melody came to me and I rushed to the piano and starting putting together some chords. By and by, the track just came together. Perhaps Bob’s spirit was with us that night”. That may definitely be the case – the song’s authentic feel is unmistakable and compliments this Krishane’s silky smooth vocals and ‘sweet bwoy’ image.
Mr Vegas ‘Reggae Euphoria’
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L
ondon based poet Reenykins gives a Freestyle Poetry Session with Uncle Drummer. This talented young lady delivers vibrant, descriptive and witty bars in Jamaican patois, outlining her experience of visiting her beloved Caribbean island!
Barrington Levy’s son Krishane signed to Atlantic Records UK Krishane has just returned from the Island where he shot the music video for this single in Kingston. He “had fun and worked hard” and is currently embarking on a UK radio promo tour.
V
anessa Bling pours out her heart to iconic TV personality Winford Williams in Gaza Slim’s Prayer Answered. Having just been vindicated from conspiracy to pervert the course of justice charges, in connection to her mentor Vybz Kartel’s murder case, she has a new outlook on life and music.
Album/ Single Review
Richie Stephens ‘Everybody Dance’
Watch This
Aysha Loren Back To You EP
Duane Stephenson Dangerously Roots: Journey from August Town
With his distinctly charismatic voice, Richie Stephens is one of reggae’s most respected crooners. His latest single ‘Everybody Dance’ marks an exciting debut of the ‘Skatech’ genre; a marriage between the iconic sixties ska sound and modern day phenomenon of electronic music known as EDM. This up tempo, contagiously energetic track is guaranteed to make anyone get up and skank, just like Stephens and his army of forty dancers in the accompanying music video! Production comes courtesy of renowned dancehall producer Christopher Birch.
After the success of his last album, Mr Vegas returns with another timeless body of work ‘Reggae Euphoria’. This is a predominantly reggae album but also features some brilliant dancehall tunes such as ‘Real Don’ and ‘My Jam’, which is already receiving massive airplay. He puts his own stamp on some old standards like ‘Once Upon A Time’ (Featuring Jovi Rockwell). And with compelling contemporary collaborations such as ‘Who Rule’ (Featuring Sherita), spiritual sustenance is also offered by way of ‘Hallelujah’ and ‘God Good’. There’s something here for everyone!
Readers will recall our feature on London’s trailblazing songbird Aysha Loren, who has been warbling hits songs at just about every popular inner-city event for the better part of this year. This talented young lady has also graced the stages at some European festivals, providing vocals for reggae greats such as Luciano. Her much anticipated EP ‘Back To You’ is a gift-wrapped, succinct collection of reggae-soulful tracks. Boasting production from renowned producers such as Jazzwad (‘Say So’) and Chris Peckings (‘Back To You’), Aysha showcases her vocal and song-writing ability with impressive finesse.
Gravelly voiced wonder Duane Stephenson certainly has come a long way and his third album ‘Dangerously Roots’ is a collaboration with VP Records, doing exactly what it says on the tin. It offers a high dose of roots reggae music, revolutionary in its stance and hence, precarious to the morally opposed. And so it is absolutely called for as a source of social and musical sustenance; Stephenson’s pen knows no bounds. Featuring the production work from heavyweights such as Clive Hunt and Donovan Germain, duets with Tarrus Riley and I-Octane can be heard, as well as input from dub poet Mutabaruka .
Release Date: TBC
Release Date: 23rd September
Release Date: 6th July
Release Date: 23rd September
P
opular comedy crew Trabass TV strike again with a hilarious sketch Best Escape, where they put an outrageous spin on a compromising situation in their daring, signature way.
M
usic has always been a means of creative expression as well as enlightenment. Jamaica has currently been struck with the Chikungunya virus (Chick V) and The Chikungunya Song by 11 year old Wayne J is a viral, catchy dancehall track which tells the listener all about it.
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Vision/ Autumn 2014
Women
as a crutch having also addressed social, personal, gender, relationship issues.
in Dancehall by Nadine White
A number of factors place Female Dancehall artists in a compromising position.
“It’s like - you are a female; I’m
a dude. I’m not learning nothing from you. I just want to see you. So whatever you’re talking about, I probably don’t really care. I wanna just look at you.” Us Rapper Trina
When dancehall first emerged in the late 1970s, female dancehall artists were definitely less prevalent. However since then more ladies have joined the music roster, recording popular songs and going toe to toe with their male counterparts. The numbers seemed to reach its peak during the naughties (2000s) before dipping since the 2010s. The ‘elephants in the room’ are the gender inequalities which stalk the music industry; this is not often discussed but it plays a huge part in the exclusion of the female artist within dancehall. Furthermore, these inequalities make the question of sustainability difficult for the women who do manage to break into the scene. Artists such as Toya, Tenuke, Timberlee, Miss Thing, Miss O, Bridges, Posh, Pamputtae, Nefatari appear to have somewhat gone off the radar and it is not necessarily for a lack of talent.
Legacy Sister Nancy is often hailed as the first female deejay and, in a recent interview with blogger Jacinta, she cites the difference between how women were treated in ‘her day’ and now: “In those times, men respected women because it was their job. Now they’re saying that women are equal to men… but I don’t think so. That’s not the way that
Sister Nancy women are treated… ladies (nowadays) are doing their thing, but my time was a better time, it was more cultured. You didn’t have to do so much to make a name. Maybe because there weren’t so many females out there” Dancehall has long been underpinned by the sound system culture and radio airplay. Just as Sister Nancy rose to prominence via these platforms, so they have always been, and continue to be, instrumental in the development of an artist’s career. As it stands, there are more male disc jockeys than females, and their support of the female artist leaves a lot to be desired. This appears to be quite a paradox - these men profess their everlasting love for ladies, yet do not play their songs! It seems that this ‘love’ is more like lust; the dancehall industry is a misogynistic place where women are objectified and the primary value of most women is to be seen. Consequently, many female artists have taken note of this and adjusted to this demand, becoming more sexualized than ever before, in order to be seen and then hopefully heard. Finger’s crossed.
Slackness Artist Stylysh explained why she believes slackness is key in an interview with Irish and Chin: "When you do too much clean music dem don't tek yu serious. So you have to show dem dat yu bad and that way you will get your ratings in the streets…” Queen of Dancehall Lady Saw was Lady Saw arguably the first female artist to infiltrate the music scene with risqué performances and music. This was unusual for a female artist at the time but not for males, who were just as slack. However, time has told us that this is just one facet of the many moods of Marion Hall; she has not used her sexuality
This versatility has seen her stand the test of time. If one considers the few female dancehall artists who are at the forefront of the scene now, then it can be seen that all of them find a balance between slackness and other subject matters.
Hip Hop Similarities For the last ten years, a similar drought of female artists has been happening within Dancehall’s child - Hip Hop. And yes, the few successful female artists appear to have combined the role of video vixen with their craft. This includes Lil Kim and Nicki Minaj. Rapper Trina (left) is known for her lewd expressiveness and put this into perspective when she said: "It’s like - you a female; I'm a dude. I'm not learning nothing from you. I just want to see you. So whatever you're talking about, I probably don't really care. I wanna just look at you." This formula is not just confined to Dancehall or Hip Hop but also R&B, Rock. Very seldom does talent alone guarantee success when it comes to female artists – sex sells. Whilst there is nothing wrong with sexiness and embracing one’s sexuality, this state of being can be rather empty when isolated and exploited. And unfortunately that is the content of a lot of female artist’s music who have cropped up – and disappeared – in the last fourteen years. This highlights the sobering fact that times have indeed changed, particularly when one considers past icons such as Queen Latifah, MC Lyte and Lauryn Hill, who did not have to openly feed the male fantasy to be successful. In fact, they could be rather abrasive in
Vision/ Autumn 2014
their style of delivery. The same can be said for dancehall matriarchs such as Lady G, Sister Charmaine and Lady Ann.
Where’s the limit? What’s more, the industry’s insatiable appetite for sex can tip the scale at times. A well-known female dancehall artist, who will remain anonymous, said
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Unsurprisingly, these are all to do with men! For instance, despite the fact that she has a successful career in her own right, D’Angel will probably always face flack from the public for being subsequently involved in relationships with rivals Bounty Killer and Beenie Man. Moreover, she has been the topic of jokes in male artists’ songs. On the other hand, apart from a few diss tracks from Bounty, Beenie’s career was not negatively impacted by his union with her.
Downsound Records’ artist Ishawna has been steadily rising in popularity over the years, but her public break up with popular disc jockey/selector Foota Hype has received greater attention. This has somewhat overshadowed her music. US Rapper Trina & Gucci Mane Bursting onto the scene in 2007, Raine Seville the following during a candid began to gradually forge a conversation with me: “at one promising career as the First lady point, when I was up and coming, of Daseca; she was also involved it was like if mi nah f*** certain in a long term relationship with man like DJs and producers, mi label mate Bugle. In 2013, she nah go get the song voiced or scored a hit song with Konshens played. And a so di ting set right ‘Sekkle Dung’, in and around now. So, for a woman who is not this time she split up with prepared to do that, it can make Bugle and many ‘isms and things difficult. But on the other schisms’ ensued! He was hand, you get some women openly critical of her and who are prepared to do that Konshens’ steamy promo and do…which also makes photos (below) and the situation bad for the cast aspersions rest.” on her, as the mother of Danielle DI has been in their three the industry for a while and year old has been recently getting daughter. In more recognition, especially true dancehall since blowing away the fashion, scores ‘Jamworld’ (Portmore) at of patrons last year’s Sting stageD’Angel jumped on the show. During an interview wagon too, hurling with Nightly Fix News Talk critique at her via 93FM she comments that social media platforms! when she was up and coming What’s more, Bugle she struggled with “men who did penned and released not want to keep it just business”. ‘Nuh Compatible’ which In saying that, she points out was a mega success those incidents have become and widely thought to be scarcer since she’s become more a dig at his ex-partner. established. Raine’s musical output has declined.
Passa Passa Personal scandals are publicly unravelling the careers of some promising female artists.
Ishawna
Gaza Slim (Vanessa Bling) has just been vindicated of a perjury charge in connection with Vybz Kartel’s murder case; during this time, her musical output plummeted. Her popularity has not dwindled and she is planning a ‘comeback’. Here is an incredibly talented and promising young lady who is responsible for one of dancehall’s major feminist anthems ‘Independent Ladies’. Another of Kartel’s protégées Gaza Kym (Kym Hamilton) sensationally left his musical ‘Portmore Empire’ clique, having
Twitter Followers
alleged that Kartel was physically abusive towards her. The success of her subsequent output has declined, having done so.
Mavado - 224,791 Wayne Marshall - 124,612 Beenie Man - 102,168 Tony Matterhorn - 79,890 Bugle - 40, 479 Kartel - 11,357
In and around this time, explicit pictures of Lisa Hype began to surface, in which she is seen performing a sex act on a male, rumoured to be Kartel and even alluded to be so, by the man himself. There was never any exact confirmation about who exactly leaked these shots. This was a huge blow to her career, from which she is yet to properly bounce back. At this particular time, Hype was also involved in an exchange of several diss tracks between fellow artists Stacious and Spice respectively. She admitted feeling “ganged up against’, to Jamaican Personality Winford Williams. On that note, let’s explore another timeless factor that never fails to drive a wedge between ladies in any situation – catfights!
Rivalry
Stacious - 28,421 Raine Seville - 17,479 D'Angel - 17,006 Gaza Slim - 8,024 Lisa Hyper - 2,954 Kym Hamilton - 2,732
Raine Seville & Konshens
Learning Curve In dancehall’s earlier days there certainly were less female artists on the whole; however the turnover rate was also low. This is a contrast to nowadays, where there have been more female artists surfacing here and there. However the turnover rate is higher meaning they do not remain relevant.
In a recent interview with Boomshots, Tifa suggested that the relationship between female artists leaves a lot to be desired: “Things are going better than before for female artists but we’re not there Vanessa Bling & Vybz Kartel yet. If we unify then things could be better but it’s going to be hard for that to happen as everyone wants to be the ‘it’ person.”. Feuds certainly seemed to be at its height from 2012 Gaza Kym – 2013; Spice and Macka Diamond were at loggerheads, Lady Saw and Tifa had a short-lived moment and even Spice and Lady Saw. At ‘Sting’ 2013, Macka Diamond and Lady Saw engaged in a scathing clash, which became very personal. Although media and fans bought into all of the aforementioned feuds and helped to sensationalise them, these incidents caused a divide amongst the already scarce female artists which was a shame. Since then, the dust has settled amongst all parties and this is good news because they all just happen to currently be dancehall’s leading female artists. Cecile and Tanya Stephens are two further examples of the few ladies who have long-cemented their place at the forefront of the scene.
Sure, there is always the factor that some artists pursue a career in music solely for the promise of fame and fortune, which is not usually enough to ensure longevity. However the plight of women in dancehall has much more to do with the pressures that come with it a male dominated industry. So, with this said, a lot of the more recent contributions from the ladies are more valuable in terms of context than content. In that the musky music has a tendency to inadvertently document the plight of an oppressed sex, literally being stripped of respect. Most tragically of all, the culprits behind this deprivation are not always the ones doing the stripping but sometimes the stripped, themselves, who subscribe to the industry by any means necessary.
Cecile
Facebook Followers Sean Paul - 11.1M Popcaan - 1.1M Konshens - 562,000 Capleton - 276,000 Alkaline - 186,000 Bounty Killer - 86,958 Lady Saw - 849,000 Cecile - 165,359 D’Angel - 75,138 Spice - 42,241 Tifa - 14,747 Pamputtae - 2,676
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Jazz Related Tomorrow’s Warriors: Inspiring musicians & building future generations The Jazz Warriors movement of the mid 1980s brought to prominence a number of talented but marginalized black British jazz musicians who still continue to contribute significantly to the shape and evolution of UK jazz.
facilitate the development of the young musicians. There is the opportunity for youngsters to showcase talent at various levels, and hone their skills through various public performances at events and competitions
One of the founding members of that collective, Gary Crosby OBE and partner Janine Irons MBE, had a dream that reached beyond creating just a platform for black musicians. Their vision was one of affording marginalized youth an opportunity to access jazz and express themselves through the development of their skills and talent. In 1991, Tomorrow’s Warriors was created with a foremost intention of nurturing and guiding future generations of musicians.
The aspiring musicians are mentored by professional musicians (past participants
The project is highly organized and structured through various programmes for different age groups and skill levels that
Through its incubator and developmental ensembles, the project has been hugely successful. Its Junior Band, various small ensembles, the Female Collective, the Tomorrow’s Warriors Youth Orchestra and the Nu Civilization Orchestra, serve as the channels through which some of the finest jazz musicians of the current generation have been introduced to the world. These musicians have extended the genre’s reach to a new generation of listeners, ensuring the continuity of jazz while playing a major role in the evolution of the art form. © Richard Kaby
Although all youth and young adults between the ages of 11 – 25 are welcomed, the main groups targeted are Afro-Caribbean youth with special emphasis on girls. This is a deliberate strategy employed to correct an imbalance of representation of these groups within the musical jazz landscape in the UK.
themselves) in gaining competencies that will enable them to function effectively within a group setting, be it a band or small ensemble. Individuality and leadership are nurtured by encouraging soloing and teaching band leading skills.
Gary Crosby OBE one of the founders of Tomorrow’s Warriors, there to bring about a fundamental change in the number and representation of black and/or female musicians and composers in the mainstream of professional music in the UK.
Tomorrow’s Warriors has grown into one on the most important organizations in the UK for its role in the development of children and translates into a gargantuan contribution to musical and cultural evolution and preservation. Read more about them here: http://tomorrowswarriors.org/
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MELISSA STEEL: Yorkshire got Talent Strong and powerful are the two top qualities of steel. Those same traits apply to rising star Melissa Steel, who has been making huge waves with her smash hit ‘Kisses For Breakfast’ featuring dancehall artist Popcaan. This breezy summer anthem has a distinct island-pop/dancehall vibe to it and has been enjoying widespread airplay, particularly on UK powerhouse radio platforms Kiss FM and BBC 1Xtra. It has also peaked at #10 on the UK Singles Chart and #2 on the iTunes Chart. A fun, sun-kissed accompanying music video was shot in Jamaica at the much-loved Hellshire Beach in Portmore, St. Catherine. The twenty year old singer said: “Because of the vibe of the song, we envisioned Jamaica as the perfect place to shoot the video. I had a blast!” Being of Jamaican heritage, Melissa used to travel to the island frequently and she has a particular fondness for the beach resort town of Negril and its famous Rick’s Café. Her favourite Jamaican dish is Curried Goat! Melissa was born and raised in the city of Bradford, which is home to a number of pivotal figures within art and literature…not to mention Zayn Malik, of BRIT award-winning teen-pop group One Direction, whom she went to school with. Determined to go her own way Melissa definitely has her head firmly on her shoulders, insisting that “I have always had an idea of how I wanted to go about things” – noting that she has never wanted
to audition for TV talent-search programmes, such as ‘The X Factor’, which saw her pal Zayn ‘hit the big time’. She continues: “Those platforms are amazing but I always knew that I wanted to do things my own way. Slowly work my way up”. Fashion-wise, Melissa’s style is “crazy-sexy-cool”, redolent with a tinge of the nineties trademark yet fused with an up-to-time naughties edge. Citing the songbird Aaliyah as one of her influences, Melissa says: “I love Aaliyah! Having grown up on a lot of 90s R&B – like Lauryn Hill, Mary J Blige, TLC – it has definitely had an impact on my music. I always want to pay homage to that genre which gave me so much.” Unfortunately, the pressure of the cut throat music industry has seen quite a few emotional and mental casualties over time, particularly of those who start out at young age. Melissa agrees and adds: “I can say that I am at the right place at the moment with my feet firmly on the ground. I surround myself with good people and have the same friends - I know who I am and what I want. ” Melissa works on her debut album, which will showcase a number of musical genres. We just waved her off from Jamaica the other day, as she recently returned to shoot a new video for a brand new collaboration with label-mate Krishane and Beenie Man, ‘Drunk and Incapable’.
Vision/ Autumn 2014
Fashion & Lifestyle
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BANG ON TREND! FASHION BITES
Nude Brown Undies Hit The Streets
London based company Nubian Skin (nubianskin. com) have launched their very own range of nude coloured underwear, aimed specifically at darker skinned women. These consist of four shades range from a golden caramel to a deep
brown and will be available from sizes 30B to 36DD/E. Bigger sizes are promised at a later date. This certainly is welcome news for scores of women of colour, who will now be able to sport these tailor-made undies, designed to match their skin tone!
Newly launched channel CaribBe TV made its debut at the end of September and is brought to us by former Miss Jamaica Universe, April Jackson. Streaming live and on-demand directly from Jamaica, it will broadcast the best of the region’s fashion, lifestyle, cooking, entertainment and more!
Return of the Rudeboy This past summer, the Return of the Rudeboy exhibition was unveiled at Somerset House. Inspired by the fashionable gents of the Jamaican ‘rudeboy’ subculture, it features various portraits, installations and set pieces. Prolific photographer Dean Chalkley and creative director Harris Elliot are the masterminds behind this feat which draws inspiration from 1960s Jamaica. Originating from the streets of Kingston, the ‘rudeboy’ came to represent the young rebels who donned attire such as mohair suits, brogues, thin ties and pork pie hats. These youngsters
were dissatisfied with the social and economic situation within in their country and by extension, their neighbourhoods; this resulted in a reverberation of discontent and violence. But they were sharp and stylish with it! This exhibition involved over 60 individuals being snapped across the UK, all of whom embody the essence of what it is to be a modern-day ‘rudeboy’. British film director and musician Don Letts said the following: “In a conservative culture that feels like punk never happened, the time is right for Return of the Rudeboy”. Zeen!
Poundland
Jamaican Castor Oil
Poundland will infiltrate the beauty market by launching a 100-piece make up range called ‘Make Up Gallery’ which consists of items such as foundation for a number of different skin tones , a pedicure set, nail polishes (pictured), concealer and mascara. These items are set to arrive in stores from the end of October.
It is simply a must have; an unrefined hair oil which works to enhance growth and maintain healthiness on all hair types. With an unmistakably pungent scent, the beauty elixir is originally sourced from the island of Jamaica and can also be used on eyelashes and eyebrows. This is perfect for keeping those locks nourished during the harsh winter season coming up, as it prevents breakage and it increases blood flow to the scalp and supplies valuable nutrients to hair follicles. Pick up a bottle of the imported good stuff from your local hair shop!
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ZJ Liquid Birthday Party, Famous Night Club, October 2014
Whats App Fridays, Tower Hill, October 2014
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Demarco Birthday Party, Lime Nightclub, September 2014
Kelly Upsetter Fashion Night Out, Royal View Portmore, October 2014
Out A Road Thursdays, Patrick City, September 2014
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