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REMEMBERING DONNA SUMMERS
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L 3 M A G A Z I N E . C O M | J U LY 2 0 1 2
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January 2014
NO. 28
CEO AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF |
NATASHA VON CASTLE
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
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JUNIOR RODIGAN
MARKETING DIRECTOR
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ROHAN BECKFORD
PUBLISHER
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L3 GROUP OF COMPANIES
MANAGING EDITOR AND LIFESTYLE EDITOR ALLIE DUKER CONTRIBUTING EDITOR AND CARIBBEAN AFFAIRS EDITOR TRICIA ‘ZJ SPARKS’ SPENCE CONTRIBUTING EDITOR AND MUSIC EDITOR TRE CARN TRAVEL EDITOR STACIA VON CASTLE MUSIC REVIEW EDITOR JENNIFER MENSTER CONTRIBUTING WRITERS HEIKE DEMPSTER, MARCUS WELLER, PORTIA CLARKE, MIMI MAMICHULA, DAMON GATLING AYEOLA GEORGE, ZAKADA MILTON, JIMMY TAMBOU, RICO VIBES ANDRE GOMEZ
WELCOME
REMEMBERING DONNA SUMMERS
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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR LIFE
Once in a lifetime we come across a talent like that of Tessanne Chin. One of a kind with her vocal styling, we as an industry did not know how to place her. Some producers tried to keep her in a Reggae lane which was not a perfect fit, then others tried to keep her in a Dancehall lane, and that didn’t fit either. The industry was trying to keep the circle in a square. There is not one soul whom Tessanne has not touched, or influenced. The message is to embrace your individual difference and not conform to what others define you to be. The beauty is that when you get the chance to shine, the world will love your difference.
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To Adam Levine and the producers of The Voice, thank you for giving Tessanne the opportunity to shine on your stage, and thank you for filling the hearts and minds of millions across the Caribbean and its Diaspora with inspiration to follow through with their goals and dreams. Thanks to you, we discovered our Voice! connect with me on Twitter @NatashaVonC
Natasha Von Castle “I had no doubt about Tessanne winning the The Voice. Ever since I first heard her music several years ago her music is played on my Radio show, This is Reggae Music in Washington D.C. She was just one of the great female singers gathering dust in Jamaica. Promoters, Producers and Radio personalities in Jamaica especially, have been ignoring their music and going for the ‘hype’ and less talent. I wish her the very best and I know she is going to be great in whichever way she takes her career.” - TONY CARR “ It’s of monumental importance in Jamaican history, not our Music history but our history. Tessanne winning The Voice also points to the positive things that can be achieved when we combine forces. We allowed Tessanne and her team to do the creative part while The Diaspora worked as a team to ensure she would go through.” - ZJ SPARKS “I’m ecstatic that Tessanne has won the competition The Voice. This is the beginning of great things for her. She has worked very hard preparing for this and has been very de-motivated at times. I think her talent is world class; a voice like that is one of a kind and her personality compliments her ability. She is a perfectionist and her work ethic is amazing. Tessanne is one of Jamaica’s greatest treasures and I am privileged to know her and work with her. Tess, ‘2 di werl we sey! “ - DJ BAMBINO “Tessanne is a beautiful soul and I am so grateful that we got the chance to work together. I always knew she was a world class singer and it is great that the rest of the world also knows now” - PROTOJE
GUEST EDITORIAL
BUJU BANTON In recent times there has been a tremendous uproar by Caricom nations berating the actions of the Dominican Republic because of its mass expulsion of thousands of Haitians, regardless of the fact that these people are citizens of that country who should have the protection under the constitution that all citizens are entitled to. This action is not only appalling, it is one of the worst human rights abuses committed in our era - not to down play the numerous wanton evils that has been perpetrated daily by nations who claim to be the forerunners for democratic change worldwide. Our burning desire to assimilate in various societies have been denied for centuries. You don’t have to look far to see the prevailing social hierarchy where whites are first and blacks are last. The black people of the west (most, not all) have actually been taught to hate what they see in the mirror. Therefore we continue a cycle of hate and self destruction fulfilling a destiny that was set in motion centuries ago. Haitians who reside in the Dominican Republic have long been the victims of abject hatred and injustice by their very own brothers. In 1937 the Dominican President Rafael Trujillo ordered the execution of approximately 20,000 Haitians living in the Dominican Republic. Ironically, President Trujillo’s mother was of Haitian descent. Is there still some lingering resentment on the part of those who rule the Dominican Republic towards the Haitian people? Inside the December 2, 2013 edition of Forbes magazine, in the Marketplace section there is an advertisement where a company states that they can procure passports from a variety of countries on a timely basis and that the Dominican Republic is the most popular and economical. They advertise full citizenship in a sovereign country to reduce taxes and protect assets. Is the Dominican Republic trying to make room for more affluent friends while marginalizing and deporting its true citizens for a handsome price? This smells of the past and it all stinks. The times have changed but human nature has not.
Buju Banton
C O N T E N T S 06 LIFE 08 LETTER FROM THE EDITOR 10 GUEST EDITORIAL 13 CINEMA 20 FASHION 32 BEAUTY 52 MODEL OF THE MONTH 54 FOOD 58 RELATIONSHIPS 62 MIAMI ART SCENE 80 LOVE 84 NEW RELEASES 82 CHARTS 104 LYRICS 105 FEATURES
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PATRICIA BATH
Born and raised in Harlem, New York, and daughter to Rupert, an immigrant of Trinidad & Tobago, Bath became an ophthalmologist and broke historical ground by becoming the first woman to serve on the staff of the Jules Stein Eye Institute, and was elected to honorary staff at the UCLA (University of California Los Angeles) Medical Center. Another significant first for Bath comes by way of being the first African American woman doctor to receive a patent for a medical purpose. Her Laserphaco Probe is used to treat cataracts. The holder of four patents, she is also the founder of the American Institute for the Prevention of Blindness in Washington D.C. Bath has lectured internationally and authored over 100 papers.Â
L3 MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2014
This month, L3 Magazine honors Ms. Patricia Era Bath, inventor of Laser Eye Surgery.
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Inventor Of Lazer Eye Surgery
CINEMA AMERICAN HUSTLE Get With The Hustle
Contributed by The Hollywood Reporter In The Fighter and Silver Linings Playbook, David O. Russell hit a bracing mid-career groove in which his idiosyncratic stamp as a director injected distinctive rawness and emotional vitality into what in other hands might have been merely conventional movies. He continues on that roll of refreshing character-driven storytelling with the outrageously entertaining American Hustle, a twisty con-job chronicle that combines heightened dramatic stakes with playful humor, subversive sexiness and fabulous 1970’s style. Fueled by invigorating performances from a zesty ensemble often cast against type, this movie looks like a winner for Sony! Written by Eric Warren Singer and Russell, the film is a fictionalized account of the Abscam scandal, an East Coast FBI sting operation that went down in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. It resulted in a number of public officials being convicted on corruption charges, including several congressmen and high-level political operatives. As indicated by the opening tag, “some of this actually happened,” Russell makes no claim of adhering to those events. He carries on exploring the affinity evident in his last two features for characters at difficult junctures working to reinvent themselves. What gives this film its teasing pleasure is that almost everyone, on both sides of the law, is to some extent an ambiguous hustler, promising one thing and delivering another, sometimes with multiple hidden agendas.
L3 MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2013
Russell and cinematographer Linus Sandgren don’t go in for lots of fancy camera moves, instead keeping the sharp widescreen compositions firmly focused on the characters. Similarly, period recreation from production designer Judy Becker and costumer Wilkinson is richly detailed and loaded with trashy-flashy glamor, without drawing attention away from the players. Three editors, Jay Cassidy, Crispin Struthers and Alan Baumgarten, are credited with compressing the lively story and its multiple character arcs into two-hours-twenty that never drags. Even at its most chaotic, the narrative remains fluid. A key element is the energizing use of music, perfectly attuned to every turn the action takes. Danny Elfman’s cool connective score follows the lead of the Duke Ellington number “Jeep’s Blues,” smoothly integrated into a killer collection of cocktail tunes, brassy jazz and primo ‘70s nuggets that includes tracks from Chicago, America, Jeff Lynne, Steely Dan, Donna Summer, Elton John, David Bowie and the Bee Gees. Oh, and extra points for using the Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes original of “Don’t Leave Me This Way,” instead of the heard-to-death Thelma Houston redo.
L3 MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2014
Sydney wants to flee the country, but Irving remains too tied to his messed-up, manipulative wife Rosalyn (Jennifer Lawrence), whose son from a previous relationship he has adopted. When Sydney informs Irv that she intends to get close to Richie for insurance, she is acting out of jealousy as much as self-protection.
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There’s a lot of great hair in this movie but none more transfixing than the carefully sculpted comb-over worn by Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale), which we watch him construct in a process involving glue, a fake thatch and a thick coat of Elnett. That hilarious opening sequence also establishes the walking paradox of paunchy Irving, whose personal style seems at odds with a breezy confidence that allows him to scam just about anyone. It’s precisely that quality that attracts Sydney (Amy Adams), a knockout former stripper from New Mexico, who likes to pass herself off as Lady Edith, a Brit with London banking connections. That alias comes in handy as the lovers lure patsies into a fake loan scheme, collecting five grand a pop. But Sydney/Edith makes a bad call when she reels in Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper), an ambitious Fed. He coerces Sydney and Irving into helping him nail some heavyweight white-collar targets, promising that four significant arrests will clean their slate.
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The vicarious enjoyment of being bad that American Hustle provides gives it a vague kinship with Goodfellas, while its buoyant narrative energy and disco-era setting recall Boogie Nights. Dexterously plotted and laced with choice dialogue, the film is a crime drama infused with the spirit of a caper comedy, its frisky insouciance at times not unlike Steven Soderbergh’s Ocean’s Eleven remake.
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ANTON MARKS Is Bad To The Bone CONTRIBUTED
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For Anton Marks, the supernatural is a world where his characters and creativity come to life, and his novel Bad II the Bone gives readers a supernatural thriller that includes racially diverse women immersed in a world of magic and demons! With an increase in people’s appetite for things that go bump in the night, Marks represents a new voice and a new angle; he combines a fanatical love for horror, crime, sci-fi fiction and film, with his Caribbean roots and his affinity for the ghetto lifestyle. Combined, this gave Marks a unique voice and allowed the author to easily create 3 lead female characters that were not too distant from his own experiences with women. “Women love clothes, music and love each other yet they have the courage and strength of will to battle the unknown.” Bad II the Bone are what Bantu speaking mystics call ‘Watunza Mwanga,’ the modern day incarnations of the ones who have maintained the balance of good and evil since time immemorial. These mystics are gifted to tackle supernatural threats to the common man anywhere it may present itself. Gang violence has a lot of people living in the inner cities worried, and it seems communities around the world are suffering the effects of one nightmare after another. “There’s a feeling that we have no one to turn to for support or a solution; a feeling that soon all our nightmares will manifest and we will be helpless against a tidal wave of violence and intolerance that will overwhelm us all” says Marks. Sometimes battles have to be fought in the natural (physical) and in the supernatural or unknown. Anton’s response to the growing trend about unknown energies is Bad II the Bone. The characters of Y, Suzy Wong and Patra have been given the tools to fight fire with fire!
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NEW YEAR BLING
FASHION
NEW YEAR GREY & SIMPLE
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FASHION THE MEETING OF ROBIN CLAIRE &
BUTCH DIVA Contributed
Hailing from Jamaica, Sydney based artist, Robin Clare’s work is inspired by dancehall culture and the brilliant aesthetics of Jamaican party promotions. Her work explores the scope of imagery used throughout the decades since Jamaican music hit the world’s stage with references to outrageous party names, dance techniques and other elements of popular culture that have emerged from the scene. She has exhibited across Europe, North America and Sydney and works at the edge of the map between contemporary art and graphic design and produces zines, album art, fabric patterns and illustrations alongside her painting practice. The Brooklyn-based fashion haus, founded in 2002, creates daring, empowering, show-stopping custom and ready-to-wear styles. Butch Diva, also known as “Spandex and Chaos,” sets leading trends and has branded a name that embodies today’s leading females. “Butch” expresses androgyny with a masculine aggression, and “Diva” is still sexy, feminine, and in control. Founder Tiffany Rhodes joined the two concepts and stood confident behind her vision. The luxury spandex based company represents everything that is feminine and fun, utilizing hand selected graphic prints that encourage women to express their individuality and embrace their curves!
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Over the years, Butch Diva has been featured on the bodies of Dancehall Queen Patra, Nicki Minaj, Lil Kim, K. Michelle, Kat Graham and more! The BD (Butch Diva) x RC (Robin Clare) graphic art collaboration features a collection of 6 art posters inspired by the fabulous Butch Diva brand. Each poster is printed with a gloss finish in full colour, measuring 16” x 20.” The collection features a range of 6 original designs by Robin Clare ranging from illustrations inspired by the 90’s pop-deco Butch Diva summer 2013 collection, to full page patterns created with Robin’s signature dancehall inspired ‘gyals’ in motion wearing classic Butch Diva creations. All prints are available for purchase through the Butch Diva shop at www.butchdiva.com.
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SIGNATURE 78 CONTRIBUTED
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The Fashion world of the Caribbean mind set has very good reason to be excited again and that reason is Signature 78! . A one of a kind in concept, Signature 78 is a pop-up shop featuring upcoming designers, artisans and trendsetters, who are paired with a beautiful backdrop of the Caribbean islands. The groundbreaking concept allows smart and fashionable customers the opportunity to have a one-of-a-kind look from talented designers without having to break the bank. If you’re asking yourself, “what’s a pop-up shop?!,” we have the answer! A pop-up shop is a retail space used for a short amount of time. Simple! As the brainchild of co-creators Tiffani James and Syn Dawkins, both of whom have a flair for fashion, knack for event production and passion for their Caribbean culture, Signature 78’s goal is to highlight creative and talented designers. Syn’s expertise in event production ensures that customers will experience a high-end and exclusive shopping environment, while Tiffani’s expertise in fashion ensures that Signature 78 customers receive the most unique and trendy wardrobe pieces. Combining art, music and fashion to produce top-notch events, Signature 78 celebrates everything Caribbean culture. Events such as Caribbean Fashion Rocks and Irie Fashion Rave have been used to highlight Caribbean fashion, and music and to bridge the gap between mainstream designers and innovative indie collections. Signature 78 will select seven designers to be featured in the pop-up shop. Focusing on quality rather than quantity, the company avoids featuring mass-produced garments. All of the designers selected to participate in the pop-up shop receive the Signature 78 stamp of approval. Whether it’s the contrasting styles that speak to Tiffani’s personality or the bold and edgy styles that reflect Syn’s character, all of the featured designers speak to the signature styles of the co-founders. Both the designers and customers are classy, artistic and cultured. Signature 78 continues to cultivate the relationships between fashion innovators as well as movers and shakers. The exclusive pop-up shop infuses Caribbean culture, largescale events and fashion to create an unforgettable shopping experience. The first pop up shop will be held in Barbados from January 31 to February 2, 2014!
BEAUTY BEAUTY TIPS & PRODUCTS KEREEN CUNNINGHAM
Growing up in the Caribbean, Mother’s give kids herbal teas to drink before going back to school. What we didn’t know back then is Mom was flushing our system of impurities. Now that we’re adults, we have to adapt the same attitude towards our skin by treating it according to the seasons. One of the simplest things we can do for our skin is to drink water. Drinking water is not the most flavourful thing to do, but it does a lot to keep skin hydrated. If you insist in having some flavour in your water, add fruits, or the juice extract from fresh fruits. Once you have the water regiment in place, it’s time for the next steps. Before dressing your face at anytime, cleanse, tone and moisturize. Choosing the right products will help you find the right balance for your skin type, especially in the brutal winter months. Here is a beauty tip and my 5 picks for makeup products for normal to dry and all skin types.
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Origins products are very lovely to try and one of my favourite is A Perfect World Antioxidant cleanser with white tea. It’s formulated with natures Silver Tip White Tea, dirt grabbing minerals helps to detoxify and free your skin from harmful impurities before they settle to cause ageing. This cleanser is suitable for mainly normal to dry skin. I love using this product because it suits all season and leaves your skin thoroughly cleansed. It can be purchased on the origins website, and department stores in the U.S., Canada and Europe.
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The Beauty Booster Cream by Trish McEvoy is a product that I fell in love with. This gem has a very soft texture and sinks into skin easily just like the touch of velvet. It is made for all skin types, it’s a multi-function moisturiser with anti-fatigue, a primer and also can be used as a mask for 15 minutes and easily rinses off. You can get this product in the U.S., Canada, the UK and from the Trish McEvoy website.
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It’s amazing how Urban Decay just brought out this palette that everyone has been waiting for and bang in the middle of the festive season.
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A third incarnation of the Naked eyeshades empire is currently on shelves – the Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette. For the ladies that love neutral but enhancing shadows, this palette will be their first choice! 12 shades, 3 mattes and 9 shimmers in a lovely rose gold metal case say chic and glamour Shades breakdown as: Strange, Dust, Burnout, Limit, Buzz, Trick, Nooner, Liar, Factory, Mugshot, Darkside and Blackheart. Comparing the other two Naked Palettes, these shades represent the cooler of the bunch, and the most contrasting is the left side which is very pastel and the right side is all about the deeper shades for Smokey looks. There aren’t many middle tones but if you play with the shades you can create the look you want to achieve. Urban Decay has made it different from the other 2 palettes and it’s a must have!.
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Two months ago I was introduced to this product by a UK rep and was the first to demonstrate it at a beauty workshop, and it’s called the Makeup Bullet.
L3 MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2014
Coming in the shape of a bullet, it was created by an “Emmy award winning Celebrity Makeup Artist” from the U.S. Within 5 minutes I was able to apply foundation, concealer, eye shadows and blusher from 1 applicator. It’s made from a very refined sponge that doesn’t soak up the foundation, and comes highly recommended for women that wear light makeup daily and moms that are always rushing. This sensation is creating a wave across the U.S.! Get yours online!
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I attended an end of year networking event and met Makeup Artist Sheeba Raye who has created a line of false eye lashes. I tried 2 and my favourite is Skye. These false eye lashes are a cut against the rest and a must have for ladies who can’t live without them. Make sure you Sheeba’s website www.sheebaraye.com
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CULTURE & FASHION
CULTURAL PRIDE IS A FASHIONABLE ASSET Words & Pictures by MACINTOSH SMITH
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Self pride is beneficial for individual self-esteem. In some cultures, showing pride is almost mandatory to illustrate one’s love and appreciation for community or a cause. In the world of pageantry, contestants are quite selective over the pageant gown that is worn as it is an anticipated segment of the pageant. Judges and audiences typically expect contestants to wear traditional pageant gowns and wardrobe, however we found two accomplished women, Ms. Florida America 2013 - Amanda Wamunyima and Ms. America 2013 - Chiniqua Pettaway, who embrace ethnic fashions and display cultural pride in their community. A dynamic new trend is the expression of cultural fashions in the world of mainstream pageantry. Cultural fashions are more prevalent in ethnic-based pageants. Ms. Wamunyima (a first-generation immigrant from the country of Zambia) sparked a trend when she not only wore an ethnic-inspired evening gown but her entire wardrobe during the Ms. America 2013 pageant week’s activities comprised of trendy ethnic inspired designs. During the competition, Amanda wore an ivory satin evening gown with metallic gold lace trim and crystals at waist and off shoulder, and side slit. Amanda explains, “my wardrobe is styled by TeKay Designs in Houston Texas. I’m proud of my culture. I want to show my cultural side through ethnic fashions. Because I’m from Zambia, I want to shine a light on African fashions to support the designers. African fashions are more than just clothing; because the garment tells a story in tribal context. For example; the fabric that is used in traditional Musisi dresses often signifies a geographical region and tribal expression. There is also a new generation of Africans who are more inspired by western designs fused with African fabrics, and they call these looks Afrique-Chic. So, I wear ethnic fashions to share more about who I am.” Amanda has sparked a cultural style trend in mainstream pageantry. Since winning her title, you will find Amanda adorned in opulent cultural fashions and representing her title at events while advancing her humanitarian cause. Amanda’s mission is to lend her voice to ieEmbrace organization as her humanitarian cause. ieEmbrace provides hospitals and clinics with medical supplies and equipment, as well as offer youth development programs.
L3 MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2014
Ethnic fashions are a nonverbal expression of pride that Amanda Wamunyima and Chiniqua Pettaway uphold and are proud to be adorned in cultural style!
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As a humanitarian, Chiniqua Pettaway extends her time to support many areas of her community. She extends her time to youth initiatives, social dignitaries, civic groups and spiritual organizations; as well as local entrepreneurial startups. Pettaway is especially passionate about her platform of service “Guard a Heart” a heart health awareness foundation. Guard a Heart’s mission is to fight heart disease with their campaign, “Know your Risk, Save a Life.” Heart conditions are the number-one killer of men and women in America. Chiniqua Pettaway is a small business owner herself, and her title as Ms. America offers Chiniqua unique opportunities to connect with other businesses and to form meaningful relationships. “I want to wear ethnic fashions that show my cultural pride. TeKay Designs is a young cultural design business and I’m willing to support that platform. The fashions are extremely cohesive as a collection; and you can always identify TeKay’s signature design. TeKay’s fashions are vibrant in color with diverse styles. The garments are distinctly ethnic, but the looks will compliment anyone. TeKay diversifies the models so when people of different ethnicities see the dresses, they can see themselves wearing TeKay’s fashions too. I embrace culture one-hundred percent! And so long as I like the garment, I’ll wear it! It’s important for me to project a positive image. Popular Media today has a heavy influence on what African-American youth emulate. There are certainly some poor examples being projected in the Media. As I see it, there is a huge gap between where the African-American culture actually has advanced to, and the perception of where we’ve advanced to. We do not have a lot of good role models for African-American youth to relate to in popular Media so I try to be that positive image and that’s why I’m active in the community. I want to have a real presence, and lead by example.” explains Pettaway.
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Presenting culture in the forefront is a stylish asset, even more so at gala events that are high profile such as the Golden Icons Academy Movie Awards (GIAMA) ceremony. Amongst the celebrities and socialites we met, is pageant winner Chiniqua Pettaway the reigning Ms. America 2013. Ms. Pettaway’s striking appearance in a body sculpting bronze gold lace dress with pleated undertones made her a paparazzi magnet as she arrived to accept interviews. This is intended, because Ms. America knows to leverage media attention to advance her humanitarian mission to the forefront. “I embrace my culture by being active in the African-American community as a mentor to young women. I coach at youth development programs. I teach etiquette classes and lecture young people about life, the importance of education and how it will affect their life in the long term” states Pettaway.
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SMILEY MODEL OF THE MONTH
photpgraphy : JEROME DUPONT
website : JeromeDupont.com
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GUILT FREE STUFFED MUSHROOMS by JIMMY TAMBOU Ingredients: 1 cup of chopped sun dried tomatoes 1 cup of grated squash acorn or butternut squash 1 cup of chopped blanched broccoli crowns 1 tbsp coconut oil 3/4 cup of grated vegan cheese 1/4 cup of nutritional yeast 1 cup of 50/50 blend of cooked quinoa and wheat bulgur 1 tbsp of dried basil 10 medium cored button mushrooms
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Directions :
Enjoy ! Bon Appetite !
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Contact Jimmy via email : romigdadon@hotmail.com
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1. Preheat oven at 350 degrees. 2. Coat baking cast iron skillet/baking dish with coconut oil. 3. Combine squash, broccoli, quinoa, bulgur, sun dried tomatoes, 1/2 of the 3/4’s grated vegan cheese and basil together.( stuffing mix could also be served as is) 4. Place button mushrooms into baking dish. 5. Stuff mushrooms with the stuffing mix. 6. Sprinkle remainder of vegan cheese over the stuffed mushrooms. 7. Top off the stuffed mushrooms with nutritional yeast. 8. Bake for 20 minutes in preheated oven, or until the mushrooms are piping hot and liquid starts to form under caps.
RELATIONSHIPS
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STOP DRAWING LINES IN THE SAND CRICKET
In sharing with a good male friend of mine, I came to this second observation that, let’s face it – no one really wants to get played. It does not matter if you are a woman or a man, the sentiments are equal. There are two questions that bring us to this crossroad; 1. when is the right time to put your guard down a little, and 2. When is the right time to try to trust again? When do you know it is the right time to stop drawing a line in the sand, or not being so fast to throw up a barrier? It is sometimes the most awkward part in one’s life, when you have to start “meeting” someone new… again. It is the gray area, between wanting to find the right person, and totally having to have to start over, and it is not an exercise, we get used to. I think we are silently wishing that if that previous relationship had worked out, we would not be going through ‘this.’ You psych yourself up, go out with this new person who you have no real idea of knowing what they are truly about, and wonder if they are coming to meet you, or doing what Chris Rock said in one of his standup comedy routines ‘sending their representative.’ It brings you to a sort of low point, building up your anxiety, the palms of your hands sweat, while you hear Whitney Houston’s song playing in the back of your head “How Will I Know?”
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Sure, there are men that are looking for a temporary feeling, a quick pit stop, and trysts with multiple women, but those actions do not represent the sentiments of ALL men. There are men who want a relationship, maybe not marriage, but they would not mind something long term, just like women. Many, who are family oriented, have bought into the same fantasy, as women, wanting the soul mate, children, two dogs and a picket fence. There are women, who cannot be tied down, and pretend to want something long term, and enter into multiple relationships because they find it fun. They never stop to think about getting caught, or possibly hurting someone. It is all about them!
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The dating game to many feels almost like trying to make a correct turn without GPS at a busy highway intersection. Some Women are so wrong when they think that they are the only ones that have a problem “trusting” that next relationship or new potential love. Both sides have a problem, lowering down that proverbial wall; we all know how it goes. As we exit out of a bad relationship, or quite possibly exile another “Ex” to damnation, it becomes another chapter in a “series” of another relationship gone nowhere. Men, get hurt too; it’s not just women. After a few conversations, I came to realize this.
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The point is, you wind up not really moving forward, until you actually do. The only way that you can truly rid yourself of the last and past disaster, is by beginning your quest to find the right new someone. Of course, you have to pray and hope that this person will be more suited for you, at least in the same book, if not on the same page.
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I sat down one day, after listening to a talk radio segment, and the speaker urged, that you draw up a list of the things you would love in a person you are with, and the things you know you dislike or want no parts of. It was a pretty interesting request. I am not sure how many people tuned into the show that day, but I could not wait to get home to start my list (yes I’m in the same boat as many)! Once I started jotting things down, I realized that I had looked past a few qualities that I know I was not willing to compromise on, and there were some things, that I realized I was willing to meet middle ground on. Bottom line, you cannot dwell on what someone in the past has done to you so stop drawing that line in the sand. Moving forward, is the strongest weapon that you have to meeting someone new, and trying to be as positive as you can through the process. We have to remember that timing is everything, and sometimes, when we are ready for something serious, the person we are with at the time, just isn’t there. Although I hate to say it, there are also some wicked people in this world. They lie; they are deceitful. Even if you added in an incentive to pay them for facts only, they could not tell the truth! Hating them, does nothing for you. Each of us control our own happiness. We hold the keys to what we want. Never give up on you! Put away the stick, and stop drawing the line in the sand. It is time to step over it and open the door to that chance. It may make you feel uneasy, and each person has to decide, when it is their time to jump in the dating “intersection” again.
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ON THE SCENE LIFE
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MIAMI ART WEEK
THE SAGAMORE HOTEL ANNUAL ART BASEL BRUNCH
HEIKE DEMPSTER & SHANTEL MARTIN
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‘UNTITLED’ - MIAMI 2014
MURAL IN WYNWOOD by RONE (AUSTRALIA)
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LONDON ARTIST LAKWENA IN WYNWOOD
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JEFF KOONS ‘ELEPHANT’ at ART BASEL
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‘SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW’
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KAREN SAROSTA_GILINSKI
KENTON PARKER INSTALLATION AT PRIMARY OBJEC
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DJ WORLD MAP LIFE
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TUNE IN CREW
L3 MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2014
You have music producers, you have composers, you have players of instruments and then you have music creators. The duo from Strasbourg, France, named Tune in Crew, are all of the above! Refusing to put themselves in to boxes or apply labels that restrict the scope of their creativity, Tune in Crew can only be described as music masters. Working with genres in range from Electronic to Dancehall, the crew applies a treatment to music that some call a remix, others call a re-fix and the majority celebrate as a unique musical design. Artists such as Adele, Beyonce and Rihanna have enjoyed the Tune In Crew touch, as has Dynamiq, Matisyahu and Omar Perry. Resetting the ‘codes,’ this dynamic duo puts a soulful dimension to their creations which unites listeners from every walk of life around the world. Giving you amplified and dope synthetic sounds, Tune in Crew has the soundtrack for the world! Connect with them on SoundCloud >>> https://soundcloud.com/tuneincrew
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NEW RELEASES
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MIXRELEASES TAPE FEATURES NEW
NEW RELEASES
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Mathieu Karsenti joined the collective later in 2003 that same year providing an acoustic soul touch. Mathieu under his own Soulem Productions has produced a number of modern Soul, Hip-Hop and Pop acts. Female member of the group Sanya Lerin originally from the theatre, is a more recent addition to the Wah Wah Collective. She is the groups Wah Mama. The album Cry Baby Soul showcases many songs of which were only released on vinyl or were never released by The Wah Wah Collective. Songs such as “Everytime” have been featured on television shows in the UK and North America, “Gordo” is a fan favorite in part because of the use of guitar and Latin overtones, and “Prying Eyes” are heavy standouts. When entertaining or relaxing, “Tell Me Why” will be one of the most requested songs for repeat! This is a must have album for lovers of Soul. The release date is set for February, 2014. Stay connected with The Wah Wah Collective via Twitter >>> @thewahmama
L3 MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2014
The name Wah Wah is a take on the sound of a baby crying, but their music will make you do anything but cry! Working as a core, and opening to collaboration with fellow independent artists, the album Cry Baby Soul is eclectic flavour which stems from the various backgrounds of the members. The Elusive (Naj Okena) started off in the music industry with Sanctuary Management working on accounts for legendary rock band Iron Maiden and Bruce Dickinson. In recent years Naj has been involved in X-Factor releases (Bada Badoo) and generating awareness for the golden age UK Hip Hop scene releasing albums and EP’s for 1990’s UK Hip Hop acts. Naj is also involved in Italian underground Electronica projects with dance acts on his label roster. Naj set up The Wah Wah Collective in 2003 with Georgeyo whose background stems from Nu-Soul / Jazz working with the likes of King-Britt, Fyza Saleh and more recently artists on the Futuristic Music label.
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There is nothing like sitting with your friends and family at a beautiful lounge with a glass of wine in one hand, and the soothing audio of neo-soul from the Wah Wah Collective in the other hand! The group, comprising of members Georgeyo, Mathieu, Sanya, and The Elusive, come together to give lovers of music an experience to appreciate.
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EXPOSING THE SOUL OF THE WAH WAH COLLECTIVE
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XLERATOR RIDDIM - V/A Hot New Riddim Alert
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Tfter 15 years of label history and global smash hits on the Doctor’s Darling and Cure Riddims, Reggae and Dancehall enthusiasts are celebrating the 20th riddim release from Germaica productions called XLeration!
L3 MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2014
Leipzig based Dancehall Soundsystem Upliftment International and upcoming producer Tiny Dawson joined forces to deliver a firmly Reggae rooted instrumental which easily bridges the gap between sound aesthetics and proper arrangements. Label chief Pionear dug deep in the label vaults and came back with the 2003 Vybz Kartel song called “Marijuana Gone To Bed” to contribute to this jubilee release. Agent Sasco sounds very ‘Michael Jackson-ish’ on his song “Universal Language (Love)” while the pre release single “High Grade” is another Ganja anthem by Dancehall Veteran Mr. G aka Goofy alongside Jamaican newcomer Vershon and Ugandan Superstar Bobi Wine. The last song represents the growing European Dancehall fraternity with Bosno-Suedes Sanjin & Youthman and their entertaining chune “For a While” which is as well part of their debut EP Balkan Dancehall released through Germaica Digital. Germaica Digital has made this riddim a 20th release collectors item which is available on iTunes and all leading digital retail outlets!
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BITTY McLEAN -
THE TAXI SESSIONS CONTRIBUTED
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Blessings By the Score is the name of the song and is delivered to all fans with the right lyrics, going hand in hand with its predecessor “Revolution.” Urging fans to praise Jah more and more, Bitty explains that praises lead to blessings which happen to come in by the score. This brilliantly executed song hears Bitty sing: “hypocrites and parasites / must remove or step aside / from this holy ground / dirty ways I have to like / wickedness you compromise / the foundation / now we just can’t get along / cause temptations are much too strong / tribulations go on and on / got to change right / from wrong….” When we combine the lyrics with the mastery of music, especially the arrangements of the horns and organ, this song becomes an easy fan favorite.
L3 MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2014
Using the Revolution riddim they created in 1988 which famously backed the lyrics for the song “revolution” performed by the late great Dennis Brown, the riddim twins Sly & Robbie have reissued this classic riddim as a single featuring Bitty McLean.
FREE EVENT kids of all ages
rt Child L3 MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2013
THIRD ANNUAL
* arts & crafts
* Baby singing classes
* Fashion show
* dance party
Glebe Community Centre 175 Third Avenue
Sunday, January 26 th, 2014 12:00PM - 6:00PM IN DA INDU
K1S 3W3 Phone: 613-680-8506 Email: info@glebebia.com
REAL PEOPLE REAL THINGS REAL LIFE -Kaleidoscope Kids’ Books http://www.kaleidoscopekidsbooks.ca/
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TRY
Loblaws http://www.loblaws.ca/LCLOnline/store_selector.jsp?redirect=home.jsp&_req Contact : ?
613-875-6651 Contact: Kim Ferguson 1018 Bank St Ottawa, ON K1S 3W8 Phone: 613-232-7406 kaleidoscopekidsbooks@bellnet.ca
-The City of Ottawa http://ottawa.ca/en Contact: ?
-Compact Music http://compactmusic.ca/ Contact: Ian Boyd 785 ½ Bank St Ottawa, ON K1S 3V5 (613)233-8922 compact@sympatico.ca
-Domino’s Pizza http://www.dominos.ca/
333 Cumberland St
Contact : ?
local union 527 Ottawa Loblaws http://www.loblaws.ca/LCLOnline/store_selector.jsp?redirect=home.jsp&_requestid=641773 Contact : ?
-The Glebe Business Improvement Area http://www.glebebia.com/
NDP Paul Dewar
Contact: Beth Evans 110-858 Bank Street Ottawa, ON,
in the Glebe Bank & 3rd Ave
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L3 MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2014
G& THECOLE WRAPS AND KUSH BAND
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YOU CAN’T GO WRONG WITH
CONTRIBUTED
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Crediting artists such as Babyface as being one of his influences, as well as Dennis Brown and Beres Hammond (who both have R&B hits under their belt), Cole has fans convinced of his talent with songs like “Hot Sexy Love,” “Old Days” (featuring J. Will), and “Hand That Rocks the Cradle.” The latter includes vocal caresses and storytelling set to an acoustic backdrop. A part of G’s experience comes from working with greats such as Singing Melody, Selena Serrano, as well as producers Jason Farmer, Vinni Hamilton and Johnny Wonder, and sharing the stage with artists such as Sizzla, Etana, Jill Scott and Diana Ross. These experiences have helped to shape the sound and performance fans receive when they see the artist on stage. With music available on all leading digital retail outlets, and solid performances with his band, the Kush and Wraps Band, G. Cole is an artist to support. His album, Ocho Rios is one of the best ways to start 2014, so make sure you get it here >>> https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/ocho-rios/id732105437 Connect with the artist on Twitter >>> @MyGCole
L3 MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2014
In this very competitive business of music, it os very hard to catch the listening ear of tastemakers who are too busy buzzing about the artists they have grown accustomed to. In the case of G. Cole from Ocho Rios, Jamaica, not only is he catching fans ears, he is breaking barriers by combining smooth R&B styled vocals with known Reggae riddims.
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THE WONDERS OF
Mr. ABSOLUTE CONTRIBUTED
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The music industry, especially that of Reggae, Dancehall and Soca, has currents called ‘ebbs and flows.’ An artist is initially on a flow when they first release music, then catch an ebb (hiatus) to explore other talents and interests, then come back with a flow. Jamaica’s Shaggy Wonder, who now goes by the name Mr. Absolute, is one such artist who has experienced ebbs and flows. The multi-talented artist is not only a power house in the studio and on stage, he also has an interest in media having produced and edited video’s and television specials that have aired across his homeland of Jamaica and the Caribbean. For 2014, Mr. Absolute is focused on his music, and has given fans music to enjoy as he gears up for his full return. Singles such as “Plead My Cause,” “Stronger Than Before” and “Burning Fire” are 3 recent releases that fans and DJ’s are supporting. Enjoying the voice he has in music, Mr. Absolute writes and sings about real life situations that many people can relate to. Appealing to fans inside and outside of the Caribbean, the artist has seen an increase in crossover appeal thanks to people sharing YouTube links which includes music released at the earlier stages of his career. Scenes such as the artist on the Sumfest and Sting stages are unforgettable. As 2014 continues, fans can look forward to an album from Mr. Absolute as well as personal appearances that are intimate and interactive and designed to have fans know the artist like never before! Connect with Mr. Absolute on Twitter >>> @Mrabsolute1
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THE VIRTUAL CONCERT DAVID BOONE | Founder GIGEE
When I founded Gigee – The Biggest Stage on Earth!TM, the concept was simple – an artist can only be so many places at once. Touring can be extremely expensive, and with conventional performance you can only reach so many fans at once. Given the geographic constraints and high overhead of traditional touring, it can be hard on an artist to sustain consistent touring and regularly perform for all of their supporters around the country and the world. Given the unlimited access that the Internet provides, it’s only natural that virtual concerts would begin to become more of a reality! Think about it. Where are your fans? Really, where are your fans, friends, and family for that matter? Everywhere! This is why we connect through Facebook, Twitter, email, and phone. We live in a digital and a global world; for most people, our community is everywhere. Just take a look at your email list or Facebook fans, or where you sent your last CD Baby order. When I look at my mailing list, or website traffic, I’m always amazed to see that, wow, we’ve got folks tuning in from where? Iceland, Germany, South Africa, Australia, Montana? This is always exciting when you consider the reach and impact of your music. It can also be a bit daunting to think about “how will I ever provide a real, live experience for all my fans?”
L3 MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2014
In the realm of live music-making, online concerts are a great opportunity for musicians to perform for all of their supporters at once, connect in a unique and creative way with fans, and open up performances to ticket purchasers everywhere who otherwise may not be able to attend a concert. Whether in combination with an event you’re already performing at a local venue, or as a special online-only concert, utilizing this exciting new medium can be a great way to expand your audience and earn more as a musician.
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As a musician myself I know how hard it can be to get paid for your craft. Fortunately there are services out there that make it easier for us to keep doing more of what we love to do, make money, and even succeed while doing it. Of course, CD Baby is one of those.
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So how do you reach them as often as you’d like? By performing an online ticketed event in real time! There are so many reasons I could give you for why you should perform live online concerts: reaching your entire audience at once, being able to expand your ticket sale capacity as a performer, next to zero overhead involved, reaching fans wherever they are, etc. But what about the “how’s”? How do I actually host a virtual show? How do I perform an online concert?
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At first thought, it might seem complicated and maybe even too technical for some. In reality, it’s very easy. Setting up your first online concert can be as easy as having a solid internet connection, and with as simple of a setup as your webcam and mic, your personal computer becomes your global stage to the world. It’s now easier to earn money through your online performances and always play to a full house. And for your fans, every seat is a front row seat.
L3 MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2014
When creating Gigee, the idea was to build a very easy-to-use, turn-key platform where artists can create their event, promote their event, and “Go Live” without a lot of hassle. We wanted it to be as accessible and “everybody-friendly” as using Skype. It was also important for us to build the platform based around the model of a ticketed event. From our experience as artists, you can get really jaded by an industry that often requires artists to supply “endlessly” free content. Gigee was designed to allow artists to select their minimum ticket goal (the number of tickets they’d like to sell for the event to go on) and pick a ticket price that works for them. We also made it easy for artists to promote their events directly to their fans through Facebook and Twitter. By doing this, we’re creating a culture of respect for the artist. We’re saying, “here’s an online show, here’s the cost of the show, spread the word and support this artist.” We’re happy to say that fans have responded in a very positive way. They are supporting artists. So far 100% of artists who have performed a Gigee event have reached their ticket goal, and we’ve found that most artists using the service are charging ticket prices equal to that of their traditional live events. We’ve had some pretty remarkable case studies illustrating how supportive fans truly are, where artists have actually boosted their ticket sales revenue by over 400% in combination with a special live event they’re doing. The joy of doing a “virtual concert” is that promotion is fun and easy and the possibilities really are limitless. Although there will never be a substitute for the live, in-person concert experience, we are always looking for ways to expand opportunities for artists to connect with their fans, and for fans to have more access to their favorite artists. Whether you’re using Gigee or any other online streaming service available to you as an artist, make it whatever you want, make it what you can, And most important, keep it real. You can find more tips for getting started with the exciting new world of online concerts at Gigee.me.
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SEX, LOVE AND REGGAE LY R I C S
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GYPTIAN NATASHA VON CASTLE & PORTIA CLARKE
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f all the interviews we have done, this one by far is the most interesting! For days, Gyptian and Portia were to meet, and due to scheduling conflicts, could never connect. He was in the UK on tour, which also happens to be Portia’s home town, and they couldn’t connect. By chance, Portia landed in Kingston, ended up being stuck waiting for a family friend, and who happens to be in the area? Gyptian! Taking advantage of the chance meeting, a part of the interview was done while heading to rehearsals for Dancehall’s greatest show on earth, Sting, and the other half was done on the phone. Gyptian’s success with some of his hit singles gives him the security of a catalog that will always be in demand. Despite that ‘security,’ there is only one musical concern Gypy (pronounced Jip-ee) has and that’s his fans. In speaking to him, we’ve come to realize just how much they mean to him.
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Gyptian! Sex, Love and Reggae marks the 4th studio album from you. Does the making of music become harder for you or easier with time? It doesn’t become easier; nothing has changed. I still have the same hunger and drive that I had in the beginning. It’s easy for people to think Gyptian has reached a place of comfort, but no, never comfortable, always pushing like I just started. Your new album, Love, Sex and Reggae is doing well. Do you feel there’s been a lot of pressure to match the success of your single “Hold You?” Pretty much yes there is a lot of pressure, but in life and in all things there are good times and bad times. You have to know how to handle what comes your way. Obstacles are made to face, and bridges are made to cross so naturally, there may be disappointments, and things may not always go according to plan, but we keep moving forward. You have worked with some of the best producers in the business, and on this album, people like Jerry Wonder, Relle Hayden and 007 are some of them. What was different about this experience, and where was the album recorded? When you work with a new producer, their creative vision is different than producers you’ve worked with before. With the other producers I worked with, I know where they’re going with the music because we have a familiarity for each others work. With a new producer, they have a different vision and sometimes a different ear for music, so I have to trust them more, and they have to trust me too. New producers bring great experiences and this album was no different … it was great. We recorded in New York, London and Jamaica. On previous album covers, we see your face featured prominently, but on this album cover, you really sold us sex! Was it your decision to be aggressive with the seductive element for your cover? (Gypy laughs)! Because they sometimes call me Sexy Ras, I wanted to show the sexier side of Gyptian and I’m all about the ladies. I wanted to push things just a little bit further. It was my decision.I see Irie Jam as a community service. We have 3 million people of Jamaican decent here in the Tri-State area and we make sure we take care of them. That means music plus the educating of them, we inform and just being a part of their lives. Why the name ‘Sex, Love and Regge’ ? That album name says a lot about Gyptian. Sex, Love and Reggae is pretty much what Gyptian does on a daily basis.
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L3:
L3: You just finished the first part of your international promotional tour, what was the feedback like? G: It was really good. A lot of people came out to show love and support for the project, and to remind me that a lot of work has been done and there’s a lot of work to do! I also got to see and feel and experience a lot of love from the fans which meant a lot to me as well.
L3 MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2014
G:
One of the songs on your album is #1, which is a cover song from the catalog of the late great Gregory Isaacs aka The Cool Ruler. You fanned the flames of mature women and younger women alike. What is the most interesting thing a fan has done while you were performing that song? I’ve had a lot of interesting experiences while performing not just that song but a lot of my songs. There was one time in Toronto that 2 girls held on to my ankles so tight, I couldn’t move. I had to ask them to let me go. Another time I was performing and underwear started landing on the stage. Some girls cry uncontrollably, some of them pass out, some of them give me lots of hugs, and want to kiss me. I don’t complain. I’m happy that my music touches my fans and I can see how I touch them.
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Speaking of seduction! Some of your featured artists are seductive in their own right! Melanie Fiona, Angela Hunte, Estelle and Mary J. Blige – that’s the Queen of Hip Hop Soul! How did you attract these ladies to your project?! Well artists always have a mutual respect for each others work. Good work is good work. I am a fan of Melanie, Angela and Estelle, and they are fans of mine so working with them came together nicely and those songs are musical magic. When it comes to Mary! Mary had a show in London, England at the 02 Arena, and I happened to be there at the same time. She told me she’s a big fan, and said she wanted to work with me; this is going back about 3 or 4 years ago. She said it’s been a long time since a Reggae / Dancehall artists music has become so internationally known, and the music is radio friendly that even kids can listen to it. She said she wanted to work with me, and I said ‘Wow!’ I can’t believe Mary J. Blige the legend, and Queen of Hip Hop Soul wants to work with me. That is amazing, and was something that really touched me. Our managers did what needed to be done, and now we have the hit song “Anything You Want” which also features Busta Rhymes.
LLYY RR II CC SS
L3: You’ve reached high heights as an artist. You have the awards, world tours etc. How do you push yourself to go higher than you’ve already been? G: I see it as being I have to push myself everyday so it doesn’t even seem like I’m pushing myself. I’m doing something that I love, and I’m doing it with a passion everyday so sometimes I don’t even know how much or far I’m pushing, but I am pushing. Gradually the results come.
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L3: Considering you have done just about everything there is to do in music, do you have any personal goals where music is concerned that you feel you have to achieve? G: The only musical goal I constantly want to achieve is making music that fans and everyone will want to listen to forever. I love the constant support from my fans. No matter what, Gypy’s fans are there; some of them will even travel from far to see my performances in more than one place. That means a lot to me … I love that. L3: As an artist, you have contributed a considerable amount of historic singles to the genre of Reggae and Dancehall. “Serious Times,” “Beautiful Lady,” “Hold Yuh” and so many more. What is the best part of that success and what is the worst part of that success?! G: The best part is the fans. No matter what, those songs you just named are songs that, no matter how many new songs I have, I must perform. Those songs are classics for my fans and that is one of the best parts of success … the fans don’t let you forget! Also, failure is never an option with Gyptian, and every day, success is measured differently. Support from my fans is success. I never get too comfortable and as I mentioned earlier I’m still hungry. My fans keep me going. Failure only makes you stronger. As for that worst part, there really isn’t a worst part; nothing good comes easy. L3: If we could give you unlimited access to anything you want, what would you want us to give you and why? G: Health and strength because without life there wouldn’t be any of this … there wouldn’t be a Gyptian and there wouldn’t be his music! L3: What general advice can you give our readers on Life, Love and Lyrics? G: Without Love there isn’t much. Gyptian loves to love and the world should too! Connect with Gyptian via Twitter >>> @RealGyptian
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KAB OUTERNATIONAL SUPERSTAR
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KING ALI BABA JENNIFER MENSTER
King Ali Baba is one of the most internationally known artists. Although he was born and raised in Spanish Town and Linstead, Mr. Richardson left his home to explore the world, and ended up giving the world one of the best gifts … his music. Recording and performing comes easily. Whether a traditional One Drop Riddim, Dancehall, Soca or even House, King Ali Baba’s lyrics make musical compositions come to life as well as the party. Deeply spiritual, you will find messages in his music that are thought provoking and may lead to your own research of a topic. Ever fearless, this is one King whose voice is heard as he bellows from the Mountain Top in both English and Patois!
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JM: Your fans are located all over the world, and before we had ‘Team this and team that,’ you had a movement. How did your fans connect with you before the invention of ‘social media?’ KAB: How me as a young artist and many more would find out that we have a fanbase overseas is when the big artist would go on tour an come back and tell some of us that them hear our song a go hard and fans a ask fi wi and then sound man would fly to jamaica and pay us for dubplates, and fans in Jamaica would see me on stage all over the island on shows that’s how I would connect wid my fans.
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JM: Your name! There is so much in a name, so tell us the significance of yours! KAB: I use to be one of the top barbers in Jamaica, mih a do barbering from mih a go school and I was the best at it, mih use to cut one of my teacher hair at school (he laughs), real warrior ting but anyway, the top barber shop in Linstead at the time was Thomas barbers. That’s where all of the schoolers dem use to cut them hair an till mih drop inna dih picture, the way how mi did love to cut hair an plus the way how me see King Mama a struggle, in no time mih master it an a cut 90% off the schoolas dem hair so Thomas start to investigate because a him a dih real big man at the time so him come link mi at school and give me a job at him shop. So when King Mama think mih deh a school mih deh a dih barber shop a mek money. From there I went to Ochio Rios where mih start to cut Jack Robbie son, Brad hair, and that’s when I started to learn about one of Jamaica’s foundation producers, rest in peace Jack Robbie. One day me and Brad drive to Kingston and him go check Willie Agarth an Bogle when dem see him hair style Willy say ‘a who give yuh dat hair cut an him say a my barber and a him dis (this is him here) and Willy say ‘see a money youth an give me a mad one an u nah go back a country yuh a my barber from today,’ then Bogle say ‘mi need a style fi go a house a leo.’ A dem first treat mih like a Super Star, mih cut artist hair like Barrington Levy, Flourgan, Anthony Red Rose, Beenie Man, and many more. Dancing was one of my hobbies, so Bogle used to call me one of him pickney (children). When him make world dance, mi fall in love wid dat dance an write down a little song an one day Ice and Rabbit hear mi and call Bogle an him hear it an say yuh a go bust like a twin gunep an yuh artist name a Ali Baba, so that’s how I get my name.
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JM: King, you have been in the music industry for several years, and have experienced more success outside of Jamaica than within Jamaica. Does that bother you? KAB: Yes it use to but no more. Every time I come back to Jamaica I find out that no matter what, my songs never stop getting played in some of Jamaica’s dances. A lot of the foundation sound systems, and some of the upcoming sounds and DJ’s remember me from back in the days. I was there just after Dancehall started to get that international push and a new flavor to it back in the 90’s. Mih buss (I became popular) from 1993 with a style weh the youths take on to crazy, an till this day that format that mih set in Dancehall music is still used by a lot of Dancehall artists today. I recorded my first song … I think it was in December 1992, and it got played on RJR radio name “Wifey Tell ah Gyal Move Up,” then I did “Teenage Love,” which is the same song I re-voiced in 2009, then “Magic Carpet,” then “One Pretty Gyal.”Some cable stations show my videos when I am not in Jamaica. They take them from YouTube … have to say bless up stations like Yaad Beat TV and Best FM. Mih still have nuff fans in Jamaica and I give thanks!
L3 MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2014
JM: Some of your profound singles include “Tippy Wine,” “Poor and Have Not,” “Pretty Gyal,” “Tribulation” and “Herbalist.” We could go on, but those are just a few. Each song is very different, and each song is a different side of your personality, so who is King Ali Baba?! KAB: King Ali Baba is just a soul in a body who vibrates to mama earth and the universes vibration so music is inclined to me so I just relax and make it take me over. To make all of your songs melody’s sound different as a artist … that’s not an easy job and plus, I always have to be helping other artists with their melody. From the time I started out in the business, I never hear one of them (the artists he’s helped), big mi up fih it; I am not saying I am the best, but so much melody flow through me every day, it’s crazy, that’s why you always hear me saying “Angles fly like bird inna earth an give me these words inna earth.”. I just love music and music loves me .
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JM: One of the things we most appreciate is your sharing your spirituality via your music, and posts you make on Facebook and Twitter etc. When did that side of you begin to develop and what do you do to nurture your ongoing enlightenment? KAB: It’s natural to me; when I was growing up in Jamaica, old people always a come up to mih and a tell mi seh mi special an people will try to stop me but I have 24 angles around me, so one day I ask my mother wah mek old people a tell mi dem tings deh, and King Mama tell me that I am her first boy so I am the one that bless her womb and plus when she was giving birth to me I came into this world with a thin vapor over my face looking like a piece of flesh, I think it’s called “Call.” Before the nurse could take it from my face I eat it all off and my grandmother tell her the same thing too. A just so Jah set my thing, so that’s why I am the way I am. JM: Coming back to your music, you’ve had your music sell in countries whose names I can’t pronounce, you’ve also traveled to some of those countries. What were those experiences like? KAB: Wow! Crazy! It’s when I went to Bulgaria and Serbia I saw how Reggae music is important to Jah plan of uniting nations together as one, but the thing that hit me the most is when I am on tour and I meet normal people in the street that don’t know who I am, and I bless dem up, the first thing some a dem say is ‘rasta man, bad bwoy from Kingston, Jamaica, bombocl&&t’ etc. (King laughs), that’s real talk! Jamaica is just like that on the world map and we have so much of an effect on the world and the people. Sometimes it puzzles me how so many people want to be like us, but only Jah can sum that one up because a him bless wih in that way.
LY R I C S
JM: You lived in the UK for some time, and have had many experiences. How have those experiences impacted you and your music? KAB: The UK had a big impact on me and my music in a big way because a lot of Jamaica’s foundation Roots Rock Reggae Artists are based there, and plus, a lot of big Reggae bands come from England too; 99% of the pirate radio stations in the UK support Reggae music, so the vibration of the music that started in Jamaica always keep touching the spiritual side of me all when mih a do bad things and a let me know that I should not give up because just like Jah, Reggae music can’t die; it’s bigger than you and I .
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JM: You’re home in Jamaica after being away for some time. How does it feel to wake up to hot Jamaican sun?! KAB: A one of the best feelings waking up almost every morning at 5:45am to pray when the sun comes up, then share the same vibration on Facebook and Twitter … it’s a joy to my soul and so many other people’s souls too; I think I am the first Reggae artist via Facebook to show fans how I eat every day and how to cook what I eat. My fans love it when I am in Jamaica.
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JM: You started your own record label. How does it feel to be a Record Executive, and what are some of the decisions you have to make? KAB: It’s a good feeling, but I need help (he laughs)! To be a CEO of a record label plus be an artist and manage yourself too is a big task to take on. You don’t get time to rest properly. Your team members can be sleeping, but you have to be up networking, and the biggest decision I’ve had to make was fire a manager. JM: New Year and ‘new attitude’ or New Year and ‘new works?’ KAB: New works for sure and there are three sides to King Ali Baba. I have been keeping back one, but in 2014 no holding back! JM: What general advice can you give readers on Life, Love and Lyrics? KAB: Just be you and don’t let know one stop blessings that Jah has set for you on physical earth. Also, not because other people don’t show you love means you shouldn’t show them love. Rastafari. One world one people one love ... show love to each other. Connect with King Ali Baba on Twitter >>> @KingAliBaba
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THE WORLDWIDE RADIO MAN
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ome things just stay real, because of what and who they are. Like a familiar jumper, a smooth aged scotch, or a well acquainted voice - comfort is real. Time takes so much away from us, but as I kicked back and settled in on my couch with an iced tea close at hand, and my old friend and long time esquire in the music industry at a kitchen chair across from me, nothing had changed, not even our distance of 9105 kilometers / 8 hours on the clock. With my couch in the United States and his kitchen chair in Berlin, nothing had changed between us, save a few wrinkles. As my first editor, Jonathan L shot straight as to who he was and how he views music. He always gave respect to those he thought were due respect; he was patient with those wanting to learn the trade and he was open and honest - you get what you see.
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SONG RIVER
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JONATHAN L.
My friend, Jonathan, your journey has had so many real life twists and turns. It seems that they would either destroy a weaker individual or create what some might term as nothing but LY R I C S
you get what you see because I am who I am.
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With the passing of Lou Reed something dawned on me … we are on the cusp of losing a generation that spoke from a different place in time. Influence, economics, politics, world view, social culture; which all affected the music written and played was now an open Pandora’s box. It can’t be lost, as we all know history repeats itself and perhaps there is something in this we need to learn to pass on to the next music generation, or maybe all that has happened before just doesn’t matter.
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SR: Jonathan Music’s influences have surrounded you from a very early age. I understand you collected 45’s, and your Aunt had given you some 78 RPM records of Elvis (Presley) and Little Richard. Do you recall the first 45 you purchased as in band name and title? Was it new or used? What store did you frequent to make your music purchases? How old were you when you began to collect music? Were your parents in to music? What influenced your interest? JL: The first 45 I ever bought was a single by a duo called Tom & Jerry titled “Hey, Schoolgirl.” That was in 1957, and I was 11 years old. Tom & Jerry turned out to be Simon & Garfunkel. I believe it was at a Woolworth’s store, and its cost was 21 cents new. My mother was only into Opera and Classical music. My dad was into Jazz; mostly Miles Davis. SR: Reflect back to those early days of leaving home at 14, living on the streets as a little ruffian, it’s the early 60’s … what does your world feel like, what are you doing to survive, were the early 60’s attitude and persuasions having an influence on you and your decision making skills? Did music still have any part of your life during that time on the streets? JL: I left home at 14, due to the environment I lived [in]. Shuffled back and forth to my Grandmother’s (my dad’s mom) home in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, not that far from where I was born in Flatbush. My mother came from Brooklyn, the only of 5 siblings, all the rest came from Romania. My dad was a German immigrant who gained citizenship in the states, and a few years later was drafted and fought in WWII. He was on the beach in Normandy. I believe to this day he had mental problems that plagued him years later due to the war. My mother was the strict one, and my dad was the quiet one, but had a temper. He was like a ticking time bomb. He was blue collar, and she was more schooled and wanted more in life. They had problems, and that surfaced as I grew. I won’t go into all the minutia, but it molded me into the classical juvenile delinquent. Fighting to survive and doing stupid things, and it hardened me to the weaker people around me. The music that inspired me back then was Doo-Wop, Rockabilly, and the Motown sounds.
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JL: First time was 6 months in the Children’s Shelter (nicer word for reform school) at 14 years old. Then various jails, institution’s until I got out for good at 17 and a half years old. I then spent the next 6 years on probation, having to visit or get visits from my parole officer. At 23 I was free of all that. My temper back then is what I was all about. I will save all details for a book if I ever write one. Music has always been a part of me; from Gospel, to James Brown and his famous Flames to the British invasion of the early 60s.
SR: You and your first wife have packed your bags to head to Berkeley, California and you fall ill, so you stop in Tucson, Arizona and it becomes your home.There was glam status and rock n roll. Ziggy had landed and in 1974 the pop culture music rag was born, Newsreal Magazine. Did you believe the progression of music to this point had opened doors for what was to come? JL: When 1970 began, I met a friend who was a perennial college student, never really finishing, but through him I began to read a lot of books; Kerouac, Ginsberg, Corso, Vonnegut, and much more. With only an 8th grade education, I wanted more. Tom and I hung out a lot and talked about dreams. We went to many concerts; Led Zeppelin, Grateful Dead, Allman Brothers Band. On my own I saw Lou Reed, Poco, Blood Sweat and Tears, Jefferson Airplane, Chuck Berry, James Brown, The James Gang, West, Bruce & Laing and way too many to speak SR: You mentioned you made a cassette tape of various types of music you enjoy and sent it off to a few radio stations. Why? Was there a reason to make it and send it out, or was it just a whim? Any expectations when it went out? JL: I did send out a 90 minute tape of just music in late 1980. I was contacted by one station. The GM (general manager) was a man named Mark Schwartz. He loved the mix of music of The Motels, Kraftwerk, Rough Trade, Generation X, Buggles and many more. I had no expectations, just hope. He did contact me in late 1981, and put me on KLPX-FM Tucson in March of 1982. I was thrilled and made the most of the opportunity. The show went from 1 hour to five quickly due to ratings. That was “Virgin Vinyl,” and yes I played Vinyl.
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JL: It wasn’t exactly the time line or what I was doing. I began as the overnight artist, drawing ads and graphics that needed to be filled in 1972. I worked two nights a week, up on coffee and speed. They paid me with tickets to concerts and an occasional album.
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SR: After you were out and on parole you begin writing for an underground magazine called, The Express. Was this your first magazine you wrote for? Share what all was involved in what you were doing with the magazine. What were you contributing?
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SR: Eventually life caught up with you and you ended up doing time, how oldwere you when you went in and when you got out? What was going on in the world of music?
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SR: I believe you said you heard a few years later that a radio station up in the Phoenix, Arizona metro area was interested in possibly hiring you. What station was it, what style of music did they play at that time, and what went through your mind upon the phone call? JL: Four and a half years later, my friend Johnny D and I were asked to build a station from the ground up in Mesa, Arizona. In July of 1986 after I moved up there from Tucson, The Key to Your Musical Future was born on KEYX 100.3 FM.
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SR: Do you think calling the shots within the corporate world of radio is still possible today? Did you take requests or did you script it all to your format? JL: KEYX was based on Johnny and my experience, so in the beginning there was full trust by the owner on what we wanted to put out on the airwaves and who was on-air and how the station ran as a whole. Back then Mesa, AZ was a quickly growing city outside (the suburbs) of Phoenix, but not enough listenership to make a dent in the market. Ahead of its time; by the second year, there were management changes and when I was let go in November 12, 1987, the station changed format. Too bad, Mesa now has a larger population that St. Louis, Minneapolis, or Pittsburgh (laughs). Yeah, ahead of its time for sure! Yes, of course we took and played requests. The format had a loose direction. SR: Virgin Vinyl was born in March of 1982, KLPX gave you the go. Did you coin the name for the show? JL: I did coin the name. I was looking to leave publishing at that time, and reinvent myself again. But, frankly thinking and doing are two separate things that are part of life. The show not so much represented who I am. The show was simply me 100% in every manner. SR: I remember listening, and I remember my oldest brother (RIP), musician/writer, Keviin Bowman following along and he and his band mates being a part of what was taking place muscally. JL: Sorry about your brother. I am happy you had the chance to listen back then. Virgin Vinyl is what created everything I have done since. SR: You’ve had many co-hosts and guests; Joey Ramone, Huey Lewis, Henry Rollins, The Circle Jerks, Joan Jett just to name a few. Talk a little about those relationships and the impression they left on you… JL: Most were guests live in studio. Henry Rollins did co-host the show with me for 90 minutes. That was a very unusual show. I have done over a thousand interviews between radio and magazines, not just my own. I think some musicians might have gravitated towards me because I was just being me, not someone else; a conversationalist maybe?! I have been fortunate to maintain some relationships beyond the radio studio over the years. Joan Jett, John Easdale (Dramarama), Frank Black, Stevie Salas, and a few others have maintained staying in touch in one way or another for years, even after I moved to Germany.
Did you realize at that point in the world of music you had become an icon in the industry, did the onset for the radio show which ran from mid ‘94 to mid ‘95 on KUKQ called, The Monday Morning Music Meeting Live, even phase you that what and who you are in the world of music hadn’t really ever be done, nor could anyone probably ever do what you’ve done in the industry again?
JL: (Humbly) No. Maybe not what I have done, but I am sure someone(s) will come along and create something that people will acknowledge, and embrace. I am just me, and someone else will be themselves and create in their own way. SR:
You have been recognized more than once as the “Best Radio Show.” Do you see local music stations and music rags following your same striving of independent thinking? Or has the 21st century given way to corporate social media whoredom?
JL: To me it is all subjective. There will always be independent thinkers and doers. The world of music can be sliced up like an apple pie. As a society, we are all a piece of pie. Some like this, and others like that. It would be boring if all people liked the same, so corporations will have their likes and dislikes. Same goes for social media. I personally like social media, but there are many that don’t. If we all liked the same thing, I would consider us a robotic society. I for one would be an outcast, which is what many think of me anyway.
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SR:
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Joey Ramone is the most special relationship I have ever had. Not the Ramones, just Joey. Sure I was around the band many times since the mid 80’s. However, in 1996 Joey called me from his place in New York, while I was recuperating from my brush with mortality in a Los Angeles hospital. I had been diagnosed with P5 stage bladder cancer. I had an incredible operation. At that time I was the 500th person worldwide, to have such an operation. Joey said as I laying in the hospital bed, he was going to confide in me about his ongoing treatments for bone marrow cancer. From that point he actually called my condo in Hollywood often just to talk. Sometimes he would play the guitar and occasionally sprinkle in words over the phone. On a visit to New York in 1998, Joey asked me to come to his apartment. Because we had met many times before in person, I took that as a sign of trust on his part; just Joey and me bullshitting in his apartment … Something I will never forget. In 2000 the company I worked for asked me to put together a panel of alternative musicians for their Y2K convention. I felt that the “alternative” artists at that time wouldn’t pack a room for of radio and music industry people. So I relied on friends. I asked Joey, Ronnie Spector, who I had a relationship with also through Joey, Glenn Danzig, who I knew very well from my Los Angeles years, and through his brother Mark, Dee Snider. I felt it would be a very exciting panel. It was. The only person missing was Joey, who was very sick that day from all of his medications to treat his cancer. He left a very long message on my phone at the W Hotel. I think of Joey, not the Ramone, but Jeffery Hyman the person every day at one point.
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SR: The Lopsided World of L stateside in 2010 with KUPD. What were some of the programs you were involved with during that time that were on a national level in television, music festivals, etc? JL: I suppose the most important was being the only person through a 20 something minute feature on Rammstein, one of my favorite bands for years. It’s been shown numerous times on MTV2 over a dozen years ago. All of that info on others is available. Just log on to my website at www.jlradio.com
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SR: You moved to Berlin, Germany where your radio show The Lopsided World of L runs and is broad cast on King FM, Indie 103.1 FM and KWSS 93.9 FM. What would you like to be remembered for?
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JL: (Laughter) Hmm, just to be remembered at all. I have learned many things from others, yetI continue at the young age of 67 years to somehow create from my own environment and in my head to do what I do. As my father, Abraham Rosen said when I was younger, “Always take a step backwards to go forwards.” And in truth it still always rings in my mind. Many times I’ve taken a step backwards to move forwards, and still do. My own credo is simple; never worry about what others think. If it fits for you, then do it. R:
Do you still see the same hunger for success, the same fierce independence, the introverted genius brewing to be recognized as in truth brilliant artistry in music today and in the future?
JL:
Sure. I don’t know about true success, but there are many that have the hunger to do so. I think it would be unfair of me to say who, but they are out there whether we know who they are or not. I have faith in that. Recently someone I recall was asked this same question (he pauses), their response? Jack White.
SR: Look back over societal times and how it has affected music. Any thoughts on the presence of keeping the heart pulsing in this world? JL: Frankly, music is the one medium in everyone’s life that, regardless of what style or type that truly affects one’s personality, relationships in life, and overall being. The music will never die in anyone’s life. Whether it makes you laugh, cry, dance or perpetuates your actions, it is always there; impossible to stop the pulse of the world as we know it.
SR: In closing I have to know, what five albums from the past three years would you pick to take with you when you’re on the go? JL:
The Real Tuesday Weld “The Last Werewolf” (2011) - London band with a Cabaret style, jazzy, and quite clever. A very unusual album with a theme as the title suggests. I wish many more people would have heard this. Bob Dylan “Tempest” (2012) - Best album by Dylan in years. Okay, his voice isn’t what is once was, but the lyrics and tempo makes it a great listen over and over. Great road tunes. Charles Bradley “Victim Of Love” (2013) - Former James Brown impersonator claims his own style, and most powerful R&B singer in years. This is what Soul music is supposed to be. Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside “Untamed Beast” (2013) - honest to goodness Indie Garage led by a young lady with a voice that is memorable; reminds in a way of Carol Pope (Juno winner Canada from the 80’s band Rough Trade). Also, Paul McCartney “New” (2013) - As a non Beatles nut-always liked his Wings years. This is an album that sustains for the listener and is his finest body of musical work in years.
Connect with Jonathan on Twitter >>> https://twitter.com/LopsidedWorld
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THE LITERARY STAR GIRL
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TILSA WRIGHT JENNIFER MENSTER
T
ilsa Wright has become widely known because of her star character ‘Star Boy,’ but literary circles in the Caribbean and abroad call Tilsa the Star Girl! Using her pen to express her imagination, Tilsa has captured people’s attention through her book series, and her characters appearances though online television, plays and the big screen! Being at the forefront of an emerging genre for Caribbean audiences, I sat down with Tilsa eager to meet the Star Girl!
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Well Brian Lane is the name given to this character in the book; Star Boy is just a glorified way of stroking his sexual appeal from his soul mate Tania Watson. Wow! I never knew I was regarded as a Star Girl, this is breaking news people (Tilsa laughs out loud!). I am no Star Girl, I just love producing and promoting my work aggressively. I am grateful for the sentiments and will continue to do my best. My pen and I, have a tug and war relationship sometimes yes; I will say this much, I love to push the envelope with my characters voice. It makes no sense to play it safe when creatively writing. Push that idea is what I tell my pen sometimes, push it and ink that particular phrase in the reader’s mindset from a marketing point of view. For instance Brian Lane is a young Cricketer from Jamaica and we both know who this name is synonymous with, right?!
JM:
Being of Caribbean decent, one would think that a writer would choose to stay in a comfort zone and write about Caribbean matters. Is that deceptive … as in is it harder to write a Caribbean story than it is to write a non-Caribbean story?
TW:
From a general point of view, writing is challenging period. It’s more like can a writer give the story full justice whether or not they are from that particular culture? The idea to write a storyline that is relatable is easy to come up with; plots and subplots; the pressure to give it a real organic storytelling effect is where things might become complex. The Caribbean audience can be very harsh critics at times if misrepresented. Writing a non Caribbean story, will probably pose serious challenges without intensive research, this is just a given. I will give you an example from a movie perspective. When Stella Got Her Groove Back released most Jamaicans were not happy with Taye Diggs speaking with a fake accent, it was just out right not natural to be filming in Jamaica and not using our own.
JM:
Thanks to mediums like social networking, creativity is shared a lot faster than how it was in the past. Are you surprised at how popular your work has become?
TW:
First I will say I am grateful and second surprised at the level of connectivity to movers and shakers thanks to social media. Mediums like twitter, gives unknowns like myself a one degree or no degree of separation from media, celebrities and major grassroots influencers so to speak. The access and visibility is easy from one aspect, however can be tedious keeping up with constant updates and makes the competitive pool more difficult to swim in.
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One of your main characters is named Star Boy, but to many in the Caribbean literary community you are a Star Girl! Tell us about your relationship with your pen?! LY R I C S
JM:
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TW: Absolutely! Star Boy book series has real life drama and who does not love a trip down memory lane filled with sensual pleasures and a bit of humor. I will share this much, rising star singjay Lavaah Goodaz plays the voice over role of Tania Watson in the upcoming 10 minutes Star Boy animation online marketing project. After reading Star Boy 2, she called me up saying and I quote “Did you write this book about me? There is a scene that hits home like seriously!” I laughed so hard; it was just too funny to hear her feel so strong about each character.
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JM: We understand Star Boy was featured in an online Webisode based in the UK! Tell us how that opportunity came about! TW: Are your eyebrows arched?! I am about to raise them with a surprise! To answer your question, it was actually Facebook. I immediately fell in love with Dear Jesus season one episode one while sitting at home one Sunday afternoon browsing through my newsfeed! I shared the youtube information with a few close friends and they were like “Tilsa where did you find this?” After researching their contact information, I forged a business alliance with Danielle, the writer and producer for Dear Jesus. I then pitched the idea to sponsor and product place my books in the second season; it was a risk I was willing to take. Dear Jesus has a niche market and many spinoff markets to be frank. The risk actually paid off after season two premiered March 2013, I saw two digit increases in my online sales from the UK as a result. Before Dear Jesus I never had sales in the UK, so to go from zero to two digits tells me I have tapped into a market! JM: How does inspiration come to you? Does it come at a fixed place i.e. favorite chair with favorite notebook, or does it come at un-appointed times?! TW: Inspiration comes at any given time from any situation, whether simple or complex. I remember reviewing Star Boy 3 back in December 2012 and Christopher Martin shared the youtube link to his song ‘Too Big’ on Facebook again we see the impact of social media. I had that song on auto replay for days, and then it hit me like a lightening striking a rock to include the lyrics in a scene. Look it up on youtube and you will thank me for the introduction. It’s a well written song! JM: From novels will we see you evolve in to movie scripts? Have you been tempted to write any screen plays? TW: Oh yes, I asked Demedrius Charles who is from St. Lucia, living here in Brooklyn to write the screenplay adaptation for Star Boy book series. I am actually writing shorts, I wrote the script for the 10 minutes animation. As we speak, Anju Val from HypeTv in Kingston Jamaica is directing a webseries I wrote and producing, titled ‘Screw You Knot.’ This is my first film project coming to life. The main character has an unusual name, Uso Hammer Screw. Uso is a successful Carpenter who just happen to have trouble tying the knot; hence the title.
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JM: What words of advice can you give our readers on Life, Love and Lyrics?! TW: Live your life to the fullest. Love unconditionally where there is a need for it, especially when it will be reciprocated, and your life’s story is like lyrics from a well written inspiring song. Champion all three and your space will be lighter. Connect with Tilsa on Twitter >>> @TilsaWright
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JM: We’ve just started a brand new year! What are some of the creative goals you have in store for your fans?! TW: I hope my mindset remain still and not create another project, like seriously. You see, I already have Sym-Magazine, Star Boy book series and now Screw You Knot webseries. I plan to revamp Sym, there is a possible marketing and distribution deal with a Florida based Company where Star Boy book series are concerned and the greatest challenge for me right this minute is Screw You Knot. So in a nutshell the goal is to market each effectively come 2014 and giving all parties involved as much exposure and growth as possible
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JM: Are there any stories such as folklore (Jack and Jill went up the hill etc) that you would like to re-write with a Caribbean twist? TW: You’ve given me a great idea, especially the Jack and Jill went up the hill for some mangos or breadfruit! Just being silly never thought about that, but interesting concept for sure.