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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, June 3, 2016
Amplify your playlist --with these local songs
Jackie Jaxx’s “Guyana” is a soulful ballad that speaks of love and devotion to her country GUYANA’S 50th Indepen- ventures. dence Anniversary evoked a countrywide overflow of JACKIE JAXX’S ‘GUYnationalism and euphoria, ANA’: Also on the list of bringing with it reactions favourites is this soulful love from Guyanese that have song by Jackie Jaxx. The not been seen in quite some Reggae/Dancehall singer put time. down her raunchy antics, and Among all the jubilation, belted out this ballad that it was the local music industry speaks of the love and devowhich, perhaps, experienced tion she has for her country. the biggest boost, as a large This song has also enjoyed number of local artistes paid immense popularity, both tribute to their beloved coun- on air, and on Social Media, try through song. with over 20,000 YouTube Ironically, whereas just views. Of course, Jackie is no weeks prior, local artistes had stranger to the music scene, complained that there was a and most recently has been lack of airplay of local music, celebrated for having her the airwaves have, in the last song, ‘Money’, featured on month, been inundated with VH1’s ‘Love and Hip Hop the Guyanese sound, with Atlanta’. many of the pieces achieving the quality that local DJs have JUKE ROSS ‘Not ah been calling for. blade ah Grass: This newSo, if you’re still expe- comer’s cover of Dave Marriencing the ‘Jubilee’ fever, tins’ classic, which includes a here are a few songs you may ‘world version’ produced by want to think about adding to Jamaican artist, Serani, has your playlist. met the Guyanese public with great approval. POONAM SINGH’S Juke Ross has been posi‘GUYANA’: This happy-go- tively identified for his charmlucky tribute to beautiful Guy- ing, husky vocals reminiscent ana is perhaps the most pop- of artists like Phil Collins, and ular among the locals, with has been turning heads on soexcessive radio play, over cial media among the young40,000 YouTube views, and sters. His recently-dropped hundreds of ‘shares’ on Face- single, ‘Home’. which pays book. It’s a catchy tune, with tribute to Guyana, also showsimple lyrics and a rhythm cases the passion that this you can’t help but dance to. unassuming but extremely Poonam is also the reign- talented singer has for his ing queen of the Miss Global country. International Pageant, and has over the months become GOLDEN CHILDREN quite popular on Social Me- PROJECT: This is an entire dia. So, in addition to her album of songs which was enthralling vocals, this tune launched for the Golden Jubigained popularity at a time lee, and includes songs by arwhen the young songstress is tistes such as Dublin, Remar, herself making waves in other Tamika Marshall and others.
The album also has a collaborative tune, ‘Golden Children’, where several of the artistes pay tribute to Guyana. The Golden Children Project was produced several original tributes, inby Jonathan Beepat of Wildfire cluding ‘City by the Tides’ Entertainment. and ‘Mashramani’. His entire album is a celeUNITY PROJECT: Like bration of Guyana, so ensure the Golden Children Project, you cop it soon! the Unity Project is a collaborative effort among several REMAR’S ‘WHERE artistes, including Lisa Punch, I’M FROM’: Adding to the Kwasi Ace, Calvin Burnett, mix of things is this rap tribGavin Mendonca, Lerone Sou- ute from Remar in which the venir, Josephine Mitchell, Ana- rapper gives continued praise sha Dutchin, Tiffany Bonner, to his country and the love he Ryan Samaroo, Christian and has for it. The introduction of Jeremy Sobers, Taylor Jones, the song features snippets of Nuriyyih Gerard, and Char- memorable speeches of Linmaine Blackman. den Forbes Sampson BurnIndeed, it’s a long lineup, ham and Dr. Cheddi Jagan. but the end product, ‘Together This song can be found on we can have it all’, is worth the Golden Children Album, giving a listen. of which Remar is also a GAVIN MENDONCA’S ‘CREOLE ROCK: THE BEGINNING’: Gavin didn’t just launch a song, but an entire album dedicated to ‘Guyaneseness’. Creole Rock is a mashup of Rock with the Guyanese culture, as Gavin infuses his accent into his original songs and covers on the album. The album includes his own version of ‘Not ah Blade ah Grass’, as well as covers of several other national songs, like ‘Small Days’, ‘Bamboo Fiyah’ and ‘Let us Cooperate’. Gavin has also included
critical contributor, having also penned the lyrics for the titular track on the Album. DUBLIN’S ‘GT WOMAN’: This funky love song can also be found on the Golden Children Album, and not only speaks to the beauty of Guyanese women, but is a metaphorical tribute to the love-hate relationship between the artiste and Guyana. On his Soundcloud account, Dublin says, “Guyana may not always be kind, but nothing will ever change how much I love it. After all, she
Poonam Singh’s “G.U.Y.A.N.A” is upbeat and catchy is my true GT Woman.” The begins on June 17. The Tour 27-year-old singer was born will take the artistes to Delin England, but spent most his aware, Washington D.C., life in Guyana. As such, it is Virginia, New York and other unsurprising that he considers locations. Guyana his home. Of course, this list is not exclusive. There are several other artistes who have TO N I EK A TH O M P- dropped memorable tracks, SON’S ‘50th JUBILEE’. and which are enjoying treOut of Ruff Kut Productions mendous amounts of airplay. comes Tonieka Thompson’s And while there still reSoca-ish tribute which speaks main the questions of whethof exactly that, and calls Guy- er or not this overflow of naanese from wherever they are tionalism will last, or whethto come home and celebrate er the radio stations will Guyana’s 50th Independence. continue to be so generous Tonieka herself is based with giving the Guyanese in Barbados, but has done artistes the valuable airtime exactly what her song aims to from which they have felt inspire: She has come home. deprived, it is still refreshing The songstress will also to know that at this very mojoin several other artistes ment, Guyanese music has on the Jubilee Tour, which again begun to thrive.