Be aware of Sexually Transmitted nfections

Maximus Halley, a 17 year old student of Milton Peters College, is a musical artist

“I’ve been making music for about, let’s say, three years now. So around when quarantine hit. I’ve been doing it for way longer, but that’s when I started to really focus on it.”

I make beats on a program called FL Studio. I make beats that are good for rap/hip-hop, and sometimes I make music for other genres like jazz or EDM. I usually start when I have a melody in my head. I put it down into notes in FL Studio and keep adding layers like drums or other background instruments until I get the outcome I want.

‘wow, this is really good’. I think there’s still a lot to improve and a lot for me to learn, before I could say that I truly make good music. But seeing people be impressed by my music, makes me enjoy making it even more.

GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) – As part of the Collective Preventive Service’s (CPS) annual calendar of health observances for the month of April, emphasis is placed on Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). CPS takes the opportunity to remind and encourage the community to take a proactive approach to prevent STIs. Sexually Transmitted Infections are real and are present. STIs do not discriminate. Individuals should also be well informed in order to make wise decisions.

STIs are infections that are spread primarily through person-to-person sexual contact. STIs are infections that are likely to be transmitted while having unprotected sex.

If you may have been exposed to an STI or if you have ever had unprotected (without a condom) sex (vaginal, anal, or oral) with someone whose status you don’t know, consult your general practitioner and get tested. There are more than 30 dif- ferent sexually transmissible bacteria, viruses, and parasites.

The most common conditions they cause are gonorrhea, chlamydial infection, syphilis, trichomoniasis, chancroid, genital herpes, genital warts, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, hepatitis B infection and cancer.

Practicing safer sex is important as it decreases the chances of transmitting sexual infections. Safer sex means taking positive action to lower the risk of sexually transmitted infections. You can lower your risk of becoming infected with an STI by using a (male or female) condom the right way every time you have sex.

Unsafe sex results in unplanned consequences. Be responsible for your health and your partner’s by making an informed choice. For STI information you can also contact your general practitioner and the Sint Maarten AIDS Foundation. Enjoy life, be well informed, and get yourself tested and know your status!

Sometimes I hear a sample online and the rest just comes to me when I start producing. If I really like a beat, I’ll write lyrics and record myself. I usually make up a scenario and write around that, or just say random stuff that sounds good and have fun with it.

My main goal right now is to perfect my skills and have fun, so I’m not too worried if it’s perfect or not. All of my little mistakes will show my progress and growth as a music producer. I develop by working consistently on trying to make each and every project a little better. I would make one song or one beat, then listen back to it, and ask myself, ‘how can I improve on this?’

I started creating because music’s always been a passion of mine since I was very young. I always loved listening to music and had a particular interest in music production. I eventually want to do it as a job.

I usually find inspiration by listening to the people who support me, you know? Whenever they give me feedback or tell me that my song sounds really good, that inspires me to keep going. I want to inspire people, be able to work with other talented artists, and make some good music.

My favorite part of making music is seeing people listen to my songs and then going,

I always enjoy experimenting with sounds and seeing what works best, which makes things hard when I go through artist block. I know it happens with a lot of forms of art too, like just drawing, painting, and such. That happens a lot where you’re just so uninspired. But once I have inspiration and I know what I want to do, I do a really good.

I am not that big of an artist yet. I’m still developing my style and my craft and honing my skills, so I wouldn’t say I feel unsupported as an artist. The people who know I make music listen and support me.

When it comes to supporting artists in general, I think it would be great if we could set up an art gallery available to the public where local artists can submit their work to be displayed, and they could switch out some of the works once every few months. As for music artists, there could be a big show once a year where a lot of local artists will come to perform.

My message for the people is to chase your dreams. It doesn’t matter if you want to be a musician, a painter or a business person, as long as you are passionate and are willing to put the time and work in, you can do anything.”

Persons interested on supporting this up-and-coming artist, can listen to his music on SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/bob_here.