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Could Jessica Xavier be Guyana’s next big thing in music?

Nominated for Best New Comer Artiste of the Year

Happy and sad situations, grateful times, being with family and friends and using her God given talents Jessica Ann Xavier draws inspiration from life itself.

Not just yet as popular on the local music circuit, her name is certainly one to look for in Guyana’s music industry in the not too distant future. In fact she is one of the Nominees of the 2009 Accolade Music Awards of Guyana in the ‘New Artiste of the Year’ category up against Young Fyah, Lisa Punch, Cleon Cadogan, Lil J, Typheon, and Mark Batson. For this she is elated and is hoping that the best person wins.

Jessica hopes someday to positively affect as many people with her music or simply “make them feel like dancing away their stresses.”

Her strong belief is that music influences moods and attitudes and stirs emotion. As such musically she’s working to create a different vibe and told Weekend Entertainer that she is currently working on “a really nice dance song”.

Physically and vocally gifted, Jessica is currently the Managing Director of J.A.X Sales Executives and has been singing “forever”.

“Ever since I was two years old I’ve been hogging microphones at my uncle Raymond’s house…I even have a recording of me with my little husky voice, singing how much is that doggy in the window,” she reflected.

With a to die for smile and sheepish but assertive persona, recalled her first recording in her uncle’s dining room at just 2 years old. “It still is amazing to hear my voice then and now.” To her it sounded like a little boy with a husky voice trying to sing.

Professional, about two years ago she was given the opportunity to record with Kingdom Friends Record Productions, under the direction of Danley Major.

As humble as could be, with a heart of gold, the lover of charitable causes has mainly been singing for charities such as Rotary Events, Mother’s Union and World Aids day programmes.

On the entertainment circuit, she has also done opening acts for the Peace Fest concert which featured Jah Cure and others as well as the Best of Both World with Duane Stephenson, Freddy McGregor and Tarrus Riley all of whom were blown away by her urbane vocals and lyrically conscious vibes.

A writer too, she penned ‘Don’t Cry’ after a family member lost a loved one. That song tells the story of a person loosing someone dear to them and the comforting words of their friends and family, just saying ‘Don’t Cry…dry the Tears from your eyes… everything is going to be ok.”

That song was released in March of this year in time for the Peace Fest.

She’s currently working on a couple more tracks, but confessed that she’s “trying to take things a bit slowly so as to ensure a positive outcome and not anything rushed.”

Planning for long term her intention is to release an album and has also quietly done some work in Jamaica.

The local music industry

“Guyana is a multi racial country bursting with talent that can impact the world eventually and I personally believe that we have come a significant way in recognizing our creative talents in music.”

From her experiences she is convinced that the nation has a host of young artistes with voices still unheard and she says “we need more facilities to enhance the musical offerings in Guyana and we would show the rest of the world how much we have to offer.” This she believes would also motivate young people to take music serious as career choice.

Vocal training, Stage Prepping, Interview training are among the facilities that she believes are needed to enhance music and musicians in Guyana.

Speaking sincerely, she expressed the belief that “Guyanese artistes are underrated and aren’t given the opportunities they deserve to come out from hiding from the rest of the world. But we have made significant strides in trying to develop the music industry and it is well recognized and I do believe that in the coming years we can only see more improvement.”

She says “to start my musical career my major inspiration was Navada Fernandes. I owe my motivation and inspiration to sing to her and my uncle Raymond as well, who ever since I was a child, made me fall in love with music and inspired and motivated me to keep singing and writing.”  But all in all she says LIFE is her biggest inspiration. “Everything about it…everything there is to be grateful about it…it’s my daily dose of inspiration.”

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Introducing budding artiste Yohan Jackman

In the face of young men often being pressured to fit into a mode that leans ever so often to negative choices, Yohan Jackman stands out as proof that the opposite is still true and possible.

Born May, 1987 to Raphael and Hazel Jackman, he grew up in the Wortmanville area of Georgetown with his older brother, Yaphet.

Throughout his upbringing and education, he was always interested in various creative and cultural subjects in school and at his church, First Assembly Of God, Wortmanville.

It was very early on that his gift of singing was recognized by his Sunday school teacher, Lynette Fraser, who encouraged him to “sing more and often” paired him with another young man, Rayon Brandt (residing in the USA).

Since then, Yohan has been active in the Worship Team of his local church. After Graduating from St. Stanislaus College in 2006, he began working on his first album, which he says is under very tight wraps but is always celebrated whenever he sings. He claims that he is waiting for the right time to come along before entering the studio.

Yohan is into urban gospel music and worship. “Kierra Sheard, Smokie Norful, Izzy, Die-trick Haddon and quite a few other gospel artistes have influenced my style of singing,” he said. “I strive to give my best to God at all times. He’s done way too much for me just to sit and be quiet. I believe my purpose in life is to lead God’s people into His presence through worship.

He did a video for his church’s weekly program “Choices” last Christmas but noted that it wasn’t the first video he has done. He however said from experience “every shoot is a different experience but I loved the idea of putting some Christmas Spirit out there on the airwaves!”

Entertainer: What are some of the challenges you have faced this far, and how have you been able to overcome them?
Yohan: Quality to me is more important that quantity. I want to make sure that when I do any recording, it’s properly done and can compete in the international arena right up there with the best. So finding a great studio is definitely a challenge. Our local standard is improving, and I’m very happy about that. But I’m still shopping around. The copyright situation is also a very touchy one. Artists should be able to benefit in some way, even though it might not be their primary goal.

Entertainer: What can patrons to the upcoming Gospel Fest expect from you?
Yohan: I’ve done a lot of concerts in and around Georgetown for the year so far, working with Ocie Thomas, Amanda Peters, People of Praise and a whole host of other exceptional artists. I’ve also done pieces at the Upscale Restaurant for Xpress YoSelf GY. I’ve also done some work with Guyenterprise and Global Fund on a few AIDS projects. My next show is Gospel Fest 2009, which will be at the National Cultural Center on September 19th – 20th. The presentation never fails to be one with a difference. I’m working on a few pieces that will be great.

Entertainer: What are your thoughts about the music industry?
Yohan: We’ve come a very long way, but we still have a long way to go, but personally my genre of music (Urban Gospel) hasn’t really penetrated locally. It’s a different sound because it incorporates elements of spirituals, blues, R&B and jazz into Gospel music, but I believe that the Guyanese public will embrace it.

Entertainer: How far do you hope to go with your music?
Yohan: I only want to go as far as the Lord is willing to take me. I serve a Global God, so the possibilities are endless. I don’t want to limit Him with the margins that my finite mind would come up with. I’m very excited about the future and I know that a whole lot is in store for me and my ministry.

By: Mondale Smith

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Meet Calypso soldier Boy ‘Mighty Believer’

Ready to claim 2010 Calypso monarchy

While some are yet to think of Christmas, one calypsonian is thinking of the 2010 Republic celebrations. A sharp contrast to the average 24 year old, Kenroy Sherwarth Fraser aka ‘Mighty Believer,’ is one of the nation’s youths working to keep the calypso art form alive amidst popular talk of its decline.

Many veterans have publicly sounded an SOS to save the art form from total demise locally and he believes that it will live again with more input from all stake holders including Corporate Guyana.

Calling for promoters to include Calypsonians in their programmes as a remedy, he says there is also a need for more unity among calypsonians and if he has his way, he could become the 2010 senior Calypso Monarch.

The one time Junior Calypso Monarch with several 2nd and 3rd place prizes, graduated to the senior competition three years ago always made it to the final round but has never placed in the top three.

Much more prepared this time around, the youth believes that he has what it takes in composition, delivery style and stage performance to win the 2010 monarchy.  “I’m putting all calypsonians on notice that I believe that the 2010 Calypso Monarchy is mine.”

Fraser who has already completed his composition for the 2010 Mashramani competition said he’s “coming to blow the crowd and the judges away” with a song that focuses on   Guyana being the true El Dorado.

Hesitant because of  the non-existence of  modern copyright legislation he does not have any professional recording but boasts an ever growing repertoire of “lots of Calypso, culture and reggae music” which he is hoping to record and release as an album in a year’s time.

Calypso lovers would recall his composition “everybody calling for a change” that dealt with issues during the crime wave. There is also the humour reality check song titled “man in woman suit” which details a hypothetic tale of meeting a beauty and taking her home only to find out that she was really a he in disguise.  In another memorable song of his was tasked as doctor with injecting a sick woman who was in too much pain.

Graduating in his writing skills this year he went conscious singing ‘whatever a man sow that’s what he would reap’ and spoke to politicians and the man in the street telling then that “the evil that you do will follow you.”

On calypso and the Music industry

The artiste opines that the music industry will develop but he has observed that the main players are more focussed on money. “There is much talk of the development of the industry but I realise that most studios have their favourites and bias for friends and relatives and it shows in their production which to me is harming as opposed to helping,” he said.

“I believe that the art form is hard pressed and suffocating to some degree because calypsonians are self censoring their compositions for fear that they would be sidelined.”

Good soldier

A soldier by profession who exudes positive vibes, the married father of two hails from Belladrum Village West Coast Berbice, loves engineering and does just that as an able rating in the Coast Guard Unit of Guyana Defence Force.

Coming from a family of military men, he boasts six years in the GDF and contrary to reports from some who have opted to AWOL (go absent without official leave) he say “the army is a good place” that offers much opportunities to youths as they serve their country.

Originally he  signed up for  the minimum  three years in the military but notes that since signing up in 2004 “I was able to qualify myself as an engineer, improve my qualifications and I have also benefited from training locally and overseas.” Optimistic that he might one day be Chief-of-Staff of the armed forces he said above all the army is ideal for discipline and bringing one’s body and mind to the same level where one can be all that one wants to be through commitment, dedication and discipline. He enjoys weight lifting, writing and composing but says he’s totally into engineering. He joined the army for three years but has stayed on for six and he says he has no plans to quit anytime soon.

By: Mondale Smith

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Ten to vie for 9th Miss Guyana Talented Teen crown Saturday

The Simpli Royal team is set to continue its quest at shaping the lives of Guyana’s young beauty ambassadors to be confident, eloquent and fashionably conscious through the staging of the 9th Miss Guyana Talented Teen pageant.

Ten local beauties will vie for the coveted Miss Guyana Talented Teen 2009 crown billed for the lawns of the Duke Lodge Hotel tomorrow evening. The beauties are drawn from Linden, Berbice, East Coast and West Bank Demerara. They will compete in segments of national wear, swimsuit, talent, and evening wear for a spot in the final five.

Based on responses to a final question, a queen will be crowned. Aged 14-19 the delegates are Ruqayyah Boyer, Madona  Ghannie, Annalisa Austin, Criselle Alleyne, Kiswana Jefford,  Teneisa Piggot, Jnelle Babb, Sarah Gannie, Meenashki Khubir and Marissa Adams.  They, unlike most local pageants, were trained for five months under the stewardship of international fashion consultant Lester Rauseo of Trinidad and Tobago followed by members of the Simpli Royal committee. They also underwent etiquette training with Jillian Phillips.

The queen walks away with $50,000 cash and assorted prizes and a chance to represent Guyana in St Kitts in December. A prize will also be awarded to one of the beauties to represent Guyana at the upcoming Miss Teen Universal Pageant in Barbados and another beauty will go to the Miss Cariabes Hibiscus in St Maarten in November.

The pageant has been in existence since 2000 but was shelved last year to accommodate   CARIFESTA X. Past queens include Ulex Atwell, Asha Pieters-Roberts, Shamaine Davis, Shonette Moore, Keran Devi Singh, Kendacy Edwards, Jennel Cox and Trissana Cox.  These queens as well as runners up have gone on to win the Miss Guyana Universe titles and also represented Guyana at international and regional pageants.

Even as Guyana‘s quest continues to win an international pageant crown through efforts of the Miss Guyana Talented committee, several regional crowns were won in recent times. Asha Pieters Miss Guyana Talented Teen 2001 copped the Miss West Indies and Miss Carival crowns while Meleesa Payne her runner up in the 2001 pageant copped the Miss Carival crown and the first runner up prize for the Miss West Indies pageant. The reigning Miss Guyana Universe is Janelle Cox. Atwell copped the 2nd runner up prize at the Miss Cariabes Hibiscus pageant.

Pageant organiser Pamela Dillon said and when the new queen is crowned, she will begin her reign at the insomnia party being hosted just after the pageant at the same venue. Organizers believe the pageant and party concept will bring alive beauty pageants in Guyana. A number of local artistes will perform at the pageant and the girls will be serenaded by a special surprise guest.

By: Mondale Smith