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Introducing: The inspirational Telescope to the world

TelescopeDellon Chichester. aka Telescope, is not yet popular on the local shores but if this Canada-based Guyanese continues on his quest he will soon be known for things positive, musically.

The former Canadian military man who hails from Cottage, Mahaicony, migrated from Guyana at age 17. Having gained knowledge and experiences that have made him a better person he believes that he has what it takes to be an inspiration musically and in the literary arts.

He took on the name Telescope after he started the Telescope Humanity Charity and because people believes that he has been blessed with an analytical mind that allows him to “see things from far”, as well as the righteous songs he sings.

Already to his credit, he has produced one album titled ‘LOOK AGAIN’ that features 13 tracks which are making rotations on radio stations in several countries including Canada. They include No Man’s Puppet, Thanks Mama, What is the Tension, Back Stabbers and amongst others.

At present he is working on a second album titled “SEE NOW”. Already some of the pre-released singles such as Believers, What a blessing, Trust is Hard and Inauguration have been making the rounds with favourable comments.

He fondly recalls that while he fooled around much with lyrics he actually started singing at age 16 at the Pelican Inn Disco, on Hadfield Street. Then when his family migrated he joined the Canadian Military in 1999. He took to singing again professionally in 2008.

But beyond his singing that seems laced with language that does not glorify violence or berate women in any way he’s also a budding writer on the verge of completing a book that he hopes to publish in Canada soon.

“After nine years in the Canadian Army where I used my spare time to write I’m still writing to this day to the point where I have a book coming out soon titled In This World But Not Of This world.”

Though not a major popular artiste just yet he has performed at several shows in Toronto He is set to visit some Caribbean countries before pursuing bookings for a European tour.

His most recent performance was at a Mama J Production in Toronto on Mother’s Day because of his song that celebrates and ‘Thanks Mama’.

“My life’s mission is to insert a love virus within the human race that can only be cured by extreme love”. And he explains that while some might view that as bordering on crazy he said his songs of redemption speak for themselves and can be heard at www.myspace.com/777telescope.

He gets his musical inspiration from day to day “human interaction that comes mainly from how we handle ourselves with the situations we face”.

A taste of his musical abilities will be forthcoming on April 17 at the inaugural Guyana Music Splash carded for the Thirst Park. While he is not among the nominees for the Guyana Artistic Music Awards on April 25 at the National Cultural Centre he will be in the audience cheering on the more than 25 Diaspora-based Guyanese entertainers coming from 14 countries and islands for the event.

He said, “I am coming to Guyana for the show on April 17 and no, I’m not receiving any awards as I’m still young in the game but I’m happy to know that I’ll be among the veterans of Guyanese Music”.
For those attending the April 17 show he says, “Look forward to having a blessed time with Telescope just make sure you come as a child because it’s hard to bend an old tree”.

By Mondale Smith

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Introducing: Ken Da Beat Maker

On the daily grind producing Guyanese music

Ken Da Beat MakerThose in the local music fraternity may have heard of Ken Andrew Taylor, a sound engineer who works out of the Brutal Recording Studios. This mad, sick, creative kid called Ken Da Beat Maker is quietly making his positive input to ensure that Guyanese music is kept in production motion.
He is a sound engineer like many others but somewhat quite different because he does his work in and out of studio.

Out of studio he ensures that artistes are heard with sound clarity but in studio his work is more technical as ‘da beat maker’ and a music producer combined.

His first love is Computer programming but about two years ago that took second place when he got into the swing of “in studio” music production, in a major way.
Exciting and refreshing are words he uses to describe his job where he always gets to try new things daily learning even more as he grows. He says “I hope to make a huge impact in the development of Guyanese music eventually”.
At age 25, his work has seen him involved in studio productions for quite a few Guyanese artistes such as Sophia star boy, Mystic, Star Guyana Queen Lisa Punch, International artiste Natural Black, the ‘Ah de real thing Jory and the now England-based Hip Hop artiste  Don Gialiani.

His magical fingers have touched many tracks that are heard on 98.1 FM for all these artistes including ILaman, Brains, Mr. Tcri$, Et Tu Brutus, Malo and Jomo among others on the local and international music circuit.

He’s extremely proud of having done live engineering on stage for countless international artistes when they come to Guyana for shows.

Priding himself in being a “real Guyanese, not a fake Guyanese,” he grew up in Roxanne Burnham Gardens, before moving to Kitty. His life’s Philosophy is: Try to make the best decision when you are given the option. He’s influenced by producers such as Timbaland, Dr. Dre and a few others.

Ken believes that the local music industry, despite many obstacles in its way, is making progress and trusts that his talent and the love for what he does continues to contribute greatly and makes a positive impact.

Taylor encourages artiste to be more “out-there” because it’s how people get to know you and know your work. Ken doesn’t plan on leaving the scene anytime soon so look out for great things ahead.

Entertainer: Is Sound engineering what you always wanted to do?

Ken: Music was never my first choice. Years ago I wanted to do Computer programming.

But I believe that Guyanese music can and will eventually hit main stream so here I am.  I wouldn’t be wasting my time behind it if I thought I couldn’t get there. The local music industry is struggling at present but I am certain we will make it we just have to keep focused and make every song better than the last.

Entertainment: What keeps you going and what do you use for inspiration?

KEN: International music gives me that kick to jump up and go build a track or aim to get a certain sound in the studio. Plus the less stressed I am the more creative I am so I try my best to be happy.

What would you like to see happening for sound engineers in Guyana?
KEN: I don’t have many complaints on my part. I like a challenge so I’m looking forward to the hurdles. I’ll jump them.

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Introducing Shatta Youth

Meanwhile Dynamic US based young artiste Shatta Youth (Gibran) is carded to make his local debut at the shows among the line up carded to perform at the shows. The Guyana born kid age 20, discovered his lyrical talents as an adolescent and began singing with friends Randy ‘Lil Slim’ and Sayon ‘Beanz’ but soon realised his unique aptitude for song writing.

As this passion developed over the years and after moving to New York he dedicated his time to honing his talent as a soca, reggae singer and a songwriter. He aspires to someday be like his idols Elvise Presley and Hip Hop Legend Eminem combined.

He got his break after meeting with Avinash Singh of Superstone Productions on the shoot for the hit single “Rum Drinkaz” by Guyanese icons Terry Gajraj and Adrian Dutchin. Shatta Youth has since recorded several hit singles such as “Wine Up On Me” and “Bashment Party” and has preformed along side Chutney/Soca sensations the likes of  Terry Gajraj.

Popularly known as Shatta Youth, he says he will be dishing some youthful vibes as part of the cast.

By – Mondale Smith

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Return of the Guyana Baboo – Shows in Progress

“We bringing world flavour with our flavour”- Terry Gajraj

Guyanese Baboo, Terry Gajraj and his Supertones band have touched down in Guyana and have begun to entertain fans and convert whoever those in attendance this weekend. Last night the partying began at the Arracari resort much to the liking of the fans who traveled from as far as Berbice. Tonight the show goes to the Starlite- Drive-in and patrons are invited to “come out to support your own and have fun, everybody will have a ball,” said band leader Terry Gajraj.

The New York based Gajraj and the Supertones band as they sat in the Hits and Jams television studio said they will continue to thrill local party goers tonight at the Starlite Drive-in before heading to Berbice on Sunday for the Kings Duck Curry competition. “We bringing world flavor with our flavour,” Gajraj said.

Organised by Wonder Boy Productions, party goers are in for some energetic Chutney/Soca and crossover musical entertainment action Gajraj promised.

Wonder Boy Reaz said the time has come for Guyana to see why the all Guyanese Supertones band was voted “Best Recorded Band”, “Best Crossover Band”, and “Best Performing Stage Band” at the 2009 West Indian Music Awards in the USA.  The band members, based in Queens, New York comprise Avinash Singh who plays the Key boards and is also a vocalist who said “people will have blast at our shows because we going way back and coming straight forward with hits from our new album.

The other band members include Omesh “Kuli Bai” Kemraj who plays the Dholak and is a vocalist, Pally Dass a lead vocalist, Princess Anisa a lead vocalist who will be singing soca and chutney, and Terry Gajraj the band’s lead vocalist and manager. They genre range include Soca, Chutney, Reggae and Filmi, Punjabi, and pop music. “This is a show for everybody matters not of your race, culture or creed,” promoter Reaz said.

The band recently released a video for their hit “Tek Sunita” and has also completed a brand new track titled Caribbean Girl. Two weeks ago they played in one of the theaters on Broadway in the West Indian dreams production and are billed to perform in Suriname, Holland and back on Broadway early in 2010.

The group will also be launching its “Red HottSupper one’s Band” album tonight and lucky patrons will take home free autographed copies.

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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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Gialiani’s Barbados Press Release

GialianiTruly destined to put his country on the map in the international music industry is the rapper locally known as ‘Don Gialiani’. The rapper’s newest accomplishments came while he was recently invited to attend the launch of the 2009 Barbados Music Awards on November 2nd and to perform at an annual Hip Hop Festival held by ‘Timeless Barbados’ where he was the opening artiste for headline act Kardinal Offishal of the Konvict Label and received a very warm reception from the Bajan crowd and media that were present. Besides Kardinal, he was the only other overseas act invited to perform at the Hip Hop Festival. The show was hosted by ‘Timeless Barbados Inc. (timelessbarbados.com, http://www.myspace.com/timelessbarbadosinc) who are the owners of both the Hip Hop Festival and the Barbados Music Awards and also now the rapper’s new management. While there, Gialiani had center page features in Heat Magazine, Barbados’ most popular paper and the Advocate, another renowned entertainment paper of Barbados for the Hip Hop Festival and received rave reviews for his performance in The Heat Magazine and Nation Newspapers in center page aritcles. In addition, he was also featured in the Trinidadian ‘Guardian Paper for that festival. He was also interviewed by several entertainment media companies from various countries including SoundCity Television which is said to be the largest Nigerian Entertainment television station. He also made other performances including at the Escape Hotel, West Coast. The artiste is currently working on music with the Hit Island Studio producer KB Sharp who is the manager of BMA winners and ’09 nominees Ayana John and Buggy. He has so far recorded a collaboration with Dwane Husbands, a finalist of this year’s ‘Digicel Rising Star’ competition and who has also done music with Rihanna (song titled “Dem Haters”) off her “A Girl Like Me” album. He is also scheduled to work with other accomplished Bajan artistes such as Kirk Brown who is nominated for 5 BMAs in ’09 including male artiste of the year and ‘G’ has also recently done a Hit Island remix for already popular chart topper “Guns And Roses” to be released on radio soon by Ayana John who is said to be the next big female Bajan artiste. Don Gialiani, now a confirmed Timeless Barbados managed artiste and their first non-Bajan artiste is scheduled to return to Barbados to attend and present an award at the BMA’s on the 4th Jan. ’09 . You can look forward to new music and videos and a host of entertainment events, from the artiste in the new year through his promotional company MusiCentral Production which he co-owns with business partner and fellow rapper Ry. These events are surely likely to see appearances and some performances from his new found contacts of the Bajan Music Industry and promise to put a new look on the concept parties of Guyana’s Entertainment Scene. You can also find more info and music of Don Gialiani at http://gialiani.imeem.com, www.myspace.com/gialiani, and Or contact him at his personal email address: [email protected]

MusiCentral.