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Jamzone Regional Night Review

Mavado aka Gully Gad performing at Jamzone Regional Night 2011
Mavado aka Gully Gad performing at Jamzone Regional Night 2011

We at Guyanalive.com think it is only in this beautiful country of ours that an entertainment company can plan a show and have as much hype before the show, like what happened with dancehall superstar Vybz Kartel and the Hits and Jams family. The details are still sketchy as to why the Jamaican artiste did not show (despite being paid a hefty advance), but the show went on with the other item on the list, Mavado. Let us first say that the turnout was quite large, even though most persons complained about the absence of “Di Teacha”. And Mavado held his own with sheer skill, not that we expected any less.

Natural Black performing at Jamzone Regional Night 2011
Natural Black performing at Jamzone Regional Night 2011

The first entertaining item was local star Jory. Those of you who have been to shows that featured Jory know that when we say he was hard, you know we’re telling the truth. He commanded the crowd with his lyrics and made them sway from to side to side, bobbing their heads in jubilation and showing abundant “gun fingers”. That was followed by Guyana – born superstar, Natural Black. He was naturally a performer, with tracks that touch our hearts and our minds. Even though the aroma of marijuana was rampant, the high we experienced was encouraged by fantastic music. We at Guyanalive.com recommend that H&J feature this phenomenon in all their dancehall and reggae acts.

Then, like a pleasant surprise at Christmas time, Mavado entered the stage! Even though there were pauses by the sound system, the National Stadium at Providence wasted absolutely no time grooving to the “Gully God’s Stulla Rhythms”. Hit after hit, like a Mike Tyson fight, Movado delivered to all in attendance. Males and females sang each song (lyric for lyric) while jumping and throwing their hands in their air. The young and the old (well, not too old) never missed a beat while gyrating to the sounds that now helps to define dancehall music.

Jory performing at Jamzone Regional Night 2011
Jory performing at Jamzone Regional Night 2011

Now that we have expressed our joy from being at the Jamzone Regional Night we want to firstly say that it was very devastating to know that the “Gaza King” was not there. Even though we think there would have been some tension between supporters if he was there, we still missed him. We know for a fact that it was out of the promoters’ hands to change the outcome of the show so we will not go further. We enjoyed the atmosphere of the show; ghetto, lively and exciting. On the Guyanalive.com scale we give it a 6 1/2 out of a possible 10, only because Vybz Kartel was absent. Sorry Hits and Jams, better luck next time.

See pictures from this event at –> GuyanaLive.com Gallery

By – Patrice Wishart

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One-on-one with Natural Black: The man and the music

Natural BlackRecently Guyana has experienced an upsurge of local acts with international potential but as they work out their game plan Jamaica based Guyanese artiste Natural Black is already on a role. Ultimately he aspires to take his music to the four corners of the earth and with it the Golden Arrowhead. Recently he sat down for a one-on-one candid conversation on Caribbean Music Box where Mondale Smith got up in his Business.

Mondale: We know you as the Kid from Plaisance who moved from welding to selling clothes after school and then became a hit on the Jamaica Music scene who has made Guyanese proud. What have you been up to of recent?

Natural: For me it’s naturally all music from start and continually. Sometimes you get so caught up in it that you go missing for a while and people start to wonder if you detaching your self from them but that not it cause you are with them spiritually.

Mondale: Some say that while you are a Guyanese you have sold your birthright is that true?

Natural: You can’t sell your birthright, what you are, is what you are. Me ah Guyanese 1000 percent and that can’t change no matter what people say. But me want them feh know that me don’t forget them cause if we forget we self we gon lost we self.

Mondale: Your name is Mortimer…How did you end-up with NATURAL BLACK?

Natural: I usually dress in black and white and in Jamaica they usually try to find another name aside from the one you have on your birth paper. At first I was Black and White but the Jamaican industry can’t see through that so since my lifestyle has always been Natural I just take off the white and added Natural and it stuck.

Mondale: Ten albums and counting what has the road been like for you?

Natural: Rough and rugged as life set up but it has it smooth time so I give thanks for those. The challenge is a great challenge but knowing that you can and have reached the level of over coming. It’s a great a joy to know me reach from one level to another.

Mondale: you seem to be very spiritual explain that.

Natural: Yes from you know yourself spiritually you know that you can rise above and go through life with a true purpose. The spiritual part of me ensures that I do not hurt myself or others. I think my spiritual connection keeps me balanced so that I can flow through physically.

Mondale: Take us back to life after school before your big break…

Natural: I lost my mother when I was two and after school I joined the army as an apprentice. I moved all the way up to a Corporal and the experience thought me discipline. There I learnt welding then I resigned and started selling clothes by day and putting in appearances at some night spots at night. As I get in the talent line I started seeking out stage shows to perform then the opportunity came for a trip to Jamaica and the rest is my story.

Mondale: When you arrived in Jamaica what was it like?

Natural Black: In Jamaica the scene was a lot like Guyana and I had to work hard  with much dedication and that I did then I got to record my first song. Now ten albums down the road I’m going to take it to another level because there are always greater things to   life… I’m trying right now to create an album that appeals to all the people.

Mondale: Let’s talk Family, your family!

Natural: I grew up with my aunty after my Mother died when I was two.  Family life comes with various things and often we may not know or understand some mystic in life but I give thanks to my aunty who brought me through the struggle and eventually I got to know my brothers and sisters.  My current family includes my woman and two sons.

Mondale: What’s your advice to youths regarding education?

Natural: It requires education to be in my business. With out knowledge you can find yourself in a tight spot because talent alone will not do it. You need discipline, nurturing and guidance.

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Natural Black to get GAMA International Music Ambassador Award

Natural BlackYears ago Guyanese Natural Black, during an interview, described his music as “positive and straight.”

After weathering the storm to become an international Guyanese music ambassador who numbers among the selected few he did not get any of the Accolade Guyana Music Awards two years ago. But thanks to the Guyana artistic Music awards committee he is the lone Guyanese carded to receive an award on April 25, next, for being a true Guyanese international music ambassador.

Already some of the Diaspora-based artistes have arrived for the red carpet event carded for the National Cultural Centre and while corporate Guyana has not yet embraced the event “the show will go on”, assures the coordinators.

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Typheon and Natural Black to release new song

After a prolong period away from the limelight, 20year old Guyanese singer Typheon Abbensetts and ‘Natural Black’ are slated to release a new song and video together.

The two have been working hard in the studios to finish the song on schedule, while making the video simultaneously.

During an exclusive interview with ‘Kaieteur Entertainment’ Typheon said she wrote the song, which is entitled ‘You can make it’ and then decided to collaborate with Natural Black in order to see its success.

The song and video are slated to be officially released before the end of the year. According to Typheon, the song basically inspires youths to follow their dreams and to never give up on life, but to continue aiming for the stars.

“It is just giving them a push…no matter what their dreams maybe, let them just go ahead,” the younger Guyanese singer said.

Other than this latest release, Typheon has many other songs on the airwaves. These include, ‘Shake it Off’ which was her first recorded song, followed by ‘Make me itch,’ which is a song about a girl getting back at her ex boyfriend after he broke her heart. Others include, Fun time, In Love and Not in Love.

All of the songs are written by Typheon herself, a talent which she realised at the age of 14. While writing a song may seem like a difficult task for others, this is not the case for Typheon, as she noted, ‘it just comes naturally.’

“Like you tell me you want something done and in the next fifteen minutes I write it.”

Typheon knew at the tender age of nine that she wanted to become a singer and this later became a reality when she officially recorded her first song at age 16.

Although her passion is for music, most of Typheon’s energy is placed on her studies. She is currently a History major at the University of Guyana.

“If you don’t have education, you have nothing and I just can’t give up my education for something I’m not too sure of and then lose everything. So once you get a degree, at least you know you got something to fall back on if music doesn’t work out.”

Typheon aspires for her music to reach the international level but she admitted that it entails a lot of hard work since the music industry is no easy business.

But what this singer finds strange is the fact that many local artistes leave Guyana to make a video overseas and come back without the Guyanese accent. “This is what I can’t understand you know…our accent is such a beautiful thing. I plan to hold on to my accent and my roots for as long as possible because I love Guyana…this place is beautiful.”

While Typheon aims to put Guyana on the map, she lauded the support she has been receiving from her manager Johnattan Beepat, and the ‘Wildfire’ crew.

Acknowledging the fact that a lot of young people listen to her music, Typheon advises youths to stand up for what they believe in and to hold on to their dreams.

“Nothing in this life comes easy…you got to work for what you want and if you really want it, work for it. You need to follow your dreams.”

By – Fareeza Haniff