posted on July 12th, 2010 by Eve in Article, Jamaican Artists
Recently I had a lively discussion on what makes an artist different from want of a better word a Tool. Given the state of the music clearly there is an abundance of Tools around. Firstly one should establish a working example of whom or what an artist is.
In my view an artist/musician is a person with a deep and full understanding of his/her chosen craft, in this case music. He/she should be trained or at some point expanded academically, be it formal or informally in the subject of music and should be able to write music. This, is vastly different from writing rhymes on paper as that is what poets do. An artist/musician should be able to effectively communicate to any musician around the world regardless of language their specific vision/ideas. Therefore the ability to write music is a must. They should possess a working musical vocabulary. It should be evident that this person loves music and is familiar with not only his/her genre but listens widely and is influenced by other artists. Therefore when the host of Gaza dunce bats (among other new artists) state that their major influence begins and ends in the early 90’s there is much cause for concern. In Jamaica’s short yet vibrant musical history where you can only see Kartel, Bounty Killa as role models then something is gravely wrong. And it is no wonder the pool of crossover artists are so small let alone the ones who positively impact the world now.
It is infinitely sad that in a country so young when many of the actual architect of the music still lives and breathes, it feels like no one seeks advice, and guidance from these walking vestibules of knowledge. They are honestly not that hard to find. They still go to the same studios as the newer supposed replacements. They own bars and restaurants that bear their names or the names of the songs that made them famous. However, instead of respect there is contempt and the superficial “big up de elda dem!” Any opportunity they get while they trample and poison any foundation and scaffolding built by them. As Charles de Gaulle said:
There can be no prestige without mystery, for familiarity breeds contempt.
And there is much contempt to go around. Right now if you close your eyes and listen to what is pass off as popular music one would be surprised that this is the same place that gave birth to the likes of Don Drummond, Sly and Robbie, Jimmy Cliff, Toots Hibbert and Dean Fraser.
What is even harder to believe is that the same institutions such as the Alpha Boys Home, church, school choirs and marching bands are still available. Added to this is the wonderful invention called the internet and better access to books of which the predecessors didn’t have. All these options and more are available to this crop of so called budding talent. However one gets the feeling that instead of doing the obvious and putting in the work needed to be “great”, forget that good or even just a little above average musicians, instead do a Milli Vanilli and concentrate on everything except the music especially the image and the money.
posted on April 27th, 2010 by Eve in Article, Mann´s World
So much drama in the industry today it just feels like never ending waves of negative energy seems poised to destroy what so many worked so hard to built. The thing about energy is you get back what you give. That much one would think is common knowledge.
Therefore it would be irresponsible for anyone to pretend that the present miasma of bad news that hovers so thick over the landscape on the verge of suffocating the economic livelihood of those directly and indirectly involved in the industry has nothing to do with the actions of its actors.
For instance Ricky Trooper should be happy that the only visa that got revoked was the one from America. For some reason Jamaicans seem to think that a U. S. visa is a right. We forget that the only country obligated to put up with our nasty behavior no matter what is the one we spit on constantly i.e. Jamaica. Everyday the world gets smaller and markets more competitive. Therefore no matter how drunk Trooper was, waving a gun and demonstrating how bad the affliction of verbal diarrhea affects him on camera would be the definition of career suicide. Recently Trooper was On Stage with Winford Williams saying that’s just another gimmick and the gun was fake or not loaded, whatever. Stating him good wid everybody and everybody good wid him.
Read the rest of "Who Murder the Music" →
posted on January 18th, 2010 by Eve in Audio
It’s been too long since I told you all any stories now don’t it. Being from deep Westmoreland in a time before cell phones, Internet and cable, going to the river use to be a really big part of my life. River for me was usually Cabaritta, which is the largest river in the parish and rises near Cascade in Hanover. I remember my Gran-Uncle and brother sometimes catching this really weird fish called Goda-me/Godami/Gadami (however you spell it), which my Great-Gran would then make really sweet rundown out of. Why I say it is a strange fish is it can live out of water for several hours, even days, if kept in a cool damp place I guess its some sort of lung fish but I really only know it as Goda-me/Godami/Gadami so if you know it by any other name please drop me a line.
Ok yu chat too much Eve tell me the story now.
Once up on a time the Creator was in the process of naming all the animals in the world. As you can imagine this went on for some time and it was a very big task to come up with really good names. Eventually names like Aye-Aye and Frigate bird can give a glimpse into the Creator Sprit’s disposition. Much time passed (this was before hours were invented) and finally the Creator was done, sighed and melted in a chair due to the sheer exhaustion of the completed task. Then out of nowhere came a small almost frightened voice it said,
Gad?
So God jump up now and bawl out.
A who dat? A who leff?
This little fish walk out of the shadows, still a bit frightened and with really big Puss in Boots eyes says, Gaddami….
Jack Mandora mi nuh choose none.
posted on November 12th, 2009 by Tim Turbo in Audio, Event, Munich, SEEN, Tim Turbo, TTT Podcast, Video
Tim Turbo Thursday was a weekly DJ mix podcast hosted and curated by Tim Turbo. He selected and performed, as well as invited handpicked guests on a regular basis. TTT was limited to 50 issues, this is the last issue.
Devil-may-care! It’s over!
This is the last and final Tim Turbo Thursday, but it will be the first live issue! I set up a small but nice event to finish up the TTT series with style: Everybody in Munich, Germany is invited to drop by at Café King tonight and everybody else around the world is invited to listen and watch me, Dubstep wunderkind Danny Scrilla and Bavaria bass legend K.I.T.T. Flori playin’ 50 commemoration minutes each in a live video- and audiostream at seen-site.com/ttt50stream starting around 9:00 PM CET.
I hope you guys enjoyed the last 49 issues. I deffo did! Thank you all for listening and thanks to all my guests for their sets and yeah, I’m sure, Tim Turbo Thursday is definitly over, no Michael Jordan comebacks over here. All you bookers out there: the only chance to get Tim Turbo doing a mix for you is now booking him in your club.
Take care, the message is love!
Sincerly yours,
Tim Turbo
Notes: Check out all the previous issues. Become a fan of Tim Turbo on Facebook. Book me by writing some real talk to: book.tim.turbo[at]seen-site[dot]com, check my music on MySpace & Soundcloud and my take a look at my press kitt.
posted on November 10th, 2009 by Eve in Mann´s World, Stuff
Recently I stood in Half Way Tree in an eternally long ABM line. Observing the traffic both on the road and in the plaza (mall) and realized that Christmas was upon us. In light of that I figured I would share a few of my mother’s and other women I know with really great Christmas recipes. Fruitcakes are an integral part of the Jamaican Christmas experience. Even in houses where mommies didn’t bake or cook for that matter, they always had cakes and sorrel at home for when the inevitable visitors stopped by. I still have fond childhood memories of being the official mixer, to which I always got a stern warning every year.
“Nuh change the direction yu a mix in or yu a go spoil mi cake!”
Read the rest of "Mom’s Jamaican Christmas Fruitcake Recipe" →
