We interviewed Leighton Paul Walsh, better known by his stage name Walshy Fire via Skype. Grammy Award Winning Jamaican American DJ, MC and producer, Walshy Fire had so many memories to share with us. His musical journey is very long and full of accomplishments. He started with his first sound called Change Disco when he was 18, then he continued to play with Coppershot, Black Chiney and 9 years ago he started his prolific union with the brand Major Lazer. This collaboration made him travel all over the World smashing up every single place. He used a mainstream formula to promote jamaican sonorities and that’s the key of his huge success. Walshy Fire would like to see a different highlight for Jamaican artists internationally like it’s happening right now with his ward Koffee. Not by chance, he got the Grammy to produce her major hit “Toast”.
Walshy Fire with Koffee in Usa (contributed)
Walshy produced a whole lot of music and riddims in his career featuring Artists such us Chronixx,Kabaka Pyramid, Cocoa Tea and many more. Right now, he is focused on the online business due the Covid-19 emergency advertising his format “Quarantine Clash”, together with Warrior Sound, to teach more about the soundclash culture in a streaming way on Youtube, Facebook and Twitch. The Quarantine Clash grand finale was on May 31st and the popular jury established as winner of the 2020 Editition Chiquidubs from Panama.
We met Tanya Stephens in Lecce after the first “Jamaica Music Conference” summit in Italy. The international recording Artist has retraced her career of over twenty years with us. She expressed her satisfaction on seeing a lot of new successful female singers. Tanya’s suggestions for the upcoming artists are to don’t be afraid to make music, to enjoy it because is a great job and they will have the opportunity to connect with a lot of souls around the Globe. Mrs. Stephens is currently planning to release a new album in the next few months.
Interviewer: Eugenia Conti Shooting: Joan Nanook Webley Editing: Drummstudio Special thanks: Jamaica Music Conference
Christopher Martin, one of the most sensational vocalists from Jamaica, released his new single titled “Lovers” today 14th of February which matches perfectly with Valentine’s day. The single produced by Soundbank Music, based in Stockholm (Sweden), is available on all major digital platforms worldwide and distributed by The Orchard/SwingKids. Check it out.
Bamm Holt, recording Artist from Jamaica, based in the U.S., 27 years old, well known as John Holt’s grandson and Junior Holt’s son, is ready to tour the World keeping the message of his great predecessor alive but showing his own musical skills as well. We interviewed Bamm while he is in studio recording his new album that will be released early in 2020.
“Bamm Holt is ready. Mi neva waan people hear mi song dem an’ sey, ‘A John Holt grandson dat an’ him soun’ suh?!’ Right now, mi ready fi di world”, you declared in a previous interview. How much do you think is important to continue to preserve the heritage of your grandfather, the legend John Holt, to impact the World in a positive way?
It’s very important to keep the heritage of my grandfather alive. His influence on the reggae world is so emblematic. His songs gave you messages of love, encouragement and even a party vibe. It’s a honour to be his grandson. That’s why keep his name alive is my main goal right about now.
“Mi glad to finally get it out. Wi making different music, something dat people can look forward to listening”, you told the american medias.You sound like a very versatile artist. You can easily switch from reggae, raggamuffin to hip hop. Which is the musical genre that you feel you are most used to?
I feel like I’m most used to Reggae, as it was the first type of music I heard the calling of reggae from the day I was born. Coming to America at a young age I grown to love hip hop. But reggae will always be my first love.
“One Thing” is your song produced by Gold and Goals Productions that got great feedbacks online. We could appreciate you in a brilliant reggae-fusion version. Your father, Junior Holt, is gonna be also a big inspiration for you. What is the main thing that you learn from him in this artistic journey?
Thank You. “One thing” is also one of my favourite songs.
Yes, my father is a main influence on my career. He taught me to never give up. In life, music, doesn’t matter.
You keep to represent for Spanish Town, your parrish in Jamaica, but from a while you are living in New York. As you said the approach with this city make you understand your attitude for hip-hop music too. Which are your biggest influences of the USA hip-hop scene? And with who would you like to have a feature in the next future?
When it comes to hip hop I don’t really have an influence. I just figured out that Jay Z and Kanye West sampled one of my grandfather’s song in one of their albums. I think it was Encore. It would be a pleasure to work with them.
You are actually working in the American market already and you are ready to drop your new album early in 2020. What do you expect from the European market and what are your goals in this side of World?
I really don’t know what to expect from the European market but I hope my music will get a good reaction over there too. I know they are in love with reggae. I just want to provide them with that musical genre. My goal is to hopefully tour that side of the World soon, by the grace of God. In the meantime look out for the “1000 Volts of Holt”, a tribute/remake for John Holt with me and my Father Junior Holt.
What is the main message you want to convey to your peers who are trying to undertake your same career?
The main message I want to convey to my peers is that music lives in all of us: young , old, new and the faded ones. It’s just you to find your right tune.
Can you give a special greeting for Gege Vibes Magazine?
Big up Gege Vibes for this interview. Major plans for the future. Going to mash up the new year.
Gege Vibes met the Ghanaian super-star Stonebwoy for a video interview in Rototom Sunsplash 2019, Spain, after his first performance on the Lion Stage of the Festival. The talented afro-pop, dancehall and reggae singer, winner of several awards such us BET AWARDS (2015), Ghana Music Awards (2015), Ghana Music Awards UK (2016), Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (2017), All Africa Music Awards (2018) and many more, announced to our microphones the release of his fourth album in the early 2020 and the musical collaboration with Rihanna produced by Dj Khaled. The career of the Artist is actually on the rise. He is also well known because of the special combinations with famous names of the international jamaican scene such as I-Octane, Beenie Man, Mavado, Kabaka Pyramid and Chi Ching Ching. As he revealed, we are waiting for an upcoming feature with the reggae legend Buju Banton too. We talked then about the connections between jamaican and african music as two sides of the same coin. Ultimately, we focused the attention about his philanthropic projects and his independent label.
(Watch the video below)
Interviewer: Eugenia Conti Shooting: Andrew Lives Editing: P. Raw
Casalabate Music Festival 2019 è la notte dei Massive B, festival salentino che giunge quest’anno alla 16esima edizione con gli ospiti speciali da New York City, il famoso dj e producer Bobby Konders e la sua crew, che si svolge nella località balneare di Casalabate.
Il Festival è esponenzialmente cresciuto negli anni, acquistando di edizione in edizione un pubblico di estimatori e appassionati sempre più folto anche perché, fin dalla sua nascita, ha avuto come “padrino” d’eccezione Sir David Rodigan, leggendario Disk Jockey e giornalista, ospite sempre attesissimo nelle edizioni precedenti, che ha portato alla ribalta la marina salentina con il suo slogan “Casalabataaaa accendino!!!”, diventato poi un vero e proprio must.
Per l’edizione 2019 sul palco al cospetto di Torre Specchiolla, nella suggestiva cornice sul lungomare di Casalabate, si alterneranno alcuni tra i migliori esponenti della scena Reggae nazionale tra cui Rankin Lele e Papa Leu di Adriatic Sound con Morello Selecta, Petra de Sule con Striunizzu dal Salento, Bad Side Massive, Zakalicious, Fireburn, MoreLove, StartaFyah e, per la prima volta sul palco di Casalabate, Brusco una delle figure più importanti della scena reggae italiana con le sue super hits, conosciute e amate da tutti.
Altro ospite d’onore, direttamente dalla città di Portmore, Jamaica, il recording artist Bay-C, noto membro della formazione jamaicana T.O.K. che, dopo aver creato hit di grande successo con il suo gruppo come “Gyals yuh ah lead” e “Eagles Cry”, è attualmente in tour in Europa per il suo progetto solista “Straight outta Portmore” supportato dal potente sound system Yard Beat.
A tenere le redini della serata ci saranno Bobby Konders e Lando Hype dei Massive B, celebre Sound System di New York fin dagli anni ‘80, popolari a livello globale per aver prodotto artisti del calibro di Elephant Man, Burro Banton, Vybz Kartel e molti altri del genere reggae, dancehall e hip hop.
l Festival è diventato anche un vero e proprio progetto di riqualificazione e valorizzazione urbana, integrando nel proprio programma musicale e di intrattenimento anche CAD Casalabate Art District (già avvenuto dal 24 al 28 luglio), manifestazione di street art, che ha visto artisti locali e internazionali riunirsi a Casalabate sotto la direzione artistica di 167/B Street per ridipingere diversi muri della marina. L’evento ha ospitato nella serata finale il live dell’artista jamaicana Tanya Stephens, da sempre impegnata nel sociale e nell’attivismo a favore della propria comunità.
