2018 Festival Song Finalists Ready for the Road - Vernon Derby

Kingston, Jamaica:  The finalists in the 2018 Jamaica Festival Song Competition are in high spirits and full preparation mode, as they power along the journey to the Grand National Finals in July. Following on their successful completion of the second round of competition, where the 30 semi-finalists went head to head for one of the coveted top ten spots, the finalists, which includes a mass choir, have been in the studios working with various note-worthy and award winning producers to put the final touches on their entry songs. Up next on their journey will be a series of road shows across the island, beginning in the second city, Montego Bay in June.

“We have pulled out all the stops to make this year’s competition bigger and better than before, including our renewed partnership with Tastee Jamaica, which has rejoined this year’s roster of sponsors with $7.5 Million. Thanks to the funding of our sponsors I am sure that this competition’s journey will be a life changing experience for all the finalists, especially the winners.” Said Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Hon. Olivia Grange.

In addition to the series of performances across the country, an official photo-shoot, media tour/courtesy calls and the anticipated 2018 album release are some of the other planned stops on the road of the Competition’s journey. The top ten songs will also be accompanied by music videos and vignettes which will be accessible by the public.

Also on the agenda of the top ten finalists is another in the series of coaching sessions on Wednesday, May 16 with renowned artist development consultants Conroy Wilson and Michael Holgate, both Executive and Artistic Director, respectively, of the Ashe Company, who will coach the finalists in artistic presentation and stage craft.

                       

Organised by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) an agency of the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Jamaica Festival Song Competition is the longest running song competition in Jamaica and has showcased myriads of artistes and numerous songs which have become the soundtrack to Jamaican life and culture.

The top ten finalists in the 2018 edition of the Jamaica Festival Song Competition

are:  

·         Strong Jamaican written by Patrick Kitson and performed by Escarpment Road New Testament Church of God

·         Jamaica A Wi Home written and performed by Oneil Scott, stage name: Nazzleman

·         Hands on your Heart written by Karel Wisdom, M. Bennett and G. Wright and performed by Karel Wisdom, stage name: Jah Wiz

·         The Type of Jamaica written and performed by Radcliffe Palmer, stage name: Radcliffe John

·         Jamaica Wi Rich written and performed by Victor Richards, stage name: Juke Box

·         I Love Jamaica written by Sheea-Ann Hewan and  performed by Roger Mendez, stage name: Rojjah

·         Jamaica You Nice Enuh written and performed by Tanice Morrison, stage name: Reggae Soul Child

·         Jamaica’s Formula written and performed by Everton Pessoa, stage name: Pesso

·         Wi Big All Around written and performed by Dennis McKay, stage name: Mackie Conscious

·         Let’s Do It Jamaica written and performed by Courick Clarke, stage name: Koriq

       Karel Wisdom, Jah Wiz (left) gets feedback from the  studio engineer at Tuff Gong Studio, during his recording of “Hands on your Heart” written by M. Bennett and G. Wright and Karel Wisdom

Tanice Morrison, Reggae Soul Child, gives the thumbs-up as she records her entry “Jamaica you Nice Enuh”  

         Members of the Escarpment Road New Testament Church of God in the studio with their performance of “Strong Jamaican” written by Patrick KitsonAdd caption

Festival Song Seminar Urges Focus on Financial Management

Robin Levy

Kingston, Jamaica: Members of the performing arts industry are being urged to utilize the financial services offered by the nation’s credit unions to manage their financial affairs and organise their retirement plans. The call came from Chief Executive Officer of the Jamaica Co-operative Credit Union League, Robin Levy, as he delivered the main address at the first 2018 Jamaica Festival Song  Competition Developmental Seminar held at JAMPRO in Kingston on January 23.

Levy outlined a number of services that credit unions make available to musicians, singers, writers, composers and others who earn a living through the cultural sector.

He told participants: “Many of you who earn a living from the creative sectors do not have a nine-to- five job and that makes it difficult for you to access financial services and benefits from some mainstream institutions. But the credit union is a people’s cooperative which means that you are lending and borrowing from each other. In many cases there is no registered company and you have to try and navigate your way on an individual basis. The credit union understands how difficult it can be to get investment for creative purposes such as producing music but there are conversations that you can have with a credit union of your choice that can assist you greatly.”

He also decried the sad state of affairs that often surround the deaths of some entertainers whose financial portfolios have not been kept in good order.

Alaine Laughton

“It so sad when you have to see hats going around seeking support to bury some of our legends; It is time for this to end. Take charge and take responsibility and don’t exchange fame for disgrace.” Levy said.

Other presenters at the seminar, which was geared towards preparing entrants for this year’s competition included singer and songwriter Alaine Laughton who gave a practical lecture in the art of making a good song.

Freddie McGregor

Djenne Greaves demonstrated the art of stage performance and was well received. Mark Thomas spoke on the important issue of image of branding while reggae superstar Freddie McGregor gave a first class account of life in the business of music. McGregor recounted his career from the early days in Clarendon to the formation of his record company Big Ship Productions. He held the audience in awe as he told of the challenges he faced in trying carve out a career as a young singer and the wonderful relationship he had with producer Clement Coxsone Dodd.

McGregor also endorsed the Festival Song Competition and urged interested participant to write songs that will seek to build a patriotic spirit in the country and lift national pride. He noted that over the years many of the country’s successful artists emerged from the competition but the prize package and stakes are so high now that professional artists should consider participating.

Regional seminars are also being held in the Western, Central, and Northern regions.

Chairman of the Festival Song Committee Mr. Vernon Derby said the seminars are very integral to the staging of a professional competition that will see songs of the highest standards vying for pride of place during the Independence season and beyond.

All registered participants in the seminars are presented with certificates of participation. 

More details are available at www.jcdc.gov.jm, by email at festivalsong@jcdc.gov.jm, all JCDC offices island wide and by telephone at 926-5726-9.