Sunday, April 17, 2011
Collie Buddz Takes Toronto with his ‘Playback!’
Performing on Tuesday night at the legendary Opera House on Queen Street East, Collie, supported by the group New Kingston, and intro’d by Reggaetone sensation Las Rakas, gave fans more than twenty dollars worth in entertainment, and easily sold out the 750 person capacity venue.
Fans lined up for the show at 6pm; by the time the doors opened at 8pm, the line up was around the block and then some. Most fans walked with their blackberries and i-phones to record their Reggae superhero for the purpose of a ‘playback,’ while others walked with their Bermuda flag which they waved proudly during Collies performance. If those two were not enough of a demonstration of fan dedication, try every person in the venue singing every word to every song so well, there were times Collie didn’t have to sing … he simply held the microphone out to the audience!
“Performing in Toronto is like coming home,” said the Reggae star before his show during sound check. “Most of my first album was written here in Toronto (with the exception of three songs), so it’s definitely special for me.”
Collie’s roots with Toronto are extensive. Although born in New Orleans in 1981, he lived in Oakville, Ontario from the age of one to five before moving to Bermuda in 1986. He lived in the city of Toronto as an adult for a short time, but Toronto’s burgeoning music industry wasn’t ready for his talent, causing him to move back to his Mother’s homeland of Bermuda. That move would prove to be the beginning of his now rock solid career.
His musical growth on the island is in part attributed to his older brother who owns his own recording studio. In the early days, Collie would perform dubplates (calling a DJ or sound system name within a song written by the artist) for sound systems who all agreed the youngster had talent. The more dubplates he recorded, the more his music was played in the underground Reggae scene causing his fame to spread amongst the DJ’s as well as the fans. By the time he released his album, he had a loyal following of die hard Reggae fans around the world, and also earned the admiration of veteran Reggae artists such as Beres Hammond and Maxi Priest.
“I still record the same way I did when I began! My brother Matthew (“Smokey” Harper) and I will sit in the studio with our note books and write out lyrics for songs.” As for recording, Collie knows a great deal about studio engineering as he graduated from the school 'Full Sail' in Winter Park, Florida with an 'Associates of Science Degree in Recording Arts' in 2001. This is what gave him the foundation for his engineering expertise in the studio, and his ability to capture the exact sound he wants to hear. “I make music that I like, and that I think sounds good. If it doesn’t sound good to me, I can’t release it.” His millions of fans around the world would agree. Simone from Toronto, who was at the show on Tuesday said “my favourite song from ‘Playback’ is “Holiday,” and my favourite song from his first album is “Blind To You Haters!” “Collie makes music for me!”
“Holiday,” speaks to the people who work hard and just need a holiday from the stress and the bills, while “Blind To You Haters” picks up on a youth driven theme of being ‘hated’ on; the equivalent of so called friends not wanting you to elevate to a higher level.
On the flip side, Collie Buddz work with Beyonce on the remix to her song “Ring The Alarm” as well as his work with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Akon and Busta Rhymes are all indicators that his brand of Reggae is desired in the mainstream market, as are his ‘I got my ear to the streets lyrics’ which consistently ‘reps’ for the masses he performs for.
Growth for the young artist musically has also meant growth for the young artist from the business of music perspective so ‘surrounding myself with good people is key to keeping everything going in the right direction.” His team includes his manager, Kevin Holness who maintains a steady overview of the artists goals, and makes sure the team consistently moves in that direction.
What’s more, Dino and Igor from Mojiza Entertainment picks up on the endorsement angle which is what caught the attention of Live Nation (Charlie Sheen, Rihanna, Bruno Mars) one of the industries foremost tour and concert producers, as well as the Rum company Goslings who is the tours official sponsor. “With Collie we have a great brand,” said Kevin. “He has a great appeal with his fans, and he understands the business which both contribute to his growth.”
After the Playback tour, Collie will be taking some time off to enjoy his family, and then prepares to release his sophomore album. He won’t give details as to who some of the producers are, nor will he share the direction of the album, but knowing Collie, it will be another one for Billboard!
www.CollieBuddz.com
Hezron And Shaggy Go Two Places
Fast rising reggae crooner Hezron and international superstar have shot the video for their hit Two Places. The song places on the riddim of the same name were produced by Danny Champaign of Champaign Records and have been doing well on the airwaves.
It was Danny Champaign who was instrumental in bringing Hezron and Shaggy together to record the song. Danny Champaign says he is confident that the song is a hit and the video will only make it better: “I think the video took a while but is a fairly good video. It tells the story that was designed for it and the final product is of a good quality”.
Champaign also reveals he is happy with the response the song has been getting based on radio play. “We are happy with the song and it has been playing well on the radio continuously and that pushed us to do the video. I show some people the video and they loved it and as far as I am concerned the song is already a hit and the video will only make it better”.
The veteran producer is also happy with the synergy between Shaggy who he says is a super star and Hezron who he believes is fast approaching superstardom: “Both complement each other on the song. The contrast between Hezron; a reggae singer and a Shaggy who is a great DJ makes the track that much better and the lyrics is something that people live everyday so they will identify with it.
Hezron who has been busy promoting his to other current singles; Forever and Always and She’s all Woman says he is happy with the way the video turned out and enjoyed the collaboration between him and shaggy: “It was a good storyline and I like the way it was shot. The song has been doing really well and I believe the video can only help it to go further”
The video for Two Places will premier on TVJ’s Intense this Saturday April 16.
Unicorn and Lazer Steps Enjoying Much Attention With ‘Good Body Gyal’
Unicorn is currently enjoying much attention in the dancehall with his latest single titled ‘Good Body Gyal’ which was done in tandem with Lazer Steps. “It (‘Good Body Gal’) a di maddest thing a road right now, every weh it play it a mash up di place. It a get play from almost all the top selectors, a Boom Boom first buss it.
Him sey him nuh know a wha bout di tune but any time him draw it inna di dance from the girls dem hear the intro that alone mek dem get mad”, said the deejay who originally hails from Clarendon. Unicorn also said a video for the ‘Good Body Gyal’ is in the works and will be released soon as he and Lazer Steps intend to capitalize on the success that song is currently enjoying in the dancehalls.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)