Ce'Cile Heads to New York For Album "Still Running" Promotional Blitz

Self-proclaimed "Bad Gyal" dancehall diva Ce'Cile has recently announced the title and release date of her 3rd full length studio album "Still Running". A befitting title indeed as the star remains a constant in this ever changing musical arena.

With many accolades such as being featured on Sean Paul's multi-platinum Grammy winning album, to her debut album being the first dancehall album featured in German Playboy, her undeniable talent is equally matched by her beauty.

The key to Ce'Cile's longevity is simple; quality music and reinvention, "Still Running" will feature Ce'Cile in a musical element many have yet to experience.  

On the promotional trail of her musical gift, Ce'Cile will stop by the New York tri-state area with slated appearances such as on Monday September 29 with an exclusive listening session 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm (EST) live on air with the popular Irish and Chin's Sound Chat Radio. Worldwide fans will be able to tune in via www.irishandchin.com to one of the industry's leading talk/music program dedicated to Reggae, Dancehall and Sound System culture. 

Sound Chat Radio is syndicated on 18 stations and media partners in cities spanning the U.S., U.K., Spain and Gambia. Ce'Cile will also make an appearance September 30th on Sirius XM the Joint with highly respected host Pat McKay and perform three (3) singles on air. "I look forward to this promotional opportunity and to receive the feedback from my fans as they get an opportunity to exclusively listen to my soon to be released album "Still Running". A lot of work was put into it and I strongly feel my fans will love the musical experience I showcase throughout my album" says Ce'Cile.

Kalado Latest Victim Of Negative Reviews From Zimbabawe Media

Another bad review for a Jamaican artiste, as Zimbabawe media hypes up their own talents. 

Rising dancehall artiste, Kalado, has become the latest victim of a negative review following a concert last weekend in the Zimbabwean capital of Harare. Reports in the media are that Kalado was bottled because his performance was not as great as that of homegrown Zimbabwean reggae/dancehall acts.

One journalist writing for the Zimbabwe Mail even asked the question: “Are these so called international artistes worth bringing in the country, in the face of such flops?” The report continued: “In previous years, local artistes have outperformed their Jamaican counter-parts at several gigs.

At one time, another Jamaican artiste Popcaan was literally reduced to a curtain-raiser by Winky D. Locals feel they are short-changed. The media have been awash with complaints of these probably overrated stars letting down their legions of fans in the country.  

“Last year, there was a big outcry after Nigerian singer D’banj failed dismally on the stage. Born, Dapo Daniel Oyebanjo ‘D’banj’, proved more of a studio than stage musician as he failed to perform to expectations for hundreds of Zimbabweans who thronged the Glamis Arena for the Lion Lager Summer Beer Festival. 

Some equated the Fall in Love hitmaker’s performance to local dancer Beverly Sibanda’s style as he spent much of his time speaking about how Zimbabwean ladies were good at waist-twisting. D’Banj went on to invite 10 ladies, one at a time, including Amara Brown to join him on stage…” From as far back as 2012, singjay, Mr Vegas, who had a less-than-welcoming experience on stage in Zimbabwe, has been questioning this trend: "Of late Jamaican reggae & dancehall artists are getting some bad feed back after performances in Africa, even stones were allegedly thrown at Luciano. 

Then there were the media reports "Mavado flopped, Vegas failed to deliver, Assasin misses target". In these same article, the media reports sing high praises for the local acts, while ripping the main act. Leaves me to wonder if this is the love we get from Africa, after taking the 2 days or more flt to spread the music to our brothers & sisters... Is this the same Africa that we want to go back home to? Is this the same africa that we dedicated most of our music to?. 

Africa where is the love?!”(Mr. Vegas Facebook post, August 1 2, 2012) Vegas advised his followers in the same post: “THE FANS THAT COME TO THE SHOW ARE NOT THE PROBLEM, ITS THE MEDIA WHO TRY TO DISREGARD OUR EFFORT, THEN TRY TO SELL A STORY THAT THE LOCAL ARTISTS PERFORMED BETTER.” 

Notably, in the review about Kalado’s Zimbabwe performance, the reviewer also quotes a prominent disc jock who maintains that nothing was wrong with Kalado’s performance. The article states: “Prominent wheel spinner Godfather Templeman defended Kalado’s performance and said local fans should be patient with foreign artistes. ‘Zimbabwean fans are not patient. Kalado is just an upcoming artiste in Jamaica and he came here to perform for Zimbabweans, not Jamaicans, unlike in the case with local artistes who went to perform outside the country for Zimbabweans who migrated to those countries,’ said Templeman. 

‘There was nothing wrong with his performance...’” With that experience behind him, Kalado is settling back into the musical flow, as he continues to assure fans that “good good” does, in fact, “bring life” and that he takes none of this "personally".

Droop Lion Keeps It Real On Tour With The Gladiators

Following on their super successful 25-date European tour in February, and the subsequent dizzying round of festivals in the summer, Droop Lion and The Gladiators are back on Jamaican soil, recuperating, reflecting and ready for intense studio work. Whereas, The Gladiators are seasoned hands at the touring game and know exactly how to circumvent the many potential pitfalls, Droop Lion is learning, and learning quickly too.

Droop Lion, who has been relatively newly-baptised as lead singer of the legendary reggae group, makes no claims to being a monk, or any such holy figure, however, when on tour, his circumspect behaviour has led to such questionings.

But, being the soul that he is, Droop takes this all in his stride and maintains his Rastafari livity. An ardent musical ambassador, whose choice of on-stage rainment – a gown – makes him somewhat of an ethereal figure, Droop makes no apologies for his conscious decision to let his music do all the talking.

“I learnt a long time ago that you can’t mix business with pleasure,” the humble, yet outspoken, reggae singer said. “Especially when the business that you are in involves excess amount of hype. I enjoy being on stage and I also enjoy interacting with fans, taking pictures and signing autographs, because that is another important aspect of the business. But we all know how the world set up, as long as there are so called ‘celebrities’, there will always be those persons who want to get intimate,” he noted. 

But Droop Lion has been so resistant of crossing that invisible line, that one female fan in Europe was forced to ask him quite seriously, “Tell me something, are you a monk?” Laughing as he recalled the situation, Droop Lion admitted that the question took him by surprise, mainly because it was asked with such deep concern. He did his best to reassure her, with words only, that he was no monk, but whether or not she believed is quite another matter. Droop Lion, who is managed by Free People Entertainment, has maximum respect for manager Cabel “Jeffrey” Stephenson. “Jeffrey is one of those persons who manages his artistes, the artistes cannot manage him. On the road, his experience is second to none. 

When I perform on stage for two hours three and four times per week, he knows the regimen for the voice to ensure that it sounds clear for the entire tour – the voice exercise, the special mixtures to keep it pure, and of course, nothing beats good rest. When on tour, we are so focused on getting to the next venue, putting things in place and pleasing fans, that we don’t have time to mess around … or even feel the need to,” the singer explained. 

Droop Lion’s recently-concluded European tour saw him and The Gladiators giving fantastic performances at the Selestat Bal des Petits Hommes, Verts France; Barcelona Trash ‘n’ Ready, Spain; Antwerp Sfinks, Belgium; Lescar Pau Festival, Emmaus France; Hyères Festival, France; Nice Theatre de Verdure, France; Garda Mandstock Festival, Italy; Les Vans Festival Ard'afrique, the Vieu Boucau Arènes, Chambéry Plein Air, Béziers Féria and the Fraisans No Logo Festival, all in France; Chiemsee Reggae Festival, Germany; Benicassim Rototom, Spain and Bielawa Regalowisko, Poland.