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From Jamaica Star:

 
Fan-tess-tic: Outstanding performance from Tessanne in finals
Davina Henry, Staff Reporter

 

With the entire season at stake, Tessanne Chin had one last opportunity to prove that she was indeed The Voice.

After months of intense preparation and incredible performances and with only Will Champlin and Jacquie Lee standing in the way of her victory, Tessanne dominated the final live performance show last night.

For last night’s show, Team Christina Aguilera and Team Adam Levine’s remaining acts sang one new song, a duet with their coach, and reprised the blind audition song they previously sang that gave them a true moment in the competition.

Her performance of Try was gorgeously done and may even have been better this time around. Coach Adam Levine opined that Tessanne nailed it once again and that she was one of the biggest singers not only on the show, but overall and quite deserving of winning the competition.

“Everything you do just draws me in. Your ability is extraordinary and I revel in it all the time. I think the talent you have is exceedingly rare. You are one of the most genuine and loving people I have ever met,” Levine stated.

There was also a light moment as a fan tweeted to Adam if he had picked up the Jamaican accent from spending time with Tessanne. “No mon” he jokingly replied.

The seductive duet with Adam created a social media firestorm. Both clad in black and white, the duo delivered an emotional rendition of The Beatles Let It Be. Adam sprinkled nothing but soul with the guitar he used during the performance. The duo also added a reggae vibe to the song much to the delight of fans.

“Tessanne you and Adam won The Voice beautiful duet hands down.”, “Such a beautiful spirit, I loved it.”, “U got my vote”, “Adam and Tessanne’s duet was the best of all three.” and “Tessanne is the most talented” were just some of the tweets making the social media rounds.

Even British journalist Piers Morgan joined in with a Jamaicanised tweet of “Beat dem bad Tessanne.”

For her final performance of the night, Tessanne once again left the audience speechless. Her rendition of Whitney Houston’s I Have Nothing was flawless, effortless and amazing.

“I have no thoughts right now, just emotions. I keep being thrown off kilter by how you do this. That song was almost impossible to replicate and each time we have to ask where is the ceiling for Tessanne. You continuously blow me away. I know in my mind and in my heart you are the winner of this show,” Adam stated.

 

 
Influential releases ‘suffer’
 
Influential

 

Job Hill Records reggae singer, Influential, knows what it means to suffer. He knows what it means to suffer for your art, having lost his wife and young family through a heart-wrenching divorce.

When he landed his first hit song, Road Hog, he lost his salaried job with a Christian music organisation he had been working with when they said he “wasn’t doing gospel. yuh doing reggae music, and this rasta thing is not going to work”.

“Years later, my wife divorce me because of reggae music. mi see divorce papers come to me, and I have to sign them because mi love her, but I have to let her go so she can live her life. I miss my little young family, but a reggae music mi say a mi greatest passion. mi bleed fi it, mi struggle for it, and mi no really mek no money yet, but mi a spread the message still,” he said.

He taps into that wellspring of pain for his hot new single, Suffer. The track was produced by Oneil ‘Clarkie’ Clarke and Duke ‘Nicko’ Miller for Hitmatic Records/Silly Walks Production. The video for the project has been bankrolled by Job Hill Records, which has inked a management deal with Influential.

“Right now, a Job Hill Records a mek the ting click. The video will be released later this week, and mi just have to give thanks to Mama Elise and DJ Wayne, who a play the Suffer song,” he said.

Influential is not shy about sharing his experiences on record. “The song is based on a personal experience. Yes, life is hard, but at times, it seems it is even harder in this music business that we are in, but no matter what the struggle, one has to soldier on and show perseverance. One cannot give in too easy because the goal could just be around the corner,” he said.

The 29-year-old has been knocking on the doors of stardom for some time now. Born Richard Powell, he is originally from Manchester. His passion for music developed from a young age. His father was involved in music, having played the banjo and the guitar professionally for years. Influential’s foray into music was inevitable.

He made his recording debut in 2005 with the track Drugs And Guns, which was produced by Richard Foster aka Brother Richie from the Platinum Force label. He ignited the imagination of the public with Road Hog, which criticised the reckless drivers who often cause carnage on Jamaican roads.

“That song launched me to the world. With Sonny Spoon and I Wayne, I travelled the world, but I was not able to really earn a lot as a young artiste, but now I am more seasoned in the music, and I have a good management structure, so big things are in store for Influential,” he said.

Other great songs such as Cancer, Black Flag, Summary, One To Love You, Love Idiot, and Principle show that he is able to tackle a variety of topics and is not afraid of social commentary.

“Music must be a medium to convey major emotions. I believe that the message is everything. I am not criticising the catchy songs, but you need solid songs that can reflect the continuing black struggle,” Influential said.

He can be contacted (876) 779-6532 for bookings.

 

 
We Are Massiv., returns to Base Kingston … With Pop Up Shop featuring Major Lazer colab
 
Jason Panton

 
Major Lazer’s Walshy Fire

On Thursday December, 19, 2013, from 4 p.m.- 9p.m., lifestyle brand We Are Massiv. returns to Kingston, Jamaica, for another Pop Up Shop, but this time, featuring an exclusive collaboration with electronic dancehall DJ project, Major Lazer.

“After the success of the first Pop Up Shop with Live from Kingston, Jamaicans grew hungry for another one. With the timing of the Major Lazer and Skrillex show and the collaboration with Massiv., it makes for the perfect time to Pop Up again at Base Kingston,” says Jason Panton, co-owner of Base Kingston and long-time contributor with We Are Massiv.

“Major Lazer was one of the first and longest-running supporters of our brand, so it was only a matter of time that we collaborate, and what better way than a show in Jamaica,” says Nathan Amar, founder and creative director of We Are Massiv.

Fans of the brand can expect an awesome collaboration with Major Lazer called No Bad Mind, as well as a debut of limited number of pieces from We Are Massiv.’s ‘M.’, collection. Major Lazer’s Walshy Fire and Jillionaire will also be at the Pop Up Shop.

Base Kingston, located at Shop #11, Upper Manor Park Plaza, is the first retail outlet for We Are Massiv., and is the only retail location for the clothing line in Jamaica.

 

 
Music is finally paying off for Chyna Nicole
 
Chyna Nicole

It has been 20 years in the making, but for new female reggae sensation Chyna Nicole, the wait has been worth the while.

The ever-smiling songbird, real name Tania Williams, has had a colourful career before fully becoming a recording artiste as she once served as a radio personality on ZIP 103 FM. She also worked at various media outlets in New York, namely Showtime Networks, WNET, VP Records, and Westwood Radio One.

However, since signing a management deal with Fitzroy Francis’ Mightyful13 Records in April of this year, Chyna Nicole’s career has blossomed into something sweet, giving her confidence of a bright future in music.

Her first release, Take Me To The Moon, which was produced by her label, Nico Star Records and Francis, went number five on the New York Top 30, No. 2 on the Tropical TV/World Beat Top 10 Reggae, and number one on the WUMDFM93 Top 10 reggae charts, respectively.

debut album

Her debut album, 20 Years in the Making & Readyfor the World, has been number one for the past two months on the New York Reverbnation Top 10 and at 20 on the Foundation Radio Network Top 20 reggae album charts.

The album, produced by various producers including Francis, was released on her label in September.

Chyna Nicole, has also performed impressively at the Vermont Reggae Fest and the Caribbean Billboard TV 21st anniversary show in New York, respectively.

Chyna Nicole holds down a major in radio-TV-film from Howard University, but it is forming notes when in a music boothe that gives her the most fulfilment.

“Music is the way of life. There is nothing one can do without music. It stands second to none in my life,” said Chyna Nicole, who also worked as an announcer on Irie FM.

Chyna Nicole was also featured on Mightyful13 Records’ tribute album, which was a remix of Cool Operator with Andrew Bees on the Operator2013 Rhythm Velocity, in honour of reggae legends Delroy Wilson and Bunny ‘Striker’ Lee.

 

Merry draw for Trooper, Coppershot
Mel Cooke, STAR Writer

 

 

 

 

 
Magnum All-Star Clash held at the Famous Nightclub in Portmore last Thursday. – Anthony Minott

Sound Trooper and Coppershot battled to a satisfactory draw for all involved last Thursday in the first of two main clashes in the Magnum All-Star $1,000,000 Face Off.

For, as Ricky Trooper pointed out, neither of them could win the league format sound system battle anyway – that was to be decided later when Flava Unit and Redd Heat squared off. However, playing strictly for fun, Sound Trooper and Coppershot still put on a very good show. Maybe not having much to lose contributed to a more relaxed atmosphere, Trooper apologising for his on-stage outburst the week before.

Going second in the opening juggling round, Trooper had fun, smiling, dancing and dropping tunes on the way to taking the opening round convincingly, scoring three points on all three judges’ scorecards, Coppershot taking two points for two judges and one and a half for the third.

And Trooper went on to take all the rounds up to the climatic dub-for-dub, when Coppershot stormed back to draw level, the face-off ending with both contestants on 44.5 points. However, what was striking about Trooper was not only his winning the rounds, but how the command with which he spoke in introducing the songs, especially in the second (Challenge) and third (45) rounds.

 

Sting concert

The sound systems were asked to play three songs from three artistes booked for this year’s Sting concert. Going first, Coppershot played Ninja Man’s Murder Dem, Super Cat’s Ghetto Red Hot and Sizzla’s No Time to Gaze. Ricky Trooper was caustic as he replied.

“Yu see Cutty (Coppershot’s selector), dem no really know da suppen ya. Dis a one a de wicked deejay whe mash up dis. Him deejay pon Jaro, Stereomars,” Trooper said, going on to credit producers Steelie and Clevie before the rhythm dropped and Burru Banton chanted “hey hey” to the audience’s delight.

“Cutty, yu a likkle bway. Yu a uptown sound. A Kilamanjaro mi used to play, bad man sound,” Trooper said. “I gwine teach yu again. “Early ’90s, Ninja Man a run de place, Shabba a run de place, one ugly deejay come bout ya,” he said in introducing Major Mackerel’s Pretty Looks Done. Again Famous went into a frenzy.

He went into his personal history for the last selection of the round, saying that when he was in New York some time ago, a certain deejay advised him to go home in order to get his break. It was more than advice – it was an order, as the entertainer said “Trooper, yu can go home two way, a plane seat or a box. Mi say deejay, mi wi tek de plane seat.”

And with that he played Suuper Cat’s Don Dada.

 

custom-built

Trooper’s ‘teachings’ continued in the 45 round, but he did not have it all his way. In the dub-for-dub, Coppershot opened with a Sean Paul dub, custom-built for Trooper, to be off to a good start. Trooper paid his respects to Sean Paul, but said he had swallowed Super Cat and Junior Cat’s voices, before delivering his response. Coppershot had a Ninja dub in its arsenal and Trooper asked Mackerel to respond on record.

That proved to be the turning point, as Coppershot replied with a stringer Major Mackerel, asking “whe yu head a do unda deh?” Still, Trooper had a response. “Mi a bad man. Mi no eat dem suppen deh. Cutty a uptown yu come from. A uptown people originate eating,” Trooper said, to laughter.

And so they went, back and forth throughout the dub for dub, ending up finally in a draw which they both seemed satisfied with. “I am very happy,” Trooper told the judges. “I can’t win and Cutty can’t win. We draw tonight, we even. Thank you, judges.”

  
Magnum All-Star Clash held at the Famous Nightclub in Portmore last Thursday. – Anthony Minott

Drama group wins 11 awards in barbados
 
Team Jamaica poses with their awards from the Caribbean Schools’ Drama Festival in Barbados. – Contributed

The Jamaican production of ‘Wi Love Wi Self’, directed by Akeem Mignott, walked away with 11 major awards, including that of Best Overall Performance, at the recently concluded Caribbean Schools’ Drama Festival held in Christ Church, Barbados.

The young Jamaican thespians also received awards for Best Ensemble acting, Most Creative presentation and Best Set Design. Outstanding Actress award went to Mandie Salmon of Jamaica while Mignott won the award for Outstanding Director.

Eleven students from several local high schools across the island represented Jamaica at the Caribbean Festival (December 8-15) with participants from seven other countries including: Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Bermuda, Barbados, Guyana, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago.

The Jamaican delegation included six students from Ardenne High School (Jomo Dixon, Darian Reid, Johnique Francis, Chantae Martin, Jonathan Dwyer and Jadon-John Barton-Williams) as well as students from Munro College (Mandie Salmon) Mona High (Teona Wesley), Black River High (Jevone Andy) and Waterford High (Oleta Livermore and Raheem Wallace).

workshops

While in Barbados, the Jamaican contingent also performed for students at the Alexandra School in the Saint Peter district and participated in cultural workshops and a Caribbean Youth Forum on Caribbean Single Market Initiative and Theatre Arts in the region.

The 2013 Caribbean Schools’ Drama Festival was organised by the Barbados Association of Drama Educators. The Jamaican delegation was led by playwright Aston Cooke, who serves as facilitator of the Jamaica Youth Theatre, and the trip to the festival was made possible by sponsorship from the CHASE Fund.

 
LIME Portmore Christmas fun Day
 
Even Santa Claus was impressed by the amount of credit Sherie Rowe-Hayes (centre) had on her LIME handset as she collected a brand-new Huawei 210 from Courtney Bell, community projects manager, LIME.

Highlights from the LIME Portmore Christmas fun day held on Sunday, December 8. The telecommunications company hosted a Christmas fun day for the children of the Portmore community at the Bridgeport High School.

 

(Contributed photos)

 
Stephen Miller, sponsorship manager, LIME, showed off his hooping skills as he, too, indulged in some of the fun activities at the LIME Christmas Fun Day.

 
Female patron of the LIME Portmore Christmas Fun Day, Kadie Mundel, tries her hand at the ring toss challenge. Scores of families turned out at the Bridgeport High School recently.

 
Britaneke Campbell seemed pleased upon visiting Santa Claus’s booth at the LIME Portmore Christmas Fun Day.

 
Kevin Brooks, two-time winner of the basketball challenge at the LIME Portmore Christmas fun day, collecting a gift basket from Stephen Miller, sponsorship manager, LIME.

 
LIME’s Sponsorship Manager, Stephen Miller, poses with young talent Little Ice after his performance of his LIME jingle for patrons of the LIME Portmore Christmas Fun Day.

 

 
Future Fambo delivers at Mavado’s birthday bash
 
From left, DJ Kenny, Fambo, and promotions guru, Andrew Powell. – Contributed

It was a performance that many never expected. Dancehall artiste Future Fambo delivered an exciting performance at Mavado’s birthday bash on Saturday night at the Famous nightclub in Portmore, St Catherine.

Fambo earned one of the biggest forwards of the night when he shot on stage with the chart- topping hit Rum And Redbull. He upped the ante when he delivered the inescapable Drunken Dance, This Life (featuring Mavado) andNever Sober.

With his campaign now in high gear, Fambo is ready to take his share of the pie on the music scene.

He recently released the singles Live Tonight, which was produced by Not Nice Records; and Children Are The Future.

Fambo, who shot on to the musical radar in the early 1990s as a member of Courtney Cole’s Roof International label, has scored a number of hits over the years. These include Kung Fu, China Mi Live, and WTF (Swaggin, featuring Wayne Marshall and Tifa).

 

 

 

Alex Quake
Alex Quake
BITVoxy's Gaming Editor and Simulations Games fan.

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