Category: Entertainment News

Dreaming sweet for KVY

Staff

  For KVY (pronounced Kay), it’s a veritable coming from the wings into the spotlight. While growing up in east Kingston, KVY used to hang around her father while he created music. Later on, he invited her to sing harmonies on some of the songs that he recorded. “My father had a studio when I was growing up, he used to write and record his own songs, and had me sing harmonies on his songs, that was when he realised that I could sing all the different parts without being…

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Macka Diamond excited about brand ambassador deal with Wal-Mart

Staff

It was a pinch-me-to-prove-that-it’s-real moment for dancehall veteran Macka Diamond when her team told her that they had signed off on a brand partnership deal with her and retail giant, Wal-Mart. “Wal-Mart! You mean Wal-Mart that’s up the street from where we are right now? Onnu a joke or wha’? That was my first response. I remember Gianni [team member] told me that he had some news for me, but he wanted to see me in person. Add that was the news,” the girl from the Diamond District shared, still…

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Gramps Morgan bowls over St. Kitts Music Festival

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Veteran singer Gramps Morgan says his stint at the recently held St Kitts Music Festival lived up to his expectations. “It’s always great to perform solo in the Caribbean, I don’t get to do it much and the songs do so well, but this festival is truly one of the best in the Caribbean, hands down. They are taking it very seriously; production was incredible and makes it a lot for artistes to bring their best,” he told the Jamaica Observer. Morgan performed on June 24 at the Warner Park…

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Grammy eligibility period extended

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Artists planning to submit music for the 66th Grammy Awards have until September 15 to do so. The extension was announced by the Recording Academy on April 6. The submission deadline was previously August 31. In a statement, Harvey Mason Jr, the Academy’s CEO, addressed the date change. “A few weeks ago we communicated a change to the eligibility period for the 66th Grammy Awards,” referring to the March announcement that the Grammys had adjusted their eligibility period to start on October 1 2022 to August 31 2023. “After listening…

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Sumfest Marks Milestone

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THIS year Reggae Sumfest celebrates its 30th anniversary and principal Josef Bogdanovich is promising a memorable occasion. “Thirty years is an important milestone, and we intend to make this festival our most memorable yet,” said Bogdanovich. “We have had some of the greatest reggae stars on the Reggae Sumfest stage over the past several years, and 2023 promises to be more exceptional,” he continued. The event is scheduled for the Catherine Hall Entertainment Complex in Montego Bay from Sunday, July 16, to Saturday, July 22. “The team is already working…

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Marcia & Turbulence Spent Time

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Marcia Griffiths recently teamed up with Turbulence for Time Away. Released a week ago, Time Away is produced by Donsome Records LLC. “I have done a lot of collaborations over the years, but this one stands out for me. Come on, this is the queen of reggae we are talking about, and the song is sweet, sexy, and relaxing. It talks about taking a break from work to be together with that special someone, and lovers who work hard can easily relate to this song,” Turbulence told the Jamaica Observer.…

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Rain couldn’t stop ‘jam’ at First Light Breakfast Cooler Party

Staff

The refrain from Edwin Yearwood’s Ultimate Party , ‘No rain can’t stop this jam’ rang true for those attending the First Light Breakfast Cooler Party. Even with mud caked on their feet, patrons continued to party with wild abandon on the soaked grounds of the Rockfield St Lucy location as they welcomed the new year. The crowd was massive and their determination to party was evident as they braved the rains and gusty winds waiting to gain entry to the venue. With a host of popular deejays on the show,…

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Alkaline models for Givenchy

Staff

JAMAICAN deejay Alkaline has been featured in French luxury fashion and perfume house Givenchy’s SS22 campaign. The news of the achievement began making rounds on social media on Monday, where the deejay was seen clad in black, courtesy of photo director Matthew William. This comes less than a year after several of his songs were featured on the Haute Paris runway during the first major collection of Paris Fashion Week’s menswear season last June. The dancehall star worked on the show’s soundtrack, and video footage emerged of his hit song,…

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DJ Mac making musical strides

Staff

Twenty-three-year-old Jason “DJ Mac” McDowell is certainly making a name for himself in the dancehall arena. Last year, the St George’s College and Jamaica College old boy co-produced Jahshii’s Born Fighter which has more than 23 million views on YouTube. “The success from the song has definitely changed how I am viewed as a young producer. More people have reached out to do more work, immense opportunities have come my way and it has also opened the gate for me to be respected in the music industry,” DJ Mac told…

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Blackwell, the icon

Staff

WHEN the Music Business Worldwide (MBW) A&R Awards are handed out today at London’s Abbey Road Studios, Chris Blackwell, legendary co-founder of Island Records, will be on hand to accept the A&R Icon award. Blackwell will be presented with the award in front of more than 500 music industry executives, artistes and entrepreneurs. The UK-focused awards are made up of a mix of independent and major professionals across labels, management and publishing. The awards, which are divided into three category groups, will be judged on a combination of commercial, critical…

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