Artist Oriana sent me her newly released video. Please take the time to view and give her some feedback on her work...
Message to Canadian Reggae Artists Each of you and I have had nuff conversation in the past about the state of reggae music and how difficult it is and has been to break through to the mainstream market place or the ability of inability to effectively grow the genre in the over 50 years that we have been doing it in Canada. Why make music? Why bother? There is zero airplay on radio and the bits we receive on community radio does what exactly? Well, I believe that live performances are where it is at. This is the “why” we make music. When we perform, we sell our wares! Now we get to the “show”. Who actually makes a living performing at shows or makes a living from the revenue generated from all of the shows that we do? I can answer that real quick and the correct answer is no one! All of you are aware of my work over the years and I am a HUGE fan of live reggae and have support or promoted your works, jams, flyers or careers over the past couple of decades. What I see is that it has not changed much with folks attending live shows much basically because most of us do not have the proper marketing budgets to go find and to go get those 2 million or so reggae fans in Toronto. Yes I said 2 million! They are out there! And they wish to come to live shows and to be properly entertained, which many of you are capable of doing. Based on either ignorance (meaning lack of knowledge) or a proper infrastructure, we are still chasing our own tails as it pertains to promoting successfully. For me, it is fairly simple as in everything, it is a numbers game. The more people we tell, the more people will know. If a person hears about a show from 2, 3, 5, 10 or 20 people, they are more likely to be intrigued by it and possibly attend when trusted friends and companions talk it loud and proud. This is NOT a solution to our larger problem but it is a necessary step as if the average fan feels that we have pride enough to support our own music as well as that of our peers, they will share the same pride in the work. UNITY We speak of unity or lack thereof constantly and point to it as the reason for our ‘downfall’ yet we are still subscribe to the ‘lone ranger’ approach. My song, my career, my gig, my performance…my, my, my, my… Well, I am reaching out to all of you to make some change in our approach which takes no skin off no guys nose. PROMOTE EACH OTHER! What? What you mean “promote each other”? Simple mates… If Jason Wilson has a show, tell all of your friends. When Kidd Rasta has a gig, you and Jason, or Blessed, or IBADAN, or Mountain Edge, or Donna Makeda OR ANYONE has a show, WE ALL PROMOTE IT TO OUR PERSONAL NETWORKS! That is what I am talking about the numbers game. The more folks speak, the more folks will know. Yes we will have crossover and similar friends but we all know a TON of people that the other guy or girl does not know. It is that simple! What can I tell you massive? I man will not stop doing this, but I do need more help and truthfully, we only have each other. We are becoming dinosaur as it pertains to live! The players of instruments in reggae music have dwindled on a worldwide basis as well here in Canada. If we do not make this stand now, we will soon be extinct. In which case that is the Father’s will and we all move out to pasture. I for one am making a stand! I am hoping that some here will ‘see the light’! This is not some utopian idea. It is about cooperation in order to succeed. It is called ‘business’! Many of us say that we are in the music business and do nothing about the ‘business’ aspect of things. I am asking us all to step up! Pass this on to others if you agree and believe as I do... 
Delroy pictured here with long time friend Mark Steele... Sweet (Teresa Castelluci) Tee in the background...
Delroy “Speedy” Sterling One is never prepared for what seems like a sudden passing. We spent time together, promoting the music that we love. Reggae music! Delroy loved reggae music. He was happiest being a part of a live show when international artists were in concert, where he was a part of the organization. Speedy would definitely live up to his name. He’d dart back and forth talking to one person or the other and the speed of his speech would increase as the event went on…lol… Seventeen (17) years on radio at CHRY 105.5FM, his show Mix Supreme displayed his love for reggae as like all community radio personalities his work was volunteer. He played reggae music! He revered the music and like many before him, Delroy’s life was reggae music. This soldier was a part of a movement that elevated the genre in Canada and as a friend and peer I am well proud to have rubbed shoulders with him. Rest In Peace Speedy Opportunities are made or they get made! In this current era of radio we're blessed with possible opportunities. Congratulations to Fitzroy Gordon and the staff of G98.7fm for putting a quality program to the airwaves which is somewhat apart from the current anemic mainstream crap that we have been forced to swallow for decades now. Nothing sweeter than hearing a tune from the 50s, 60s, 70s to the 2000s within the same mix! Good music is good music, no matter the era and some tunes are easily timeless so can be played with any good song from any other time. It is an inspiration to understand the fight and struggles this station underwent to get on air and that perseverance should serve as a beacon for all within this community. We have a station that knows good music because we hear them play great tunes everyday even before the station went live. Anyone that I have turned on to this station does not leave it. I for one am truly impressed. Now, if I were performing reggae music in Toronto or anywhere in Canada for that matter, I would certainly submit my tunes to this station. If the tune is any good, I am fairly sure that it will see some positive air time. Now, the real qualifier is “good music”! Not because one submits means that it has to get played! I have personally heard some of the songs submitted by artists in Canada and some of it truly is not up to snuff, yet there are others that are of a very high caliber yet never see air time as the artists believe it to be futile to submit their tunes. Well, I’ll do some work for those good tunes as I’d love to hear them on the airwaves so here is where you find all of the information that you may need, http://g987fm.com/reach-us/. I am NOT placing the responsibility for the upgrade of a reggae infrastructure squarely on the shoulders of G98.7 as they have a mandate to stay on air and pay bills so getting airplay with them does not automatically ensure ‘stardom’ or fame and fortune. The artist /s must be willing to do performances, reaching out to newer audiences that are listening to their tunes on air. Live performances need a resurgence and www.canadianreggaeworld.com, CRW will be hosting more and more live shows so check the ‘gallery’ area on the website for upcoming events by CRW as well as other artists and selectas in the city. It is my hope to have the website cater to all cities and provinces in Canada! In support of an infrastructure, Rebel Vibes on CHRY 105.5fm, hosted by Carrie Mullings, airs every Monday morning and as much music as she has, she could use even more. The show plays 100% Canadian produced reggae music. Another outlet for promotion is http://torontoreggae.ca/ which also boasts a Facebook page. A fast growing entity, doing an outstanding job of promoting reggae events in the city, is currently being underused by our community. The ‘opportunities’ are there now more than ever before. Let us make the best of what we have. JuLion www.canadianreggaeworld.com Folks ask me about a “reggae scene” constantly as if I were the expert on this or something. Well, I got news for you, I am not! I am a fan, just like you. I have complained myself as well. I want a cool reggae vibe to go chill. So this fan is trying to make a difference. What a thing if there were another 500,000 just like me? Based on what I have witnessed, there are far greater numbers of reggae fans all over Canada. What we seem to lack is proper communication! We seek one specific place to go and find where the “hot spots” are from city to city, province to province. For those in Toronto, affiliated with Facebook, there is a very helpful source, Torontoreggae that not only post gigs but gives visuals of many parts of reggae culture. Those of you not on FB, CRW will be the source to bring reggae to the nation’s masses as best as we can. We will endeavor to corral the information within the genre. A small concern of mine, as a sometimes-promoter, we go the effort of putting together weekly events only to have folks show up sparingly, thinking that since it is a weekly thing, you will get to it next week, or next week or the one after that. As the promoter, artist, selecta or DJ has a responsibility to put the shows out there, the fan has a responsibility to show up! The common question after a time is, “What ever happened to such and such? I really meant to go.” Well my people it is no longer there because we “always meant to go” and never went. We all have a ‘reggae responsibility’ as ‘the system’ is at work constantly, denying or natures to celebrate this rebellious music, so we must exercise greater perseverance to elevating this unstoppable culture. Take the time to pass on to other reggae heads. For some of the reggae artists’ performing in this country, the common pet peeve seems to be that fans, radio personalities and selectas don’t show them love because these folks are “fighting them down” by not supporting their musical efforts. What I would ask said artists is, “Is your tune /s blowing up anywhere else?” If the answer is yes then you have a point but pursue the opportunities open to you and grow them. Nothing like proving your point by saying, “My track is #1 in Germany, Japan, Kenya, Jamaica or where ever”. If the answer is no that your tune isn’t a hit anywhere else, then go back to the drawing board and bring something worth playing or listening to. If Canadians aren’t feeling your tune, maybe it isn’t very good? We’ve got to stop listening to close friends and immediate family about our songs! They are lying to you! Hence, you are lying to yourself! Music is pure! It either moves you or it doesn’t! No politics, nothing personal! Just the music! Stop making it about anything else to mask the real truth. When we can finally admit this, the quality of might elevate, or face the reality that you do not “have it”. Because you love a thing does not mean that you are automatically good at it? There are talented singers and songwriters here in Canada. Unfortunately, based on the fact that these artists gig more frequently, we don’t hear their new offerings as much as the ones who stay at home, uploading their tunes all over the internet. Due to ‘political correctness’ we do not honestly tell these people to stop inundating us with their crap. Well, I’m going to cool on the politics and call it as I see / hear it. Let the talent come through as I know we have the artists to do so. Yes, I’m at it again! Ranting and raving about something else. The quick question to me would be, “Can you sing or write music?” and my quick answer would be, “Definitely not!” What I seek is a truer representation of the music by fans and artists alike. After 40 years with zero consistency of celebrating this music, or effectively creating an infrastructure for paying our artists properly – encouraging them to continue their solid works – there comes time for change. I don’t know if I have the right answer / s but what I certainly do know, it is time for upliftment! I wish to dance and celebrate with those who feel it the same. No complicated ideologies or fights or contention. Just a realness to be shared! I’m working on that. Start blogging by creating a new post. You can edit or delete me by clicking under the comments. You can also customize your sidebar by dragging in elements from the top bar.
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