SOME ENTERTAINERS ARE HERE TODAY, GONE TOMORROW. RG MAGAZINE SPEAKS WITH THREE PERFORMERS WHO HAVE GRACED THE LOCAL STAGE FOR THE PAST TWO (OR MORE) DECADES.

My Introduction To Music
I was brought up in a musical family. My father was a piano player, so I was raised in that world. He opened one of the Island’s first big nightclubs, The Forty Thieves Club, in 1962 when I was 11-years-old. I watched all that magic unfold as a kid, seeing all these amazing people come to perform in Bermuda. I also studied classical piano from age six, but after going off to school in England and discovering The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, I decided to pick up the guitar instead.

How I Began My Performing Career
I followed in my father’s footsteps and began running clubs on the Island after university. Then in 1989, my father packed it all up and sold his club to go live in Florida. I thought ‘What can I do next?’. I fell back on playing music at places like Hawkins Island throughout the 1990s. Then in 2000, I started Bermuda.com, which was my day job and would play performing gigs at night. I’ve been playing professionally for the last two decades and seen lots of success with the band, The Big Chill, which was formed by myself and Felix Tod in 2012. First, we had Joy Barnum on lead vocals, then Kassie Caines and now Jesse Seymour.

Changes I’ve Seen To The Entertainment Industry
One thing my father always taught me was ‘It’s not about what you like, it’s what the people like’. You have to figure out what the market wants. With The Big Chill, we play a lot of modern music, which I find to be quite repetitive and formulaic, but people like it. If I played rock and roll, chances are people probably wouldn’t come out. Another change I’ve seen is people using modern technology like tracks and synthesizers. Even big-name artists like Shaggy go on tour with a DJ. People’s lifestyles in Bermuda have also changed. They choose to stay in and watch Netflix because the cost of living in Bermuda is high, and people can’t afford to go out as much.

My Introduction To Music
I grew up attending the New Testament Church of God on Curving Avenue every Sunday. One particular weekend, the North Village Band came to our church and played a selection of music. I remember being very impressed and noticed quite a few young players there. That evening at dinner I said to my mom ‘I want to play the guitar’. She called a music teacher she knew, who encouraged me to play the saxophone instead. The following Christmas, my father, bought me a sax. I started taking lessons when I was 10-years-old.

How I Began My Performing Career
During high school at The Berkeley Institute, there was a band called NTS that a lot of great young musicians came out of, from the Hinds brothers, to Grant Williams, Barrett Dill and Kevin Richardson. Most of the guys went on to play music in some capacity. I was part of it and through that got to perform at various venues. I was paid $50 for one gig, which for me was awesome – to get paid for something I love to do. From there, I joined a couple of other bands, then went off to study at Bowie State University and Berklee College of Music. I came back to Bermuda and have been performing and teaching ever since.

Changes I’ve Seen To The Entertainment Industry
In this industry, you have to be open to change. The music industry is constantly growing and evolving, and if you want to stay in the game, and make money from it, you have to change right along with it. I’ve found that technology has become a big part of music production and performances in Bermuda. I’ve also seen a change in how live entertainment is perceived on the Island. Restaurants that hire live musicians do so to create an atmosphere. The food is the focus and music is secondary. I’m grateful that at least it is still present in some capacity. Going forward, I’d like to see more entertainers from my era, giving back and mentoring the youth so we can revive live entertainment in Bermuda.

My Introduction To Music
My journey in the performing arts began in high school at the Berkeley Institute as a member of the choir and theatre groups. Later in life, I developed a yearning to evolve my “gift”. A pivotal moment arose when I auditioned for the Greg Thompson Review and was successful in getting a lead singing role. It was a show that ran five nights a week at the Southampton Princess, which albeit led to some vocal injury, but provided the impetus for me to receive the tutelage of vocal lessons and classical training with wonderful teachers such as our own Ruzelda Severin.

How I Began My Performing Career
Music and the arts, in general, have always been in my life, and I was fortunate to have parents who exposed me to diverse genres of music in our home. Gregarious by nature, as a young dancer with the Jackson’s School of Dance, I was introduced to the stage. It was through dance and theatre that I developed the confidence and affinity to perform. My inspiration has emanated from a range of performers, and no doubt I, as an ‘old soul’ have a love of the iconic jazz singers like Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, Shirley Horn and Nancy Wilson, to name a few. I’ve had many magical moments in my over 30 years of performing, however, without question, my most memorable performance was at the Bermuda Music Festival in 2009, being on stage with the legendary Quincy Jones and his orchestra. That is etched in my soul for eternity.

Changes I’ve Seen To The Entertainment Industry
The electronic era has diminished the need for the full band; hence we do not have the advantage of hearing music in its fullest context, i.e. the Trios and Quartets of old. Economics is a driving force as it relates to the investment capacity that promoters, hoteliers etc. are willing to expend for entertainment. Thus it is incumbent upon ourselves as entertainers to develop an entrepreneurial approach to present our artistry to the masses and create the narrative of the value of local entertainment for our visitors and the local community alike.

The post Test of time appeared first on RG Magazines.

Charity executive director by day. Band member by night. The Bermuda Festival’s David Skinner discusses the changes he’s seen in Bermuda’s performing arts scene over the last two decades.

First involvement with the Bermuda Festival?
I started with the Festival in 2014 as a volunteer board member and treasurer. By June 2015, the Festival had gone through a strategic planning exercise whereby one of the conclusions made was it needed to have an Executive Director. They had never had anyone in that position before, so I became the first.

How was your personal interest for the arts sparked?
I always say I was predisposed to music early on in life. My grandfather was a singer, and there was always music around the house. By age 12, I decided I was going to be the fifth member of The Beatles. That never worked out, however, I did pick up the guitar and have played it semi-professionally for a number of years.

Biggest change in the local arts scene over the past 20 years?
In the early 1970s, there was a lot of live entertainment in Bermuda, although not so much in the way of formal music education. The irony is that today it’s almost reversed. There is a variety of musical training or acting programmes, especially in the schools; however, the number of opportunities to perform have seriously declined. My hope is that the performing arts scene can continue to grow, and as the tourism industry picks up steam, other opportunities will arise for people to work professionally in the arts.

The Festival’s hope to move the arts scene forward?
The Festival would like to see the arts more widely valued in our community. We hope to attract younger audiences and to have a good balance between visiting and local artists. It’s impressive the number of locals who have gone on to enjoy international careers in the arts like Rebecca Faulkenberry, Heather Nova, Ben Lusher, Nicholas Christopher, Jason Eddy and others. All of these people come out of a tiny community of 60,000 people, which is almost unheard of. In 2020 alone, we will welcome Krystal Lowe (Ballet Cymru), Rikkai Scott (opening for Dayton Contemporary Dance Company) and Rowan Vickers (producing and directing Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie). We also have many of Bermuda’s best musicians opening the shows.

Accomplishment you’re most proud of?
We’re extremely proud to have diversified our programme and to be able to reach a wide cross-section of Bermuda’s demographic. We believe the Festival ought to serve the entire community, and over the last few years, we’ve made some significant progress. For 2020, the theme is ‘Come Together’, which signifies how the arts can unite people by transcending language, racial and political barriers.

Performances over the years that stand out most?
The ones that provoke thought and stimulate healthy dialogue. I immediately think of performances like The Mountaintop play and Nina Simone: Four Women. Some of the comments we heard in surveys and anecdotally was it made people feel a bit uncomfortable. That’s what art is supposed to do. It’s not just a pretty melody. It should make you feel something. And if our shows create some sort of introspection, make people examine their true feelings towards themselves or the world, then I’d say that’s a good outcome.

The post The sound of Music appeared first on RG Magazines.

Jack Hartman Kids Music Channel

475k subscribers

Learn counting, numbers, reading, language skills, nursery rhymes, science, physical fitness, dance and movement through music styles such as pop, hip-hop, latin, country and rock.

The Kiboomers

585k subscribers

The originators of the ‘Freeze Dance’ that has 53 million views on YouTube sing over 500 songs about holidays, math, animals and more.

Kidz Bop

1.1M subscribers

The #1 music brand for kids has been around since 2001 and features videos of kids performing popular songs.

Pinkfong!

16M subscribers

The Baby Shark challenge went viral last year with 2.4 billion views showing that Pinkfong! Are experts when it comes to cool and educational kids songs.

Which channel is your favourite?

This article was originally published in the 2019 edition of the RG Kids Magazine.

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Maya Palacio

Maya is a journalism student in Nova Scotia, who has found her voice in the midst of our island’s political space. She often breaks down and speaks about current issues, starting conversations that often wouldn’t happen, especially within the younger crowd.

She recently launched her podcast “Bermudity”, which is set to touch on the struggles and experiences Bermudians go through, emphasizing on the younger generation. It is a very interesting conversation on topics and issues that often go unaddressed.

Follow her at @mayapalacio

Rael Iman

The makeup artist behind Iman Artistry has been around for a while now, and her craft just keeps getting better. Alongside her makeup services, she has also ventured into classes and even her own eyelash line. Her growing success comes as no surprise — talent, a great work ethic and innovation are behind her brand. She’s a great example of a Bermudian pursuing her passion, regardless of how limited opportunities can sometimes be on the island.

Follow her at @iman.atistry 

Jayde Gibbons

Jayde is the photographer behind Queendom Heights. She is switching things up from the typical pink sand and white roof shots we’re used to, capturing Bermuda in a more authentic light through her lens. It is truly refreshing to see a change in what many think art is “supposed to look like”, and rather seeing artists explore their craft following their own rules. Authentic is definitely the word to describe Queendom Heights.

Follow her at @queendom_heights

Harry Scupham

Harry is another photographer to keep an eye out. His Instagram page @dirty_angels_, with over 40 thousand followers, is filled with unique photography and a taste of his undeniable talent, it makes it hard to believe he’s so young. We can’t wait to see Harry’s craft evolve over time.

Follow him at @dirty_angels_

Nkosi Hollis

This Bermudian singer has been showcasing his craft online for a few years now. What started as covers on YouTube has evolved into releasing his own fully produced original work. Music not only requires talent but also resources, which are limited in Bermuda, which is why it is so encouraging to see young artists push through barriers and seeing their ideas come to life. He is set to lease an EP soon, so keep an eye out for Nkosi.

Follow him at @nkosimusic

The post 5 young Bermudians to keep on your radar appeared first on RG Magazines.

Photography by Akil Simmons

Desmond Smith is a saxophonist who can still feel the rhythms of old Bermuda in the beat of his walk. He takes us back to a simpler time in music. For him, a lifestyle became a passion, and here he celebrates the people who helped him to succeed, despite his gradual loss of sight. 

How did you get into music?

I came up around the seaside. My friends and I were avid percussionists.

We used to play congas on garbage cans, we made flutes out of bamboo and drumsticks out of cane sticks, or whatever we could find.

The African rhythm was in me. In my early teens, kids in the neighbourhood decided to start a band together – back then, starting a band was the easy way out of mischief.

In the late 70s, we listened to a lot of Latin Jazz – that music was timeless. There wasn’t any reggae playing everywhere as you see now. Growing up, we listened to Mandrill, they were an American multi-genre band formed in Brooklyn, New York City. Do you know Worlds of Ghetto? “War” was a funk band from California that we loved.

Who supported your passion?

The most supportive person was my cousin, Emily Brangman, who backed the loan for me to buy my first saxophone (It was Selmer Mark 6). She had me work it off for the next two years (over $1000) by giving me my first job at Cambridge Beaches. I ended up playing music at Cambridge Beaches full-time, and the rest is history.

What are the changes that you’ve seen?

As discotheques came in, things got really slow. People didn’t want to hear Latin Jazz anymore. I started to play more at weddings and functions. When reggae came in, though, things started to pick up again.

How does it feel to be on stage? Is it easy now?

It’s a great feeling to make people happy. It was Cecil “Pot” Gilbert who taught me that the better you get, the humbler you get. I’ve taken a lot of lessons: I took my first flute lesson from Maxwell Maybury; Gandy Burgess lived at the hotel when I was playing there and I learned so much from him; then Rags Richardson gave me lessons from ages 18-20 years old. I also learned how to repair instruments from Jack Unque who worked at JMC Music Corp in New Jersey. I could do it really well, too! Until I started to lose my sight in my 40s. I used to be a carpenter and was struck in the eye, a few times. I stay positive though. At least I knew colour and could see at one point.

How do you get by with little sight?

Sometimes you can get away with basic things. The good thing is that I don’t need my eyes to play music. As long as I’m on my saxophone, I don’t need to see. For places that I know, I can memorise the space. If you bump into something once, you never bump into it again!

What are you doing now?

I have my own production company – Celestial Productions. I want to celebrate more Bermudian artists for their talent. We’re looking to mix top local entertainers with foreign entertainers, so instead of just having the Bermudians open up the big shows, they will all play together.

This article was originally published in the Spring 2019 edition of RG Magazine.

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Their promotional video was shot on a private island in the Bahamas, Norman Cay, where the festival was set to originally take place, and consisted of top influencers running on the beach, partying on a yacht, and overall having a good time. The video wasn’t giving much detail of what the festival was or what you could expect, but it looked fun. Who doesn’t want to party in the Bahamas surrounded by beautiful women?

For a couple thousand dollars, that could be you. This video, along with a marketing campaign involving top models like Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid promoting the festival, made the fantasy an easy sell. Fyre had it all.

In reality, all they really had was a great marketing team — the brains behind one of the most popular accounts on Instagram, Jerry Media (or F*ckJerry).

The actual festival? It was built on a lie.

A couple weeks before the event was set to take place, there was a last-minute site change from a private Island previously owned by the infamous Pablo Escobar to the not so private Great Exuma, no set line-up, and an understaffed and inexperienced team that knew they were heading towards ridicule.

But fantasy was bigger than the lie. As long as it looked real, that’s all that mattered, sound familiar? Social media sites like Instagram are merely a place to consume entertainment and share sporadic pictures here and there. But for a growing number of people, the site can be a place for insecurities grow.

We now live in a world where people sell work-out plans after having numerous cosmetic procedures, and pay to rent private jets that don’t leave the runway so they can have a photoshoot. Feeds are no longer a collection of in-the-moment shots but rather carefully curated galleries, and people are making six and seven figure salaries off one platform alone.

The problem with this illusion is that we often forget that what we are consuming is not real, half of those beautiful individuals are a result of the right lighting, angles, professionals behind the camera, editing software, and sometimes, plain deception courtesy of apps like Facetune and Photoshop.

It’s unattainable, most people behind those pictures don’t look like that in “real-life”. But the average person is not thinking about the elaborate process behind that influencer’s picture, we simply admire the final product and allow comparison to slip in. Is my life not exciting enough? Am I not attractive enough? How has this teenager accomplished more than I probably will in the next decade?

Beyond all the jokes that surfaced online, Fyre Festival was the perfect example of how far people are willing to go to keep up appearances in order to stay connected (and how fast a viral picture of a cheese sandwich can expose your scam to the world). Guests were completely unaware of the disaster they were headed to, because of the lie that they were sold, just like most of us aren’t aware that most people’s lives are just as average as ours, despite what their Instagram profile might show.

Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Comparison is the thief of joy”, so from this disaster, I hope we can all remember that comparing our hardships to other’s curated highlight reels will always feel belittling. We are more often than not consuming content for entertainment purposes, not a realistic portrayal of somebody’s life.

The post Here’s What We Can Learn from the Fyre Documentaries appeared first on RG Magazines.

15-time Grammy Award winning artist, Alicia Keys will take on music’s biggest night for the first time as announced by CBS and the Recording Academy on Tuesday, January 15.

“I know what it feels like to be on that stage, and I’m going to bring that vibe and energy,” Keys said in a statement. “I’m so excited to be the master of ceremonies on the biggest night in music and celebrate the creativity, power and magic. I’m especially excited for all the incredible women nominated this year! It’s going ‘UP’ on February 10!”

Alicia gets personal, allowing fans to see her receive the news about the offer as well as the reaction from her family in a video posted to her official YouTube channel.

Check out the video below:

Click here to enter our ‘Guess the Grammys’ online music contest for a chance to win tickets to see 10-time Grammy Award winning artist, Chaka Khan live in Bermuda at the Bermuda Festival of the Performing Arts on February 16.

The post Alicia Keys to host 2019 Grammys appeared first on RG Magazines.

Here are some of the nominees for this year’s Grammy Awards:

General Field

1. Record Of The Year

Award to the Artist and to the Producer(s), Recording Engineer(s) and/or Mixer(s) and mastering engineer(s), if other than the artist.

• I LIKE IT
  Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin
  Invincible, JWhiteDidIt, Craig Kallman & Tainy, producers; Leslie Brathwaite, Kuk Harrell & Evan LaRay, engineers/mixers; Colin Leonard, mastering engineer
• THE JOKE
  Brandi Carlile
  Dave Cobb & Shooter Jennings, producers; Tom Elmhirst & Eddie Spear, engineers/mixers; Pete Lyman, mastering engineer
• THIS IS AMERICA
  Childish Gambino
  Donald Glover & Ludwig Goransson, producers; Derek “MixedByAli” Ali, Riley Mackin & Shaan Singh, engineers/mixers; Mike Bozzi, mastering engineer
• GOD’S PLAN
  Drake
  Boi-1Da, Cardo & Young Exclusive, producers; Noel Cadastre, Noel “Gadget” Campbell & Noah Shebib, engineers/mixers; Chris Athens, mastering engineer
• SHALLOW
  Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper
  Lady Gaga & Benjamin Rice, producers; Brandon Bost & Tom Elmhirst, engineers/mixers; Randy Merrill, mastering engineer
• ALL THE STARS
  Kendrick Lamar & SZA
  Al Shux & Sounwave, producers; Sam Ricci & Matt Schaeffer, engineers/mixers; Mike Bozzi, mastering engineer
• ROCKSTAR
  Post Malone Featuring 21 Savage
  Louis Bell & Tank God, producers; Louis Bell, Lorenzo Cardona, Manny Marroquin & Ethan Stevens, engineers/mixers; Mike Bozzi, mastering engineer
• THE MIDDLE
  Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey
  Grey, Monsters & Strangerz & Zedd, producers; Grey, Tom Norris, Ryan Shanahan & Zedd, engineers/mixers; Mike Marsh, mastering engineer

2. Album Of The Year

Award to Artist(s) and to Featured Artist(s), Songwriter(s) of new material, Producer(s), Recording Engineer(s), Mixer(s) and Mastering Engineer(s) credited with at least 33% playing time of the album, if other than Artist.

• INVASION OF PRIVACY
  Cardi B
  Leslie Brathwaite & Evan LaRay, engineers/mixers; Belcalis Almanzar & Jorden Thorpe, songwriters; Colin Leonard, mastering engineer
• BY THE WAY, I FORGIVE YOU
  Brandi Carlile
  Dave Cobb & Shooter Jennings, producers; Dave Cobb & Eddie Spear, engineers/mixers; Brandi Carlile, Phil Hanseroth & Tim Hanseroth, songwriters; Pete Lyman, mastering engineer
• SCORPION
  Drake
  Noel Cadastre, Noel “Gadget” Campbell & Noah Shebib, engineers/mixers; Aubrey Graham & Noah Shebib, songwriters; Chris Athens, mastering engineer
• H.E.R.
  H.E.R.
  Darhyl “Hey DJ” Camper Jr, David ‘Swagg R’Celious’ Harris, H.E.R., Walter Jones & Jeff Robinson, producers; Miki Tsutsumi, engineer/mixer; Darhyl Camper Jr & H.E.R., songwriters; Dave Kutch, mastering engineer
• BEERBONGS & BENTLEYS
  Post Malone
  Louis Bell & Post Malone, producers; Louis Bell & Manny Marroquin, engineers/mixers; Louis Bell & Austin Post, songwriters; Mike Bozzi, mastering engineer
• DIRTY COMPUTER
  Janelle Monáe
  Chuck Lightning & Janelle Monáe Robinson & Nate “Rocket” Wonder, producers; Mick Guzauski, Janelle Monáe Robinson & Nate “Rocket” Wonder, engineers/mixers; Nathaniel Irvin III, Charles Joseph II, Taylor Parks & Janelle Monáe Robinson, songwriters; Dave Kutch, mastering engineer
• GOLDEN HOUR
  Kacey Musgraves
  Ian Fitchuk, Kacey Musgraves & Daniel Tashian, producers; Craig Alvin & Shawn Everett, engineers/mixers; Ian Fitchuk, Kacey Musgraves & Daniel Tashian, songwriters; Greg Calbi & Steve Fallone, mastering engineers
• BLACK PANTHER: THE ALBUM, MUSIC FROM AND INSPIRED BY
  (Various Artists)
  Kendrick Lamar, featured artist; Kendrick Duckworth & Sounwave, producers; Matt Schaeffer, engineer/mixer; Kendrick Duckworth & Mark Spears, songwriters; Mike Bozzi, mastering engineer

3. Song Of The Year

A Songwriter(s) Award. A song is eligible if it was first released or if it first achieved prominence during the Eligibility Year. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.

• ALL THE STARS
  Kendrick Duckworth, Solána Rowe, Al Shuckburgh, Mark Spears & Anthony Tiffith, songwriters (Kendrick Lamar & SZA)
• BOO’D UP
  Larrance Dopson, Joelle James, Ella Mai & Dijon McFarlane, songwriters (Ella Mai)
• GOD’S PLAN
  Aubrey Graham, Daveon Jackson, Brock Korsan, Ron LaTour, Matthew Samuels & Noah Shebib, songwriters (Drake)
• IN MY BLOOD
  Teddy Geiger, Scott Harris, Shawn Mendes & Geoffrey Warburton, songwriters (Shawn Mendes)
• THE JOKE
  Brandi Carlile, Dave Cobb, Phil Hanseroth & Tim Hanseroth, songwriters (Brandi Carlile)
• THE MIDDLE
  Sarah Aarons, Jordan K. Johnson, Stefan Johnson, Marcus Lomax, Kyle Trewartha, Michael Trewartha & Anton Zaslavski, songwriters (Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey)
• SHALLOW
  Lady Gaga, Mark Ronson, Anthony Rossomando & Andrew Wyatt, songwriters (Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper)
• THIS IS AMERICA
  Donald Glover, Ludwig Goransson & Jeffery Lamar Williams, songwriters (Childish Gambino)

4. Best New Artist

An artist will be considered for Best New Artist if their eligibility year release/s achieved a breakthrough into the public consciousness and notably impacted the musical landscape.

• CHLOE X HALLE
• LUKE COMBS
• GRETA VAN FLEET
• H.E.R.
• DUA LIPA
• MARGO PRICE
• BEBE REXHA
• JORJA SMITH

Pop

5. Best Pop Solo Performance

For new vocal or instrumental pop recordings. Singles or Tracks only.

• COLORS
  Beck
• HAVANA (LIVE)
  Camila Cabello
• GOD IS A WOMAN
  Ariana Grande
• JOANNE (WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU’RE GOIN’?)
  Lady Gaga
• BETTER NOW
  Post Malone

6. Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

For new vocal or instrumental duo/group or collaborative pop recordings. Singles or Tracks only.

• FALL IN LINE
  Christina Aguilera Featuring Demi Lovato
• DON’T GO BREAKING MY HEART
  Backstreet Boys
• ‘S WONDERFUL
  Tony Bennett & Diana Krall
• SHALLOW
  Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper
• GIRLS LIKE YOU
  Maroon 5 Featuring Cardi B
• SAY SOMETHING
  Justin Timberlake Featuring Chris Stapleton
• THE MIDDLE
  Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey

7. Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new traditional pop recordings.

• LOVE IS HERE TO STAY
  Tony Bennett & Diana Krall
• MY WAY
  Willie Nelson
• NAT “KING” COLE & ME
  Gregory Porter
• STANDARDS (DELUXE)
  Seal
• THE MUSIC…THE MEM’RIES…THE MAGIC!
  Barbra Streisand

8. Best Pop Vocal Album

For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new vocal pop recordings.

• CAMILA
  Camila Cabello
• MEANING OF LIFE
  Kelly Clarkson
• SWEETENER
  Ariana Grande
• SHAWN MENDES
  Shawn Mendes
• BEAUTIFUL TRAUMA
  P!nk
• REPUTATION
  Taylor Swift

Dance/Electronic Music

9. Best Dance Recording

For solo, duo, group or collaborative performances. Vocal or Instrumental. Singles or tracks only.

• NORTHERN SOUL
  Above & Beyond Featuring Richard Bedford
  Above & Beyond & Andrew Bayer, producers; Above & Beyond, mixers
• ULTIMATUM
  Disclosure (Featuring Fatoumata Diawara)
  Guy Lawrence & Howard Lawrence, producers; Guy Lawrence, mixer
• LOSING IT
  Fisher
  Paul Nicholas Fisher, producer; Kevin Grainger, mixer
• ELECTRICITY
  Silk City & Dua Lipa Featuring Diplo & Mark Ronson
  Silk City, producers; Josh Gudwin, mixer
• GHOST VOICES
  Virtual Self
  Porter Robinson, producer; Porter Robinson, mixer

10. Best Dance/Electronic Album

For vocal or instrumental albums. Albums only.

• SINGULARITY
  Jon Hopkins
• WOMAN WORLDWIDE
  Justice
• TREEHOUSE
  Sofi Tukker
• OIL OF EVERY PEARL’S UN-INSIDES
  SOPHIE
• LUNE ROUGE
  TOKiMONSTA

Contemporary Instrumental Music

11. Best Contemporary Instrumental Album

For albums containing approximately 51% or more playing time of instrumental material. For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new recordings.

• THE EMANCIPATION PROCRASTINATION
  Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah
• STEVE GADD BAND
  Steve Gadd Band
• MODERN LORE
  Julian Lage
• LAID BLACK
  Marcus Miller
• PROTOCOL 4
  Simon Phillips

Rock

12. Best Rock Performance

For new vocal or instrumental solo, duo/group or collaborative rock recordings.

• FOUR OUT OF FIVE
  Arctic Monkeys
• WHEN BAD DOES GOOD
  Chris Cornell
• MADE AN AMERICA
  THE FEVER 333
• HIGHWAY TUNE
  Greta Van Fleet
• UNCOMFORTABLE
  Halestorm

13. Best Metal Performance

For new vocal or instrumental solo, duo/group or collaborative metal recordings.

• CONDEMNED TO THE GALLOWS
  Between The Buried And Me
• HONEYCOMB
  Deafheaven
• ELECTRIC MESSIAH
  High On Fire
• BETRAYER
  Trivium
• ON MY TEETH
  Underoath

14. Best Rock Song

A Songwriter(s) Award. Includes Rock, Hard Rock and Metal songs. A song is eligible if it was first released or if it first achieved prominence during the Eligibility Year. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.

• BLACK SMOKE RISING
  Jacob Thomas Kiszka, Joshua Michael Kiszka, Samuel Francis Kiszka & Daniel Robert Wagner, songwriters (Greta Van Fleet)
• JUMPSUIT
  Tyler Joseph, songwriter (Twenty One Pilots)
• MANTRA
  Jordan Fish, Matthew Kean, Lee Malia, Matthew Nicholls & Oliver Sykes, songwriters (Bring Me The Horizon)
• MASSEDUCTION
  Jack Antonoff & Annie Clark, songwriters (St. Vincent)
• RATS
  Tom Dalgety & A Ghoul Writer, songwriters (Ghost)

15. Best Rock Album

For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new rock, hard rock or metal recordings.

• RAINIER FOG
  Alice In Chains
• M A N I A
  Fall Out Boy
• PREQUELLE
  Ghost
• FROM THE FIRES
  Greta Van Fleet
• PACIFIC DAYDREAM
  Weezer

Alternative

16. Best Alternative Music Album

Vocal or Instrumental.

• TRANQUILITY BASE HOTEL + CASINO
  Arctic Monkeys
• COLORS
  Beck
• UTOPIA
  Björk
• AMERICAN UTOPIA
  David Byrne
• MASSEDUCTION
  St. Vincent

R&B

17. Best R&B Performance

For new vocal or instrumental R&B recordings.

• LONG AS I LIVE
  Toni Braxton
• SUMMER
  The Carters
• Y O Y
  Lalah Hathaway
• BEST PART
  H.E.R. Featuring Daniel Caesar
• FIRST BEGAN
  PJ Morton

18. Best Traditional R&B Performance

For new vocal or instrumental traditional R&B recordings.

• BET AIN’T WORTH THE HAND
  Leon Bridges
• DON’T FALL APART ON ME TONIGHT
  Bettye LaVette
• HONEST
  MAJOR.
• HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE
  PJ Morton Featuring Yebba
• MADE FOR LOVE
  Charlie Wilson Featuring Lalah Hathaway

19. Best R&B Song

A Songwriter(s) Award. A song is eligible if it was first released or if it first achieved prominence during the Eligibility Year. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.

• BOO’D UP
  Larrance Dopson, Joelle James, Ella Mai & Dijon McFarlane, songwriters (Ella Mai)
• COME THROUGH AND CHILL
  Jermaine Cole, Miguel Pimentel & Salaam Remi, songwriters (Miguel Featuring J. Cole & Salaam Remi)
• FEELS LIKE SUMMER
  Donald Glover & Ludwig Goransson, songwriters (Childish Gambino)
• FOCUS
  Darhyl Camper Jr, H.E.R. & Justin Love, songwriters (H.E.R.)
• LONG AS I LIVE
  Paul Boutin, Toni Braxton & Antonio Dixon, songwriters (Toni Braxton)

20. Best Urban Contemporary Album

For albums containing at least 51% playing time of newly recorded contemporary vocal tracks derivative of R&B.

• EVERYTHING IS LOVE
  The Carters
• THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT
  Chloe x Halle
• CHRIS DAVE AND THE DRUMHEDZ
  Chris Dave And The Drumhedz
• WAR & LEISURE
  Miguel
• VENTRILOQUISM
  Meshell Ndegeocello

21. Best R&B Album

For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new R&B recordings.

• SEX & CIGARETTES
  Toni Braxton
• GOOD THING
  Leon Bridges
• HONESTLY
  Lalah Hathaway
• H.E.R.
  H.E.R.
• GUMBO UNPLUGGED (LIVE)
  PJ Morton

Rap

22. Best Rap Performance

For a Rap performance. Singles or Tracks only.

• BE CAREFUL
  Cardi B
• NICE FOR WHAT
  Drake
• KING’S DEAD
  Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Future & James Blake
• BUBBLIN
  Anderson .Paak
• SICKO MODE
  Travis Scott, Drake, Big Hawk & Swae Lee

23. Best Rap/Sung Performance

For a solo or collaborative performance containing both elements of R&B melodies and Rap.

• LIKE I DO
  Christina Aguilera Featuring Goldlink
• PRETTY LITTLE FEARS
  6lack Featuring J. Cole
• THIS IS AMERICA
  Childish Gambino
• ALL THE STARS
  Kendrick Lamar & SZA
• ROCKSTAR
  Post Malone Featuring 21 Savage

24. Best Rap Song

A Songwriter(s) Award. A song is eligible if it was first released or if it first achieved prominence during the Eligibility Year. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.

• GOD’S PLAN
  Aubrey Graham, Daveon Jackson, Brock Korsan, Ron LaTour, Matthew Samuels & Noah Shebib, songwriters (Drake)
• KING’S DEAD
  Kendrick Duckworth, Samuel Gloade, James Litherland, Johnny McKinzie, Axel Morgan, Mark Spears, Travis Walton, Nayvadius Wilburn & Michael Williams II, songwriters (Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Future & James Blake)
• LUCKY YOU
  R. Fraser, G. Lucas, M. Mathers, M. Samuels & J. Sweet, songwriters (Eminem Featuring Joyner Lucas)
• SICKO MODE
  Khalif Brown, Rogét Chahayed, BryTavious Chambers, Mike Dean, Mirsad Dervic, Kevin Gomringer, Tim Gomringer, Aubrey Graham, John Edward Hawkins, Chauncey Hollis, Jacques Webster, Ozan Yildirim & Cydel Young, songwriters (Travis Scott, Drake, Big Hawk & Swae Lee)
• WIN
  K. Duckworth, A. Hernandez, J. McKinzie, M. Samuels & C. Thompson, songwriters (Jay Rock)

25. Best Rap Album

For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new rap recordings.

• INVASION OF PRIVACY
  Cardi B
• SWIMMING
  Mac Miller
• VICTORY LAP
  Nipsey Hussle
• DAYTONA
  Pusha T
• ASTROWORLD
  Travis Scott

Country

26. Best Country Solo Performance

For new vocal or instrumental solo country recordings.

• WOULDN’T IT BE GREAT?
  Loretta Lynn
• MONA LISAS AND MAD HATTERS
  Maren Morris
• BUTTERFLIES
  Kacey Musgraves
• MILLIONAIRE
  Chris Stapleton
• PARALLEL LINE
  Keith Urban

27. Best Country Duo/Group Performance

For new vocal or instrumental duo/group or collaborative country recordings.

• SHOOT ME STRAIGHT
  Brothers Osborne
• TEQUILA
  Dan + Shay
• WHEN SOMEONE STOPS LOVING YOU
  Little Big Town
• DEAR HATE
  Maren Morris Featuring Vince Gill
• MEANT TO BE
  Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line

28. Best Country Song

A Songwriter(s) Award. A song is eligible if it was first released or if it first achieved prominence during the Eligibility Year. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.

• BREAK UP IN THE END
  Jessie Jo Dillon, Chase McGill & Jon Nite, songwriters (Cole Swindell)
• DEAR HATE
  Tom Douglas, David Hodges & Maren Morris, songwriters (Maren Morris Featuring Vince Gill)
• I LIVED IT
  Rhett Akins, Ross Copperman, Ashley Gorley & Ben Hayslip, songwriters (Blake Shelton)
• SPACE COWBOY
  Luke Laird, Shane McAnally & Kacey Musgraves, songwriters (Kacey Musgraves)
• TEQUILA
  Nicolle Galyon, Jordan Reynolds & Dan Smyers, songwriters (Dan + Shay)
• WHEN SOMEONE STOPS LOVING YOU
  Hillary Lindsey, Chase McGill & Lori McKenna, songwriters (Little Big Town)

29. Best Country Album

For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new country recordings.

• UNAPOLOGETICALLY
  Kelsea Ballerini
• PORT SAINT JOE
  Brothers Osborne
• GIRL GOING NOWHERE
  Ashley McBryde
• GOLDEN HOUR
  Kacey Musgraves
• FROM A ROOM: VOLUME 2
  Chris Stapleton

New Age

30. Best New Age Album

For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new vocal or instrumental new age recordings.

• HIRAETH
  Lisa Gerrard & David Kuckhermann
• BELOVED
  Snatam Kaur
• OPIUM MOON
  Opium Moon
• MOLECULES OF MOTION
  Steve Roach
• MOKU MALUHIA – PEACEFUL ISLAND
  Jim Kimo West

Jazz

31. Best Improvised Jazz Solo

For an instrumental jazz solo performance. Two equal performers on one recording may be eligible as one entry. If the soloist listed appears on a recording billed to another artist, the latter’s name is in parenthesis for identification. Singles or Tracks only.

• SOME OF THAT SUNSHINE
  Regina Carter, soloist
  Track from: Some Of That Sunshine (Karrin Allyson)
• DON’T FENCE ME IN
  John Daversa, soloist
  Track from: American Dreamers: Voices Of Hope, Music Of Freedom (John Daversa Big Band Featuring DACA Artists)
• WE SEE
  Fred Hersch, soloists
• DE-DAH
  Brad Mehldau, soloist
  Track from: Seymour Reads The Constitution! (Brad Mehldau Trio)
• CADENAS
  Miguel Zenón, soloist
  Track from: Yo Soy La Tradición (Miguel Zenón Featuring Spektral Quartet)

32. Best Jazz Vocal Album

For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new vocal jazz recordings.

• MY MOOD IS YOU
  Freddy Cole
• THE QUESTIONS
  Kurt Elling
• THE SUBJECT TONIGHT IS LOVE
  Kate McGarry, Keith Ganz, Gary Versace
• IF YOU REALLY WANT
  Raul Midón With The Metropole Orkest Conducted By Vince Mendoza
• THE WINDOW
  Cécile McLorin Salvant

33. Best Jazz Instrumental Album

For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new instrumental jazz recordings.

• DIAMOND CUT
  Tia Fuller
• LIVE IN EUROPE
  Fred Hersch Trio
• SEYMOUR READS THE CONSTITUTION!
  Brad Mehldau Trio
• STILL DREAMING
  Joshua Redman, Ron Miles, Scott Colley & Brian Blade
• EMANON
  The Wayne Shorter Quartet

34. Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album

For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new ensemble jazz recordings.

• ALL ABOUT THAT BASIE
  The Count Basie Orchestra Directed By Scotty Barnhart
• AMERICAN DREAMERS: VOICES OF HOPE, MUSIC OF FREEDOM
  John Daversa Big Band Featuring DACA Artists
• PRESENCE
  Orrin Evans And The Captain Black Big Band
• ALL CAN WORK
  John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble
• BAREFOOT DANCES AND OTHER VISIONS
  Jim McNeely & The Frankfurt Radio Big Band

35. Best Latin Jazz Album

For vocal or instrumental albums containing at least 51% playing time of newly recorded material. The intent of this category is to recognize recordings that represent the blending of jazz with Latin, Iberian-American, Brazilian, and Argentinian tango music.

• HEART OF BRAZIL
  Eddie Daniels
• BACK TO THE SUNSET
  Dafnis Prieto Big Band
• WEST SIDE STORY REIMAGINED
  Bobby Sanabria Multiverse Big Band
• CINQUE
  Elio Villafranca
• YO SOY LA TRADICIÓN
  Miguel Zenón Featuring Spektral Quartet

Gospel /Contemporary Christian Music

36. Best Gospel Performance/Song

This award is given to the artist(s) and songwriter(s) (for new compositions) for the best traditional Christian, roots gospel or contemporary gospel single or track.

• YOU WILL WIN
  Jekalyn Carr; Allen Carr & Jekalyn Carr, songwriters
• WON’T HE DO IT
  Koryn Hawthorne
• NEVER ALONE
  Tori Kelly Featuring Kirk Franklin; Kirk Franklin & Victoria Kelly, songwriters
• CYCLES
  Jonathan McReynolds Featuring DOE; Jonathan McReynolds & Will Reagan, songwriters
• A GREAT WORK
  Brian Courtney Wilson; Aaron W. Lindsey, Alvin Richardson & Brian Courtney Wilson, songwriters

37. Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song

This award is given to the artist(s) and songwriter(s) (for new compositions) for the best contemporary Christian pop, Christian rap/hip-hop, or Christian rock single or track.

• RECKLESS LOVE
  Cory Asbury; Cory Asbury, Caleb Culver & Ran Jackson, songwriters
• YOU SAY
  Lauren Daigle; Lauren Daigle, Jason Ingram & Paul Mabury, songwriters
• JOY.
  for KING & COUNTRY; Ben Glover, Matt Hales, Stephen Blake Kanicka, Seth Mosley, Joel Smallbone, Luke Smallbone & Tedd Tjornhom, songwriters
• GRACE GOT YOU
  MercyMe Featuring John Reuben; David Garcia, Ben Glover, MercyMe, Solomon Olds & John Reuben, songwriters
• KNOWN
  Tauren Wells; Ethan Hulse, Jordan Sapp & Tauren Wells, songwriters

38. Best Gospel Album

For albums containing at least 51% playing time of newly recorded, vocal, traditional or contemporary/R&B gospel music recordings.

• ONE NATION UNDER GOD
  Jekalyn Carr
• HIDING PLACE
  Tori Kelly
• MAKE ROOM
  Jonathan McReynolds
• THE OTHER SIDE
  The Walls Group
• A GREAT WORK
  Brian Courtney Wilson

39. Best Contemporary Christian Music Album

For albums containing at least 51% playing time of newly recorded, vocal, contemporary Christian music, including pop, rap/hip hop, or rock recordings.

• LOOK UP CHILD
  Lauren Daigle
• HALLELUJAH HERE BELOW
  Elevation Worship
• LIVING WITH A FIRE
  Jesus Culture
• SURROUNDED
  Michael W. Smith
• SURVIVOR: LIVE FROM HARDING PRISON
  Zach Williams

40. Best Roots Gospel Album

For albums containing at least 51% playing time of newly recorded, vocal, traditional/roots gospel music, including country, Southern gospel, bluegrass, and Americana recordings.

• UNEXPECTED
  Jason Crabb
• CLEAR SKIES
  Ernie Haase & Signature Sound
• FAVORITES: REVISITED BY REQUEST
  The Isaacs
• STILL STANDING
  The Martins
• LOVE LOVE LOVE
  Gordon Mote

Latin

41. Best Latin Pop Album

For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new Latin pop recordings.

• PROMETO
  Pablo Alboran
• SINCERA
  Claudia Brant
• MUSAS (UN HOMENAJE AL FOLCLORE LATINOAMERICANO EN MANOS DE LOS MACORINOS), VOL. 2
  Natalia Lafourcade
• 2:00 AM
  Raquel Sofía
• VIVES
  Carlos Vives

42. Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album

For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new Latin rock, urban or alternative recordings.

• CLAROSCURA
  Aterciopelados
• COASTCITY
  COASTCITY
• ENCANTO TROPICAL
  Monsieur Periné
• GOURMET
  Orishas
• AZTLÁN
  Zoé

43. Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano)

For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new regional Mexican (banda, norteño, corridos, gruperos, mariachi, ranchera and Tejano) recordings.

• PRIMERO SOY MEXICANA
  Angela Aguilar
• MITAD Y MITAD
  Calibre 50
• TOTALMENTE JUAN GABRIEL VOL. II
  Aida Cuevas
• CRUZANDO BORDERS
  Los Texmaniacs
• LEYENDAS DE MI PUEBLO
  Mariachi Sol De Mexico De Jose Hernandez
• ¡MÉXICO POR SIEMPRE!
  Luis Miguel

44. Best Tropical Latin Album

For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new tropical Latin recordings.

• PA’ MI GENTE
  Charlie Aponte
• LEGADO
  Formell Y Los Van Van
• ORQUESTA AKOKÁN
  Orquesta Akokán
• PONLE ACTITUD
  Felipe Peláez
• ANNIVERSARY
  Spanish Harlem Orchestra

Who do you think will win?

For the full nominees list visit www.grammy.com

The post 61st GRAMMY Awards: Nominees list appeared first on RG Magazines.

His biggest inspiration? It stems from his island roots of course – sweet reggae music.

“I got my start at KEMH like most Bermudians — as far as music, I signed a deal in 1988 at Creation Records”, he said. “At the time, I was living in Nevis, St. Kitts and my sister [singer, Heather Nova] brought a friend on holiday. He was the head of this big record label and wanted to sign me.”

From there Mishka lived in England for over a year and described the experience as being a “huge culture shock”.

“The music industry is a world unto itself, and it wasn’t a friendly world. My experience was quite cutthroat, and the job is demanding. I was happy to rehearse and record, but the social aspect was a struggle.”

“Getting the opportunity to play for people and to become a performer was like a drug. Until it, all fell apart and I had to start from scratch, making my way with different labels and managers.”

Now living in Maui, Hawaii, the industry hardships prompted him to become an independent artist. He is also producing his own music, which is a huge stretch from his humble beginnings as a singer, songwriter playing acoustic guitar.

His earlier work, led by the drum and bass, incorporates some of the musical elements of rhythm and blues, and mento, and any pains can be heard through his soulful lyrics.“I started off simple, made my way up to big production, and now I’m scaling back, with just vocals and lyrical based content in this new album. I’m trying to get it across in a very simple form.”

The reggae artist explained that being signed is challenging, but it also meant that you have more help working with other people, are able to produce much more music, and your projects are marketed correctly — which is why many sign to big labels.

“However, there is a catch-22. You have little to no creative control, and your music is owned by the company. Independence also has its pros and cons. At the moment, I’m surviving and liking not being told what to do.”

In November, Mishka embarked on his second tour of the year. The first half, starting in Florida, featured a three-piece band, while the second half was more of an intimate setting — a duo with a percussionist.

His new album is set to be released mid-2019, and he is looking forward to the possibility of performing at a local show next summer.

“Until then I just want to say, love to all my Bermy people, Bermuda raised me to a large degree, and I have endless love for Bermuda and Bermudian people.”

To keep up with Mishka visit his website mishka.com or follow him on Instagram and Twitter @mishkamusic.

The post A catch up with Mishka appeared first on RG Magazines.

When and how was the band originally formed and how did you come up with the name?

The band was formed for the 2005 Music Festival to back local artists for the three nights, courtesy of Glenn Blakeney. We didn’t have a name until the 2008 Music Festival when our bass player, Eugene Tuzo, read out a list of potential band names that he had compiled. I liked the sound of “being backed by WallStreet”. Ironically, it was about a month before the stock market crashed.

Who is the Wall Street Band and how many members are there?

We started out as a 9 piece backing band, accompanying artists that didn’t have a band. From time to time we were asked to provide background vocalists as well. About 2 years ago we decided to be self contained and develop our own repertoire, thus increasing the size to 13 members.

What has the Made in Bermuda experience been like for the band this year? How did you get involved?

It has been an awesome experience for us with each week better the week before. The crowds were amazing and being on White’s Island, you couldn’t have asked for a better venue. Much thanks go PinkSand Entertainment’s Jonathan Tankard and Zuri Darrell for having the vision to put on such an event.

How important do you think the event is for the island’s entertainment industry?

Due to the fact that PinkSand Entertainment is committed to the development and marketing of local entertainment, ALL of their events are vital to the entertainment industry. Not only do they provide an avenue for local artists to perform, they create an atmosphere for all audiences. Over the summer we had people from all walks of life, both local and tourists, ranging in ages from 12yrs to 93yrs old – a true testament to the quality of their work.

What are you looking forward to most at the festival on Saturday?

As with any performance, we aim to give our best in terms of entertaining the crowd. Also we’ll be there to cheer on the other local entertainers who, some are up and coming, need and deserve all of our support.

 The band has also been performing at several other events this year, such as Cup Match Summer Splash – how has this exposure benefitted the band?

We have a certain demographic that follow WSB, however, this year we’ve had the opportunity to perform in front of different ones: The Bermuda Festival, The Motown Revue and Summer Splash. Some of the audience members at those events had never heard of WSB let alone heard the band. However, since then we’ve gained some new fans and have even gotten booking enquiries from some of those concerts.

What’s next? Any plans for the future? Anything to look forward to?

Next? – Vacation! We’ll be off until October. After which, we go back into rehearsal working on new material for the upcoming season. Also, we’re in talks with a local producer with the goal of having our own show in 2019.

For more information on The Wall Street Band visit them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.  

The post In profile: The Wall Street Band appeared first on RG Magazines.