On August 4th, 5th and 6th the Nomad Reggae Festival will celebrate their 8th edition at Chemin du Mansin in Anglefort, France. This is an outdoor event that will provide camping facilities to its patrons.
The musical lineup includes Alborosie, Capleton, Barrington Levy, Anthony B, The Congos, Queen Omega, General Levy, Chezidek, Tiwony, Junior Roy, Jahkasa, and many, many more. Get additional info here.
You frequently face a choice that will eventually affect your future over your lifetime. For Gayan Smith, the COVID 19 epidemic served as a turning point. She has always loved to write songs, but the pandemic was forcing her to record and publish This Must Be Love, the very first song she ever wrote. Hence began her musical journey as the recording artist, Auraiya.
“But if this isn’t love, then love isn’t true”. These words serve as a starting point for Auraiya‘s musical career. This Must Be Love is a heartfelt, soulful ballad that takes the listener through the thrills and uncertainties of finding love unexpectedly. There is a surreal peace and beauty that came with being able to capture a moment, a story or a mood in the melody of a song.
In December 2021, she entered a recording studio and sung these lyrics as they replayed in her brain. Each line sung was like the stroke of a brush on a canvas by the artist. It was as if she was a mother that had been pregnant with a love child that had entered the world and was determined to grow and resonate
“This is like a dream come true,” echoed Auraiya in a recent interview. “I have always considered myself to be a shadow writer but being able to deliver the message myself is like the icing on the cake. Never in my wildest dream, would I have planned this, now I look forward to honing my skills to reach my full potential”
Being a vocalist was not always Auraiya’s top priority. In her early years, she studied Chemistry, Biochemistry and then pursued her dream to become a medical doctor. She graduated from the faculty of medical sciences at the University of the West Indies in July 2014 and has since practiced in general medicine and anesthesia.
It was during an internship at Savanna-la-mar Hospital that she met veteran promoter and stage manager Worrell King. She recalled her very first experience in a recording studio session under King’s tutelage. However, unfortunately the musical experience was short-lived and eventually succumbed to the pressures that came with pursuing a medical degree. She would eventually face medical complications that would put an end to her future medical aspirations.
The songs she had penned in her early years started playing louder in her thoughts during her recovery period. The attraction of music became overwhelming. Despite spending her entire life studying the sciences, this side of her refused to be suppressed or silenced. There was a strong drive to create new melodies and a genuine passion for music.
With the help of well-known figures in the music industry, Auraiya has lately launched an incredible promotional campaign that will highlight her most recent recordings. When she is not recording in the studio, Auraiya intends to spend her downtime traveling, honing her stage presence, and expressing her love for music in her own distinctive way.
Independent reggae record label – KingsKrown Music – with offices in Jamaica and Canada, will host Reggae on the Rideau, on Saturday, July 15th at Centennial Park in Smiths Falls, Ontario. This is a one day reggae festival that will run from 11am (local time) until…
The stage-show will see the likes of Charlie Chaplin, Hugo Barrington, Ricky Chaplin, Grundy, Leroy Gibbons, Michael Buckley, Jah Cutta, Kairo McLean, Gem Shadou and others, performing live. Get tickets here.
This Monday, July 3rd, dancehall star Sean Paul will give a special guest performance at Machel Montano‘s Canada Day Long Weekend Concert. The men will be supported by Voice, Vicadi Singh, Nailah Blackman, Adrian Dutchin, Ravi B, Tony Cuttz and others.
The all ages show, which will take place at the Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto, Ontario, starts at 7pm, and is being presented by One Guyana.
Lobster Fest is one of the most anticipated annual music and food festivals in Jamaica. They always have stellar performers – both gospel and secular – as well as top-tier dishes that are usually prepared by celebrity chefs.
Lobster Fest 2023 will be held at Hope Zoo, Hope Gardens (231 Old Hope Road) in Kingston on Sunday, July 30. Patrons will have access to an all you can eat lobster buffet, cabanas, wine bars, and more.
Some of the island’s best selectors will be on deck: Collin Hines, Crazy Chris and Rich Rocc. They will be joined by performers Jai Kingston and Kevin Downswell, who will bring the gospel; as well as reggae artists AJ Brown and Terry Linen. General admission is $15,000 JMD.
Causion, born Gregory Colin Bailey to a family of established musicians in Antigua and Barbuda, is a renowned musician, songwriter, producer, and philanthropist, based in Florida. Known as Antigua’s Reggae Ambassador, Causion is a crowd-favorite artist who has represented the reggae genre at home and abroad for many decades. He has opened for Third World, the original ‘Reggae Ambassadors,’ and toured with other prominent reggae artists such as Rita Marley, Dennis Brown, Freddie McGregor, and Judy Mowatt.
Causion started his music career in the early 1990s, performing in local bars and clubs in Antigua and Barbuda. He quickly gained a following and started to perform at larger events and festivals across the Caribbean. In 1993, he released his first single, “Jah Is the Ruler,” featuring the German reggae artist Gentleman. The single was well-received and helped to establish Causion as a rising star in the reggae music scene.
Over the next few years, Causion continued to release singles and perform at events across the Caribbean and beyond. In 1996, he released his first album, “Time Will Tell,” which included tracks such as “Intimidation” and “Merciful Father (Feat. Sizzla).“ The album received critical acclaim and helped to further establish Causion‘s reputation as an up-and-coming reggae artist.
In the years that followed, Causion continued to tour and release music, collaborating with some of the biggest names in reggae, including Third World and Red Fox. In 2000, he released his second album, “One Life To Live,” which included tracks such as “Jah Is The Ruler (Feat. Gentleman)“ and “Born To Be Dread.” The album was another
critical success and helped to solidify Causion‘s place as one of the top reggae artists in the Caribbean.
Causion has headlined many shows and festivals, including the Moja Arts Festival, the Wadadli Music Festival, the Bob Marley Music Festival, and Reggae Cari-Fest. He has released three albums to date, including ‘Time Will Tell,’ ‘One Life to Live,’ and ‘Stella’s Kids,’ which contained hits such as ‘Little Secrets,’ and ‘Get To Know Jah.’
Tamela Jean Mann is a singer, songwriter, and actress. She started her career with the gospel group Kirk Franklin and the Family, and was featured on several tracks: Now Behold the Lamb, Lean on Me, etc. She began her solo career by releasing the album Gotta Keep Movin in 2005, followed by The Master Plan in 2009.
Her third studio album, Best Days, reached No. 1 on the Billboard Gospel Albums Chart, and was certified Gold by the RIAA. The lead single Take Me to the King was a commercial success, earning her a Grammy nomination for Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance. And her fourth studio album, One Way (2016), also reached No. 1 on the Billboard Gospel Albums Chart; with the single God Provides winning the Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance/Song in 2017.
As an actress Mann has worked in multiple Tyler Perry productions. She appeared in Diary of a Mad Black Woman, Meet the Browns, Madea Goes to Jail, Madea’s Big Happy Family, and A Madea Homecoming. On television, she starred in the TBS sitcom Meet the Browns from 2009 to 2011, and in 2020 began starring in the BET sitcom Tyler Perry’s Assisted Living. She also starred and produced Bounce TV sitcom Mann & Wife (2015–17).
Along with her Grammy Award, Mann has earned many other accolades and honors, including multiple NAACP Image Awards, a Billboard Music Award, and a BET Award. In 2022, she was inducted into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame. She has received a total of nine No. 1 on Billboard’s Gospel Airplay Singles Chart.
MARIA JACKSON 27 MAGAZINE 