Producers turn up the heat with new rhythms

Bringing veteran artistes and rising stars together on the same musical platform is the mission behind two new rhythm projects from VIS Records and its production partners.

Some Like It Redhot Riddim and Mad Black Panther Riddim are giving artistes at different stages of their careers an opportunity to share their talents while keeping Jamaican music moving forward. For Opal Gowdie of VIS Records, the idea behind the projects was simple.

“The riddims came about from the idea of bringing artistes together, both seasoned and up-and-coming artistes. I want these projects to impact listeners in positive ways,” Gowdie said. James Brewster of Starrgate Recording Studio believes that giving emerging artistes a chance to be heard is important to the future of the music business.

“It is very important to me to contribute to the longevity and development of the music industry, so I always want to give new artistes opportunities to reach their goals and have their voices heard,” Brewster said.

The projects come with their fair share of work, however.

“As a producer, you will find challenges in the making of the music, including the expenses that come with production and waiting on artistes to make themselves available to record. But the love for music keeps me going,” Gowie said. Still, that passion is what keeps the wheels turning. And, with reggae and dancehall constantly evolving, producers must also find ways to connect with younger listeners without losing sight of the artistes and sounds that helped build the genres.

Mad Black Panther Riddim features established reggae names such as Luciano, Warrior King, Lutan Fyah and Admiral Tibet, while Some Like It Redhot Riddim brings together a different mix of voices and styles.

“At the end of the day, the new generation will continue carrying the baton from where the legends left off,” said Brewster.

That means creating space for fresh talent while ensuring that the influence of established artistes continues to be felt. Beyond the songs themselves, Gowdie also hopes the projects will shine a light on the work independent producers continue to put into Jamaican music.

“I hope the projects will make a statement and that people will recognise our contribution to the quality of music coming out of Jamaica,” she said.

For the producers, success is not only about how many streams a song racks up or how much attention a project receives. It is also about the opportunities created along the way and whether the music leaves something meaningful behind.

“The best success would be that I created opportunities for artistes and that we contributed something lasting to the culture,” said Brewster.

Some Like It Redhot Riddim is a 16-track compilation presented by VIS Records and Starrgate Recording Studio, while Mad Black Panther Riddim is a 10-track project presented by VIS Records and Vouch Enterprise.