by Krista Henry, Staff Reporter
Jon Baker (second right) of Geejam Records poses with Rising Stars (from left) Cavan, Candy, Diana Rutherford and Renée. None of the top four has achieved the level of popularity or stardom of last year's top two Christopher Martin and Noddy Virtue. - Contributed.
Just about every show and programme features last year's big hits Christopher Martin and Noddy Virtue. The 2004 debut of Rising Stars made a number of other names popular, but after the hype, it seems their stars have faded.
THE STAR located some of the former 'Rising Stars' to find out what became of them. Cavan, also known as Winston Lewis, the 2004 Rising Stars winner, is not satisfied with the results of the show. His career has not hit the heights he expected. Cavan says, "basically, I'm up to nothing much. The only thing is that I am now being signed to management in Philadelphia."
"The show hasn't fulfilled my expectations. The show promised a one-year contract with an international label and there was no contract. At one point I got a single released from the company, which was fine, but I doubt it got that much airplay," he said.
However, Sharon Schroeter, series producer for Digicel's Rising Stars, tells a different story. She says, "Cavan got a recording contract with Geejam, he worked with them. But he mainly focused on his songwriting, so he wrote a lot of songs for other artistes.
"The first-season contestants got shows and stuff. Cavan is in Philadelphia recording his CD; he will be performing on the final show of this season. Candy has travelled about the place but is based mainly in Miami."
She continues, "the show has definetly got more popular, it's not that the first season's contestants are less talented than Chris and Noddy. But that was the first we were having Rising Stars. The top four were involved in the Digicel Christmas campaign which lasted for a month and a half. They got to tour all over the island. Their CDs were also part of the Christmas giveaways."
However, that is small consolation to the others like second-place winner in the 2004 competition Renée Lewis.
"Mi nah tell no lie, mi nah really do nothing right now in the music business," Renée told THE STAR. Honestly, the experience was wonderful; it built up my self-confidence, but they took it all back. We really had a lot of expectations and we're just here trying to fill the gap. We all wish they could do something more for us. Dem probably shoulda take the talent more seriously to boost us up."
Dissatisfied
Diana Rutherford, fourth-place contestant, also in 2004, got a lot of attention following the competition but like Renée, is also dissatisfied.
"After Rising Stars all I had was one single release and video." Rutherford says. "I was in Portland recording. I liked the environment, but after a year of working, nothing was going on."
Her latest work is a CD of cover versions. "I did a cover version of like some Mariah Carey songs that sold in Japan," she says. "The last show I did was last month for the community in August Town, Market Place; Kiprich and others were there."
Diana tries to expand her horizons by going into other avenues. She continues, "I was on Caribbean Fashionweek, modelling. it was fun. Just like being onstage." Rutherford adds, "I want to put out more songs though, collaborate with artistes, but it takes time. I'm working on most of my songs. I just put out a song called Rescue Me that's getting some airplay."
Renée also wants to continue making music. "I want to do music still, it's just to get yourself back out there. You just have to start from scratch. I know I'm gonna go back out there, with or without their help. Right now at least my name is out there and everyone knows me."
Despite the hard journey they have travelled they would still encourage others to participate in the show. Cavan says, "I think the second season was good. I think they got more advantages and publicity. I don't think that was the show's fault. I guess it was one of those things, more people heard about the show and watched it".
Cavan continues, "it's a very good show, music is a hard industry. It's hard to get out there without a push, it's a promotional thing. I'd tell them to give it a shot, try it out. If you make it into the competition, fight for the best."
Diana Rutherford concurs, "basically, go ahead and do your best. You gain a lot of experience, a lot of fan base. Plus, I hear there are new people doing it this year. Wha dem haffi lose? Give it your best shot."
Rising Suss ... Rising Suss
Left: The sole DJ in the competition, Jim Laden. - Winston Sill. Right: Inga Stewart, one of the contestants in Digicel's Rising Stars competition. - Colin Hamilton
Star relations
Yow, mi hear seh some people inna di Rising Stars competition a look props, a guh roun a tell people seh dem related to big singer an movie star, but mi nah call nuh name! Nuh feel nuh way still, people a call TVJ a ask if Inga Stewart related to singer Tinga Stewart, but sorry fi bus unnu bubble. No such luck. Nuh tru di name rhyme. Tinga seh him nuh know ar, but him seh she have talent.
Competition is blind
Ohhh God. Mi did know. Di competition nuh really cater to blind people. Bwoy, mi hear seh dem write inna paper seh how Shanna Parkes drop out a di competition tru she couldn't si wah fi sing. A jus suh di ting set yah, star.
How it go?
Yow, mi hear seh Secrets nuh have nuh harmony, but separate and apart from dat people, a wah kind a eediat ting dat? Secrets an Jim Laden did lef inna di pot bottom where votes were concerned an if dat neva bad enough, dem haffi sing off fi si who scrape tru. Unnu nuh haffi ask how dat guh, di Taliban deal wid dem wicked.
The people's vote
One drunkard man a call people a talk bout seh di people dem must have di final say in who the winner this year is, no judge ting roun ere, but dat caan work mi bredda, wi need some balance pon di ting.
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