Posted 20 Aug 2007 — by MrDixon
Category Featured
by: Denny Phillips
From the brilliant white sand beaches to the diverse island culture, Jamaica is one of our favorite Caribbean tourist destinations. The crystal clear ocean waters and the year-round warm climate makes it the ideal travel vacation for sun-lovers. There are many diversions to keep visitors happy: fishing, scuba diving, wind surfing, horseback riding, swimming, snorkeling, golfing just to name a few. In the evening there is fine dining at Jamaica’s elite restaurants and resorts—combined with truly unique Jamaican cuisine, and the night life is certainly hopping! Read More
In 2005, the previously unknown singer rose to international acclaim when his debut single Serious Times hit the top of the local and overseas reggae charts, and defeated even Junior Gongs Top Ten Billboard hit Welcome to Jamrock, to be declared Jamaica’s Most Important Song of 2005. Nominated for Best New Entertainer at the 2006 International Reggae and World Music Awards, the twenty-three year old velvet-voiced singer has been dominating the charts with a slew of hit singles including Is There a Place, Beautiful Lady, and the chart-topping ballad Mama, Don’t Cry.
Jud: Have you always been identified as “Gyptian”?
Gyptian: Yes, the name was given to me from I was a youth.
Jud: What is your current religious belief?
Gyptian: Free lifestyle, whatever you do is up to you. Just to live and respect each other as you would want someone to respect you.
Jud: Born of parents who identified with different religious backgrounds; your mother was a
Protestant and your father was a Rastafarian. How would you describe your childhood growing up in such a household?
Gyptian: It was normal, nothing was forced on me, I was taught to be independent and to make I own decisions. Even though they were of different religion it was taught to me to Love and Honor the One Above. Read More
by: Jud Benjamin
Jud: The name “Bad Gyal” is said to be your self proclamation. How did you came up with such an alias and does this mean that you are an uptown girl or a ghetto girl?
Ce’Cile: I think the name Badgyal has been wildly used since I’ve began using it as my alter ego. The name for me signifies another “persona” than the real CeCile and for me this was my on stage “being.” It simply meant the person I became when I took the Stage (sassy and saucy, maybe a lil naughty, pro feminine) wasn’t a class thing neither was it a bad gyal who will get physical or anything like that. I don’t consider myself ghetto, in any definition of the word. I’m not sure what up town is. I’m a classy badgyal!
Jud: I understand you have a life’s motto.
Ce’Cile: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
Jud: Why do you put so much faith in this motto of yours?
Ce’Cile: Because if you don’t put yourself in other person’s shoes, anyone of us can become very destructive, after all we are only humans and susceptible to human ways and sins (jealousy, deceptive, devious, physical and verbally abusive etc). Read More
Posted 05 May 2007 — by MrDixon
Category Interviews
Mr. Chris Thomas is the son of Tommy Thomas, a member of one of Reggae/Rock Steady foundation groups called The Chantells who is also one of the directors/producer for Mixing Lab Recording Studio who made their mark in Europe in the early rock steady era. Mr. Chris Thomas is himself a talented producer, songwriter and performer who picked up the trail after his dad in his earlier years. As an artist, Chrisie-D as he is artistically known then, did elite New Kingston night clubs such as The Carnegie Hall, The Epiphany and Pegasus John Coonuh Lounge doing cabaret. He and his crossover group (SAC) did back-up singing for Bobby Smith on shows build with Diane King.
Mark: Where in Jamaica are you from?
Chris: I am originally from a small community in Tryall Heights, Spanish Town.
Mark: How did you handle the transition from life in Jamaica to life in the United States?
Chris: It was pretty difficult – new culture, new environment, new situation but I knew what I needed to do.
Mark: At what age did you realize that you had a musical talent?
Chris: As early as I can remember seeing my father with his group playing their guitar. I was fascinated with how happy they were as they rehearsed and how they affected the people around them. Read More