Machel Montano is here… willing to push Guyanese singers

Last Updated on Saturday, 26 December 2015, 21:01 by GxMedia

Trinidad-born Caribbean soca icon, Machel Montano, on Friday said he was willing to help young Guyanese singers gain exposure and develop themselves but they first needed to demonstrate an interest in taking advantage of the opportunity.

Here for what promises to be yet another exciting and energetic concert at the Providence Stadium on Saturday July 27, Montano told reporters shortly after deplaning Friday that he was eager to collaborate with Guyanese singers.

“I would like to see what this artiste is in to…what this artiste would like to get out of entertainment….where this artistes would like to see themselves and relate to the openness of Machel Montano,” he said.

He later told Demerara Waves Online News (www.demwaves.com) that so far there has been no response to his offer which apparently has been on the table for some time now.

Montano, 38, said he and his HD Band were busy on world tours and had no time to hold workshops. Guyanese singers, he said, should feel free to send demos of their songs on CDs to his troupe as part of their efforts to reach out and take advantage of his “obligation to spread my knowledge with other artistes.”

He said he was always willing and available to give advice to open-minded musicians who are willing to listen.

“We are interested-I, Machel Montano, would let the nation know- am (interested) in helping to develop artistes here, helping to develop what is the sound in Guyana…Is it soca, is it chutney, is it soca chutney, is it reggae soca chutney?

Montano, who spiralled to fame in 1984 when he was nine years old with his song “Too Young to Soca,” said he was always on the look out to collaborate with local artistes across the Caribbean during his band’s tour.  Noting that he had recently inked a contract with Universal Music France, he hoped that his tours to Guyana would inspire younger artistes.

“It is time for us to see who is the star of Guyana and I put that out there for them to make themselves known and step up to the plate and make it happen,” he said, adding that it was time to cross the musical cultures.

Montano looks forward to eating cook-up rice by a downtown market after partying at Palm Court, Main Street, Georgetown on Friday night.

Other key members of Montano’s team are Patrice Roberts and Darryl “Farmer Nappy” Henry.

Patrons to this year’s Summer Fete, being promoted by Pulse Entertainment, are being advised to wear clothing similar to what they would at Phagwah since the concert would be fog-and-fete-affair.

Meanwhile, Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), Indranauth Haralsingh, who was at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport to welcome the Montano-led band, said government endorsed the “highly anticipated” concert.

“We are very happy to collaborate and we welcome you and we are looking forward to this fantastic performance and energetic performance,” he said.