DANCEHALL AND PANDEMIC: INTERVIEW WITH CHRISTOPHER MARTIN, WILLY CHIN, KIMIKO VERSATILE
In the past year we have unfortunately seen how this pandemic and its restrictions have influenced the regular course of cultural and musical life. Of course dancehall music has also been impacted by these changes. Let's talk about it with three artists, each representative of a different branch: Kimiko Versatile for the dancers category, Chris Martin as a singer and Willy Chin for the djing..
INTERVIEW: SAVAGE SAVO 'CULU CULU DON'
Recording artist Simon Daley better known by his stage name, Savage Savo was born on August 10 th, 1984 in a small Kingston community called Grants Pen. He developed a passion for dancehall music at a tender age hanging around the various dances held in his community as a child..
INTERVIEW: IRIE QUEEN, DANCEHALL VS TWERK
Dancehall has always been grouped with similar styles of music. Not too long ago “Dancehall was Reggaeton”, now “Dancehall is Twerk”! Most of the time there is something close to the other genres, but this is not a good excuse to generalize and actually, we should be more curious about them. That’s why we had this talk with Irie, European Dancehall and Twerk Queen..
STEPS AND MOVES: NEW SCHOOL STEPS DEMONSTRATION BY KEEMIE ELITE TEAM
“New school era” started between 2010 and 2011, in this period new rising crews of dancers began to create steps with a different and dynamic flow. Nevertheless, some of the artists, were still attached and influenced by the old and middle school and people like Dansa Bling, Famous dancer and Orville Xpression, even in their new steps, still maintain the typical relaxed flow of those old and middle phases...
INTERVIEW: KIMIKOVERSATILE, THE DANCEHALL MEETS THE AFRO STYLE
“Versatile”, this name matches with facts. One of the most talented professional dancer from Jamaica, Kimikoversatile, has got the merit to spread the concept of fusion between a real yardie dancehall style and afro moves. Here is more about her...
STEPS AND MOVES: MIDDLE SCHOOL DEMONSTRATION BY DANSA BLING OUTTA XPRESSIONZ
“Dancehall” intended as both music genre and dance, is, nowadays, the results of a big evolution of sounds and steps. The first era of dancehall is called “old school” which starts around 80’s with the dancer Bogle who was one of famous veterans who laid the foundation of the steps for this dance. With the arrival of 2000, there was a change in the music rhythm that enriched with sounds and effects, so famous dancers such as John Hipe, started to create new moves and steps, with a different flow, more energetic and faster than “old school” moves...
INTERVIEW: SHENSEEA
Talking about females dancehall artists, 2017 is surely the year of one of the most interesting and fascinating music talents. She is currently the best artist from Romeich Records who has literally done “double six like Loodi”. We are talking about the beautiful Shenseea. She first broke out into the music industry in 2016 with her hit “Jiggle Jiggle”; then she went viral with her hit song “Loodi.” feat Vybz Kartel. The song received over one million hits on YouTube within the first week of its release and now it is counting near to 10.000.000 views..
DHQ COMPETITIONS IN EUROPE
Even if during 2016 the Mobay Intl Dhq Contest, the usual show dedicated to the dancehall queen style, had not taken place in Jamaica (read here) there have been several competitions all over Europe. One of these events was held on last December 10th, in Rome, Italy: the first edition of “Queens on top”, where fourteen of the best Italian dancers challenged against each other to win the title of “Italy Dhq 2017” and the possibility to officially represent our country in the upcoming European Dancehall Queen Contest..
STEPS AND MOVES: OLD SCHOOL DEMONSTRATION BY FAMOUS OUTTA COLLO SQUAD
"Dancehall" is literally the name referred to those physical places in Jamaica, which were known, since 50’s, as places where it was possible to dance and listen to some music played by different selectors through huge speakers called "Sound System". As the years went by and thanks to evolution of this socio-cultural phenomenon, the name "Dancehall" has started to indicate a certain type of dance and music..
INTERVIEW: DEVIN DI DAKTA TALKS ABOUT GRAMMY NOMINATION
It is that time of the year when Grammy’s Awards nominations are back with their related arguments and celebrations. Despite the fact that some of the greatest artists, are missing from the Reggae category - which has made the fans very disappointed - Jamaican music lovers are still surprised and happy with the nomination of the young singer Devin Di Dakta, for the "Best Reggae Album of the Year" with his debut EP "Reggae For Her", produced by Sly & Robbie. While waiting for the new album produced by South Trade Records, let’s have a talk with this rising star..
INTERVIEW: TRINNY CEE - NO INTERNATIONAL DHQ CONTEST IN 2016
The popular Montego Bay event which is considered the official springboard for queens like Queen Latesha, Aneika Headtop, Tall Up, Danger and Mad Michelle is not going to be held this year. The “International Dhq Contest” that started to be an important competition in 1992, when Carlen Smith won the first queen title, became “official” in 1996, thanks to its promoter, Brian “Big Head” Martin; since that moment, the dancehall queen movement grown that much that a theme movie (based on the story of a single mother who signs to participate to the competition to hopefully win the money prize and help her family) even came out after a few..
THE DAGGERING EVOLUTION
The "daggering" is a jamaican dance performed by a couple formed by a woman and a man, it is born with the new era of dancehall music around 2008-2009. It is very similar to other Caribbean dance styles such as "grinding" or "perreo" where the female bend over (bend ova), moving her bottom (booty) almost touching male’s pelvic front zone. Then there are various moves where sexual positions and performances are simulated even jumping one on each other while following the music..
INTERVIEW: RAYTID "MR. BLAH DAFF"
Dancehall recording artist Tegana Hemmings better known as RAYTID is the son of veteran enterteiner and song writer Lloyd Hemmings, this burgeoning star hails from Kingston 13 and aims to make himself a name for himself since his debut in 2013.
Hi Raytid, please introduce yourself to Wildcat Sound fans dem. How did you start your musical career?
I am Tegana Hemmings aka Raytid, born and raised in Kingston Jamaica. I started my career in music from i was a youth cause I use to sing at talent/stage shows in my community..
INTERVIEW: DANCERS ABOUT CONTEMPORANEITY
“Dancehall” intended as an actual “dance” is nowadays evolving in different ways. Being influenced not only from Europe but now from all the rest of the world, Jamaica, churns out dozens of new crew with the most talented young dancers and hundreds of new steps. Compared to the past, there are many more dancers in Jamaica because they have finally found a motivation: the opportunity to work with their culture, their knowledge and their skills, also they have as samples so many other dancers that have been able to travel all around the world teaching or performing what they have learned or invented during parties and street local events in Jamaica..
INTERVIEW: FAMOUS FROM COLLO SQUAD
In occasion of his european tour, Alevanille interviewed the veteran dancer Famous for www.wildcatsound.com. Jason Nembhard aka Famous (Collo Squad Crew) is a popular dancer from Kingston (Jamaica) specialized in old/middle/new school. He started to dance since father Bogle was alive and danced with him as well..
INTERVIEW: WILDCAT SOUND MEETS KALADO
In occasion of the past edition of Venice Reggae Carnival, Wildcat Sound interviewed Kalado on the night of the closure date of the event, where the artist was the special guest. He was questioned about the recent musical arguments which he was involved in, Sting 2015 edition, A.N.G and so much more..
WILDCAT SOUND on THE WEEKEND STAR
THE WEEKEND STAR website interviewed WILDCAT SOUND about the new Vybz Kartel mixtape, released for Valentine's Day in tribute to the incarcerated deejay. We report the article, written by Shereita Grizzle (thanks) and published on February 12th. 2016..
STEPS AND MOVES: WOMEN IN DANCEHALL
Talking about dancehall, women’s role became very important during 90’s, when Bogle started to show his moves and DHQ Carleene created “Butterfly move” and showed her first “Headtops”; but at a cert point women’s presence at parties like “Mojito Mondays” or “Uptown Monday” has started to decrease, the “girl’s-sessions” were left at the end of the night because it lasted limited time..
INTERVIEW: MR. VEGAS TALKIN ABOUT DANCEHALL DAB AND BIEBER'S 'SORRY' CONTROVERSY
The multitalented artist Mr. Vegas has recently released a new single titled “Dancehall Dab”, drawing a lot of attention on him from social media but also attiring big critics from fans. The video, directed by Ty Black and coproduced by Vegas and Riva Nile Productions, appeared for the first time on the website Worldstarhiphop.com on the 12th of January 2016 and collected more than 100.000 plays in few days..
STEPS AND MOVES: PARRIS GOEBEL, "SORRY" OR NOT?
It’s three months by now from the first release of “Sorry” video by Justin Bieber, and the polemics against the choreographer Parris, not giving any kind of credits to dancehall style, are still going on.
As known, the “multicolored and fancy” video contains a lot of old/middle school steps and wine moves, being such a new trend for Bieber’s followers that were not used to this kind of dance..
