Black musical artist speaks on the lockdown effects

BY MICHAEL THOMAS

An artist according to the definition of the word is a free spirit, a creator of works, a visionary, and as some would say a person who thinks outside the box.

According to Webster’s dictionary, an artistic personality type uses their hands and mind to create new things. They appreciate beauty, unstructured activities, and variety. They enjoy interesting and unusual people, sights, textures, and sounds. These individuals prefer to work in unstructured situations and use their creativity and imagination.

The question remains; in an era of distancing and partial lockdown, how does such a person thrive and be at their best from a creative point of view? Toronto Caribbean Newspaper went searching for answers and found some by speaking to three Reggae stars and a five-time Calypso monarch right here in Toronto.

Brian Thornhill AKA (Structure) is a force to be reckoned with anywhere in the calypso world. This Barbadian-born singer structures his lyrics in such a way that he commands his audience’s attention from start to finish.

Toronto Caribbean Newspaper asked Thornhill how the current situation affected his creativity? Thornhill answered, “It really has not affected me, especially in the early months. One difference is that in June and July, I go to Barbados and take part in the calypso competition, and now those things are canceled.

I won’t be able to perform on stage, but that would not prevent me from making music. My creativity has not been affected, not at all. It gives me time to do more composing, but I have missed the stage.”

Thornhill has some advice for the powers that be here in this city. “I think we should use this time to look back and find where we are, and where we need to be. We have to take the music forward with a plan.”

Speaking of a plan, Jay Harmony is an award-winning entertainer and a woman on a mission in these times. The soulful singer has not let the current situation get the better of her one bit. She told Toronto Caribbean Newspaper, “This has affected me in both a negative and positive way. The negative is that all shows are canceled. I was scheduled to go to Africa in May, but that is canceled.”

“On the positive side,” Harmony said, “People have to come up with new ways of saying and doing things, and thank god there is Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram. I can’t imagine what things would be like in this pandemic if those things did not exist.

I decided to do Facebook live just to test it out. It was supposed to be a 30-minute show, but people wanted more and more and this went on for about two hours. Since March 29^th, I have been doing this show every Sunday. I think we have been inducted into the online world.”

If anybody knows a thing or two about been online, that person would be Mr, Steele. Mobs (AKA Steele), is on almost every social media platform that music can be found on. This award-winning Reggae and Ballard singer told Toronto Caribbean Newspaper, “I had about seven festivals scheduled for this year. As we know, all of that is now canceled. From a financial perspective that has affected the artistry.”

“I am scheduled to do my third virtual show this week. When you are doing it in this situation it is not about the money, but about making sure your name stays out there and keeping fresh.” Mobs has a new album titled (Just Breathe) which dropped on July 11^th and can be found online.

How does one talk about Canadian singers and not mention mister performance himself? Toronto Caribbean Newspaper spoke to the incomparable Mr. Jay Douglas about how the lockdown has been for him.

“It is making me create more now,” he said. “We are artists when everything goes wrong. We are there to soothe and heal the souls. The world needs us more than ever now.”

 Douglas has an album out named (Muschange Jay Douglas & Sassafrass).   

“Winter turns to spring,” Mr. Douglas said. “Everything changes. It can only affect me if we as humans on this earth are badly disconnected. The greatest teacher is mother nature, and the teacher will be always there when the students show up.”