SHARP FOCUS: “We need more filmmakers who are passionate about the business.”
The notion that each new experience presents an opportunity to learn and grow is one that isn’t foreign to Mykal Cushnie. In fact, it’s a concept that the increasingly popular videographer and director/editor wholeheartedly subscribes to. Take, for instance, his work with the hit fashion reality series Mission Catwalk, which is about enter its second season. “For me, [the show] is a great learning process because, for one, it’s easily one of the biggest projects I’ve ever worked on. It really pushes me to do my best,” the New York Film Academy alum admits. “As director and editor for the show, the hours can be long and hard, but it’s a lot of fun.”
What’s the status on the upcoming season? “Well, we’ve finished shooting, so now it’s down to the editing,” the 31-year-old tells TALLAWAH.
Never one to pigeon-hole himself, Cushnie’s exploits in the local film and television industries over the years have seen him shooting TV ads, music videos, documentaries, buzzworthy cable shows like Centric’s Splash and award-winning films like Storm Saulter’s Better Mus’ Come. Asked to identify some filmmakers whose work he admires, Cuhsnie reels off a who’s who of Hollywood royalty, like Quentin Tarantino, Michael Mann and Clint Eastwood. “I like how the camera moves when they tell their story,” he points out. “It really engages the audience.”
Casting a keen eye over the current Jamaican film industry, Cushnie, who runs the Kingston-based DSE Media, observes, “It’s a small industry so the people that are in it have a big responsibility on their back, a big load. So we need more filmmakers and writers who are passionate about the business.”
The countless projects that have called on Cushnie’s knack for stunning visuals and eye for detail include Kimala Bennett’s forthcoming Combing through the Roots: The Politics of Hair in Jamaica. “It’s a documentary on hair as it relates to social status,” Cushnie tells me. “The stories of these women are very interesting, and the documentary is something that spans over a 30-year period. So it’s interesting to see how much we have grown as a people and our perceptions.”
In spite of the stellar body of work he has produced from behind the camera, Cushnie is quick to reveal that his greatest achievement is of a somewhat personal nature. “My biggest accomplishment is making my mother proud, seeing her son be successful at something that he loves. Turning what was a hobby into a career, a viable income source and a legitimate business,” he shares. “Work-wise, I’ve had a lot of great projects, and I learned from all of them. All of them helped to build character and are pieces of a greater puzzle.”
So where does he see himself in ten years’ time? “Probably on a beach somewhere just chilling. Maybe writing a book or taking pictures or making videos for fun not for work. But I think whatever is supposed to happen will manifest itself.”
Looking ahead to Mission Catwalk’s well-anticipated March 27 return, Cushnie suggests that the new season is poised to outperform last year’s breakout season. “I think the addition of designers from across the Caribbean is a very good move, and the experience of the crew has come in handy because we are doing it for a second time so we definitely would have learned from last season,” says Cushnie. “But I think the best thing about the show now is the inclusion of Caribbean designers because it shows that Mission Catwalk has grown from just a Jamaican fashion reality show to having people from the region come here to be a part of it. So now it’s a melting pot of cultures, and that makes for a more interesting series.”
TRIPLE THREAT: Cushnie, Keneea Linton-George (left) and Sonia Davidson attend the Mission Catwalk 2012 launch in Kingston.
Sprint king Usain Bolt and latest queen, Lubica Kucerova Slovak -- Bubica?! -- may have earned brownie points for finally going public (sort of) with their romance – but are the lovebirds talking engagement? A source close to the couple claims that the duo are thinking of making the next step to see if they are “compatible lifelong partners.” But another source close to the pair tells TALLAWAH: “They’re both happy with the way things are right now. They’re taking it slow.”
BACKGROUND CHECK: Who is Lubica Kucerova Slovak?
Age 28; born in Slovakia, but now resides in Jamaica; lived in Canada for a bit with her father; she’s a Ryerson University graduate and fashioner designer.
In 2005, Lubica debuted her eponymous fashion line in Toronto at the LG Fashion Week. In Jamaican style circles, she is known for her partnership with pop-dancehall star Tami Chynn on the award-winning line Anuna. Together they opened the ultra-femme boutique Belle in Kingston, the counterpart to the all-male boutique Base.
Lubica has also dabbled in journalism, freelancing for her native Slovakia’s Pravda newspaper. To date she has penned numerous published articles, including a 2009 piece on… (who else?) Usain.
She’s a Taurus; Usain, 25, is a Leo. [According to Zodiacfacts, the combination of Taurus and Leo can work if their relationship is based on understanding and compromise.]
BABY, IT'S YOU: Entertainers Ce'Cile and Chris Martin at the 2012 YVAs.
#Twinning! The blogosphere is abuzz that dancehall it couple Ce’Cile and Chris Martin are about to become parents, but that’s not the kicker. Word is Ce’Cile is several months into her pregnancy and she is carrying twins! How absolutely thrilling. The pair could not be reached for comment. But, provided that this is all true, the babies would be the first for both Chris and Ce’Cile, who’ve been an item for over a year now – even though they’ve gone to great lengths to keep their hot romance out of the public glare.
Meanwhile, on the professional front, Ce’Cile is tapping into her philanthropic side by launching the ‘Make A Change’ campaign, which will focus on improving health care, education, famine relief and providing development opportunities for African youths. The campaign will kick off this month in Kenya. Now that’s what we call harnessing your star power. ****
And speaking of talented people, TALLAWAH can confirm that actor and teen heartthrob Kevoy Burton (Ghett'a Life, Back A Yaad) is neither engaged nor making plans to tie the knot anytime soon.
Singer Romain Virgo just keeps racking up the trophies. On the heels of being named Entertainer of the Year at a JARIA-endorsed awards at Emancipation Park last month, Virgo picked up three prizes at the Linkage Awards in New York recently. The 22-year-old crooner snagged Male Vocalist of the Year, Most Consistent Artist, and Recording Artist of the Year. What’s more this winning streak marks a nice crescendo building up towards the May 8 release of Virgo’s keenly awaited sophomore record, The System, which is sure to include impressive cuts like “System” and “I Know Better.” ****
Who will headline this summer’s Reggae Sumfest? Reports are that the festival’s hardworking organizers are pulling out all the stops for this year’s extravaganza, scheduled for July 15-21 at Catherine Hall, Montego Bay. In addition to special Jamaica 50 activities, the Sumfest team will also be observing the 20th anniversary of the world-famous reggae-based fest, which annually brings together a galaxy of local and international music stars while drawing massive nightly audiences. Meanwhile, fingers crossed for appearances by Drake, Trey Songz or Kanye West. ****
Speaking of local must-do events, Caribbean Fashion Week (CFW), a special Jamaica 50 edition, is slated for June 6-12 inside the usual haunt of the National Indoor Sports Centre. Major details to be revealed anon.
RAW POWER: The singer during a recording session at Tuff Gong.
One reggae diva showing no signs of hitting a career lull anytime soon is Etana, who is hard at work writing and recording tracks for her as-yet-untitled third studio album, due out later this year from VP Records. According to the singer’s camp, the label has already previewed a portion of the tracks to be included on the album, but a decision on which songs will make the final cut will be made in the coming weeks.
But that decision won’t necessarily be an easy one for Etana, a self-described perfectionist for whom only the best is good enough. “When I’m in the studio, I take my job very seriously. It’s fun but certainly not a game,” says the big-voiced singer, whose previous efforts The Strong One and Free Expressions were warmly received. “If something is not right, it has to be corrected. I respect my fans; they support me through buying my records and concert tickets. They put me here so I must give them my best.”
Along with production work from hitmakers Steven McGregor, Shane Brown and Donovan Germain, the new album will possibly feature collaborations with the likes of reggae vet Freddie McGregor.
IRIE VIBRATIONS: March 3, New York. Consummate pianist and bandleader Monty Alexander observed his 50th year as a jazz musician with a stellar concert at the legendary Blue Note jazz club in New York, with special guest performers like Shaggy.
LEAN ON ME: March 10, Mandeville. The famous faces spotted at the festive Digicel 8.99 concert in Mandeville recently included the likes of turntable whiz Sanjay Smith and Digicel's Paula Pinnock-McLeod, who got close for the cameras.
SHINING STAR: March 10, Mandeville. Who better to headline the Digicel 8.99 concert series than megawatt dancehall veteran Cham, whose been dropping the new hits nonstop ever since his much-welcomed return to the scene? Up next: a smokin' hot performance in Sam Sharpe Square, MoBay this Saturday.
THREE'S COMPANY: March 10, Mandeville. Moments after ripping the stage at the Digicel concert, reggae singer-songwriter Protoje is flanked by the adorable and colleague Paula Pinnock-McLeod.
LADIES FIRST: March 11, Istanbul: Jamaica's golden girl Veronica Campbell-Brown shows off her prize alongside fellow medallists Murielle Ahoure of the Ivory Coast and bronze medallist Tianna Madison of Great Britain during the medal ceremony for the Women's 60M Final at the recently-concluded 14th IAAF World Indoor Championships at the Atakay Athletics Arena in Istanbul, Turkey.
TRUE COLOURS: Vybz Kartel graces new issue of Jamaica Journal.
Embattled dancehall entertainer Adidja ‘Vybz Kartel’ Palmer strikes a characteristically rude-boy pose on the cover of the newest issue of culture bible Jamaica Journal, which has published “Pretty Like a Colouring Book: My Life and My Art,” the text of a lecture the deejay delivered to a huge UWI Mona audience exactly one year ago under the auspices of the university’s Department of Literatures in English in association with the Mona Centre for Gender and Development Studies.
Heavily tattooed with his facial features partially hidden beneath a street-style cap, the deejay appears caught in a moment of fleeting introspection. The brightened flora adorning his tattooed hands adds a touch of eye-catching beauty to (and somehow softens) the rugged image.
As is common knowledge, the Jamaica Journal is the enduring landmark magazine (tasked with chronicling inspiring aspects of the culture) put out by the Institute of Jamaica. The new issue is labeled Volume 33 #3.
Considering the squeaky-clean history of the high-brow publication, the selection of Vybz Kartel (currently incarcerated on murder/conspiracy charges) to grace the cover is a somewhat astonishing choice, to put it mildly. That is not to say the deejay hasn’t made any significant-enough cultural contribution; To wit, his infectious hits and charismatic Gaza-bred lingo have helped to revolutionize the modern dancehall while influencing an entire generation. But still. This is Jamaica Journal – and, for some, it’s the last publication one would ever expect to have such a notorious public persona selling its cover.
But try telling that to UWI professor Dr. Carolyn Cooper, the ardent Kartel advocate, who was instrumental in the genesis of the very lecture that is now the magazine’s telling cover story. “Vybz Kartel’s picture on the cover of the high-quality, undersubscribed journal is likely to attract new readers,” argues Cooper in her latest Sunday Gleaner column. “The Institute of Jamaica must be congratulated for understanding the broad appeal of dancehall culture. If the French newspaper Le Monde can capitalize on our notoriety, why not Jamaica Journal?”
As it turns out, Dr. Cooper’s reasoning is not lost on long-serving editor of the Journal, Dr. Kim Robinson-Walcott, who points out that the issue of skin bleaching, which forms the crux of Vybz Kartel’s piece, is one of national import that her team felt compelled to shine the spotlight on at this time. “In terms of an official comment, with Jamaica Journal it is important for us to be recording, documenting all aspects of Jamaican culture, and the whole bleaching thing is an important aspect,” she observes. “I certainly have my concerns about it, very strong concerns, but I think it is something that needed to be recorded, and the marketability [of the cover] does come into the whole picture.”
As for the actual cover image, Dr. Robinson-Walcott emphasizes that there is more to it than meets the average eye. “I have my own views about what we were trying to convey with that cover, but I don’t want to say. I want to see if anybody gets what I wanted to convey. An artist never wants to say, ‘I was trying to depict so-and-so or convey so-and-so.’ You kind of hope that the audience gets it. And eventually if the audience doesn’t get it, then you might sort of say, well, ‘I was trying to do this or that.’ So I’m curious to see the feedback we get, other than the horror or the astonishment of selecting Vybz. I’m hoping that a little more comes across than that.”
Perhaps more importantly, the editor is confident that the magazine’s open-minded readers will get a real sense of what she and her team were trying to accomplish with this Kartel-led issue. “I doubt it is going to alienate the bulk of subscribers because it is the weight of the content that matters – and it is recording a very fascinating aspect of contemporary Jamaican culture,” she says of the publication that has previously featured the likes of Etana and Queen Ifrica. “Whatever one’s opinion of [Vybz Kartel] may be, I think that you will find the article a very interesting read.”
Every so often, a new artiste comes along with talent so outsized and immediately arresting that it’s hard to believe that he or she is a newcomer. Add 23-year-old Leontré Roberts to that list. The supertalented songstress is the writer-performer behind “Jail-house Rock,” a groovy reggae-soul hit about crime and punishment that’s rapidly climbing the charts and video playlists – and getting her properly noticed.
Admittedly influenced by such luminaries as Tanya Stephens, Dinah Washington and India.Arie, the 23-year-old singer-songwriter (who goes by Leontré) brings a nuanced, wise-beyond-her-years depth to the music scene, and it’s nothing short of refreshing.
As it turns out, Leontré is drawn to songwriting that captures the sometimes gritty realities of everyday humanity. “I actually wrote [“Jail-house Rock”] like ten years ago, and it’s really saying that there are consequences for our actions and you have to accept that,” says the St. Elizabeth native, who has been honing her skill for musical expression since her days at Hampton School.
Her sound, she says, is a unique mélange of styles. “First of all, there are no specific genres that I venture into. I like everything. I’m just inspired by things that I see and hear everyday,” she confesses. “I sing about most things that people can relate to.”
An unabashed lover of the arts, Leontré reveals that plans for her future include the publication of a poetry anthology and the (hopefully) summer release of her debut studio album, Middle-Aged 18-Year-Old. “I wrote most of those songs between age 15 and now. I like to write my own songs, and to be a true artist you have to have the full package and I think I am that,” says the singer, whose interests also encompass the media and fashion. “As an artiste, I stand firmly behind what I have to say and what I believe in, and I am very conscious of the messages that I am sending.”
If there’s one thing that has always stood about dancehall’s reigning juggernaut, known to fans as Konshens, it’s that while his music is locally crafted, his outlook is decidedly and consistently global. His interests span a wide range – from relationships, sex and wealth to the beauty and importance of family and humanity.
To wit, the deejay opens his long-awaited new album, Mental Maintenance, with the eternally idealistic “World Citizen,” on which he pleads for equality and universal harmony in a kind of “We Are the World” fashion. The result is a standout single that gives you pause and is sure to impress newcomers to the entertainer’s winning mix of hard-hitting dancehall and riveting reggae.
The same can be said for the overall album itself, which is a frequently superb 17-track collection that envelopes its spirited riddims and occasionally soulful harmonies in a tight packaging that, importantly, boasts international appeal. In repeated interviews, the 27-year-old star warned us that in crafting the album he made the deliberate decision to make it a study in moods, genres and textures. As such, the highlights here the run the gamut from message-oriented anthems to throwback grooves to tunes wholly dedicated to the wiles and fantasy-inducing appeal of the female form. Above all, even when the album hits a momentary lull, the deejay’s self-assurance and deep-rooted conviction in his material beams through. And that even applies to the occasions where he tries to sweet-talk his way into a girl’s heart – and panties – on tracks like “Simple Song” and “Bounce.”
He enlists first-rate collaborators like Tarrus Riley and Sizzla (“Rasta Imposter”) and Bounty Killer (“The Realest Song”), but it becomes evident that Konshens could hold it down all on his own. Almost devoid of lowlights, the album delivers popular radio hits like “Do Sumn” and “Represent” but also treats listeners to new stuff like the Wailers-invoking “Pop in my Headphones”; the seventies-tinged “Homewrecker”; and the one-drop splendour of “Leave Your Side,” a personal favourite.
The sole (minor) disappointment is the absence of career-launching hits like “Winner,” which could have been included even as a bonus track. Still, Mental Maintenance is a triumph in every sense, offering compelling testimony of Konshens’ larger-than-life talent, just how much he’s grown as an artist within the space of the last five years, and why he continues to defy easy classification. Tyrone’s Verdict: A-
BEST TRACKS: The meditative “Only Jah”; the slow-and-steady “Leave Your Side”; and the street anthem “Do Sumn”
When British-born R&B singer Estelle burst onto the scene with 2008’s funky smash “American Boy” (with megastar Kanye West), off her platinum-selling debut, Shine, one got the sense that this was a talented songstress attempting to find her way and establish a reputable name for herself across the pond.
Fast-forward to 2012, and Estelle is not only a household name, she has picked up a Grammy, and has earned props for melding hypnotic melodies and evocative lyrics in crafting a compelling brand of contemporary R&B-soul, with occasional touches of electro-pop and hip-hop.
The edgy singer-songwriter, who has in the past collaborated with the likes of Sean Paul and John Legend, doesn’t stray too far from her tried-and-proven formula on her solid 15-track sophomore album, All of Me, but here she emerges as a more assured version of lavishly gifted self.
Still, while such tracks as the swag-drenched “International (Serious),” alongside bad boys Chris Brown and Trey Songz, suggests an attempt to appeal to a wider youthful demographic, classy joints like “Thank You” and “Break My Heart” (featuring rapper Miami-based rapper Rick Ross) reminds us why we fell for Estelle in the first place. Tyrone’s Verdict: B+
DOWNLOAD: The funkadelic “Do My Thing,” featuring Janelle Monáe
PAGE BY PAGE: Shadid chronicles his family's legacy in new memoir.
Anthony Shadid died last month following an acute asthma attack while attempting to flee war-torn Syria on horseback, but the two-time Pulitzer-winning journalist (for coverage of the Iraq War) and author (Night Draws Near) is survived by a rich legacy that will doubtless fascinate and inspire generations to come. Prior to his death, Shadid completed on a memoir, House of Stone: A Memoir of Home, Family and a Lost Middle East, which is now available via Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Shadid, whose work for both the Washington Post and the New York Times has taken him to the heart of the Middle-East battle-zones, writes evocatively and beautifully about the process of rebuilding a family home in southern Lebanon. Full of his trademark minimalism and lyrical brilliance, the book is at once an unforgettable account of family history and reconstructing a life in the wake of physical and emotional mayhem.
Lauding Shadid’s work, writer Kai Bird proclaims “House of Stone should be read by anyone who wishes to understand the agonies and hopes of the Middle East.” Dave Eggers also made a glowing recommendation. “This is a book about war and terrible loss and a troubled region and his own troubled family history – written with the kind of levity and candour and lyricism we associate with say, Junot Diaz, and that makes the book, improbably, both a compulsive read and one you don’t want to end.”
STAGE PRESENCE: Lawes (left) and Rawlins in Not About Eve.
The Actor Boy Awards have announced their nominees for the 2011/12 season and as expected the snubs (glaring omissions!) and surprises (delightful inclusions!) abound. As is our sworn civic duty as a (wholly voluntary) culture watchdog, TALLAWAH takes a look at what the Actor Boy judges got right – and where they went terribly wrong:
1. Last Call comes first As expected, the well-wrought period musical Last Call, Keiran King’s wildly appealing homage to fifties Jamaica, friendship and unrequited love got tonnes of love from the judges, earning nods for Best Production and acting bids for Rishille Bellamy, Maurice Bryan and Andrew Lawrence. A total of 11 nominations, tying with Father HoLung’s stirringly ambitious but uneven Acts of the Apostles.
2. Nadean going for gold They say the cream will always rise to the top, and this is certainly true in the case of Nadean Rawlins, whose range and impeccable instincts as an actress continue to hold her in good stead in the industry. Little surprise then that two of her 2011 roles have been anointed with nominations. Perhaps this go-round she will finally land that elusive Best Lead Actress win – and in Not About Eve, she’s never been better.
3. What about us? It is absolutely unfathomable that, despite the pile of noms for Last Call, actress Sakina Deer, who gave the finest performance of her career, was overlooked. Similarly, Hairpeace’s mesmerizing Faith Gordon and George Howard, who was simply astonishing in Where Is My Father?, failed to earn supporting nominations.
4. Brian not in the heap Granted he’s been up for Best Director on umpteen occasions, but past winner Heap masterfully helmed last October’s revival of Karl Williams’ Not About Eve, drawing out gold-rich performances from Rawlins, Carol Lawes and Lisa Williams.
5. When will Camille Davis catch a break? Following her riveting, award-worthy turn opposite Glen Campbell and Teisha Duncan in Charlie’s Angels, it was a foregone conclusion that Davis was a shoo-in for another Best Actress nomination – and possibly a win. Apparently, the judges had other ideas.
6. The Year of Glen Kudos to Mr. Glen Campbell on the pair of well-deserved noms for his pitch-perfect performances in Charlie’s Angels and Breadfruit Kingdom. Royalty over cabba-cabba, wi seh!
SHARP FOCUS: “We need more filmmakers who are passionate about the business.”
TRIPLE THREAT: Cushnie, Keneea Linton-George (left) and Sonia Davidson attend the Mission Catwalk 2012 launch in Kingston.
