“Brutal Tracks' main aim is to make our artistes and even those not affiliated with our studio, viable and marketable, internationally. We aim to put Guyanese music on par with the international market, and to raise the standards of our music higher than the standards attained in the Caribbean.”
These were the words of Brutal Tracks' Chief Engineer, Nigel Abrahams, during an exclusive interview with this newspaper on Monday.
According to Abrahams, the studio has so far made contact with studios in Europe, Japan and elsewhere, and has sent samples of the local production of its Brutal Jammers Band.
This was done with the aim of first promoting Guyanese music on the international arena, thus making way for any eventual major development that would lead to a significant ‘breakthrough' of Guyanese music on the international market.
The same will be done with the production of other musicians attached to the studio and for even those not directly affiliated to the music entity. Local music will be eventually released and sold in many foreign states, paving the way for a Guyanese stronghold at an international level.
Brutal Tracks is also prepared to promote the music of artistes attached to other recording studios, since they claim that their intention is to promote and internationally market, the music of all Guyanese.
Emphasising on the need to uplift Guyanese music, Abrahams, however, mentioned that the studio is not just interested in marketing ‘just about any song that is recorded', but also focuses on hits that will make an impact overseas.
Abrahams noted that while the recording of local music has seen a rapid upsurge recently, it must be noted that only recordings of quality will make an impression internationally.
He pointed out that for any entity or country to produce unique musicians, a high level of discipline must be established and maintained. He also noted that musicians must have a hunger for the trade which is a vital factor in the aid of rapid development.
Responding to the question of talented musicians approaching the studio without the funds to pay for recordings, Abrahams responded that Brutal Tracks will work out a deal to benefit both the musician and the studio when the music is completed and produced. “While such individuals may not have to pay for the recording, a deal will be worked out to bring surpluses to both parties, after the release of the album, single, or CD.
At the moment, the studio is working with several local artistes who have been deemed ‘marketable', and whose music will be distributed to the international market on completion of recordings.
Abrahams informed this newspaper that several persons have approached the studio with the idea that there voices are marketable, not accepting the fact that this has to be decided by the studio officials.
While such persons may not have taken it nicely when told that they are not ready for marketing, Abraham noted that Brutal Tracks is a brand new music entity which is not ready to put its finances at stake without sufficient cause.
He stated that so far, the studio has been depending on its mother company, Swansea, to finance the recordings of both the studio and the Brutal Jammers Band, which has forced it to be even more careful with expenditure.
Reflecting on a recent performance in Jamaica, he said that the band is ready to take the Caribbean by storm since it has made a positive impact in Jamaica, a country reserved mostly for the ‘reggae elite'.
Abrahams noted that while Jamaica is touted for its reggae supremacy and Trinidad for soca, the Brutal Jammers Band performing a wide range of music, makes it ready to ‘storm the Caribbean and international shores'.
The engineer said that from visiting several countries, it has been determined that Guyana has a large percentage of the better singers in the region.
The Brutal Jammers Band is preparing for another Caribbean tour which will take it to a destination to be announced just before the band's departure. Every musician in the band is at present building tracks for originals they have composed, according to Abrahams. (Alex Wayne)