When his infectiously positive anthem ‘Life’ began rapidly spreading across the internet and Dancehall radio stations worldwide, Garland Rowe (better known by his stage name G-Whizz) was catapulted almost immediately onto the international scene. Contrary to popular belief, however, this success and recognition did not happen overnight for the 27-year-old singer, who has been perfecting his talents for the past five years. The success of the song, which he explains began initially as an attempt at self-motivation, was merely the result of years of hard work.
High Hopes?
“Mi were ready for it because of the hard work from when mi start out,” he says proudly. After all, it has a long road to recognition for the singer, who began singing in talent contests like Tastee’s to “get the tunes perfect and learn as much as [he could] learn.” Following the success of ‘ Life,’ he has worked tirelessly to secure his place as more than just a one-trick pony in the industry. In October 2009 he demonstrated his international appeal, hosting the Japanese sound-system Unity Sound’s ‘Bootleg Vol. 14’ mixtape, showcasing a number of his songs and introducing himself as a “vibrant, energetic youth.”
The follow-up singles ‘On & On,’ ‘Forward We a Go’ and more recently ‘Won’t Stop’ gave an insight into his unfailing work ethic, whilst his effort ‘Make Money’ was one of the more outstanding singles to arise from the Chester Walker-produced ‘Clock Riddim.’ After this promising start to 2010, including a number of international shows in the UK, the US and the Caribbean, he has continued to answer his critics. “People have high hopes,” he laughs before continuing, “but I'm just doing what I'm destined to do...It's like my job.”
Development is Key
This upbeat nature and his signature smooth R&B-influenced vocals, which he credits to artists like Usher and R. Kelly, have become typical of his musical style, which he describes as “kind of a Roots/Hip Hop/R&B/Reggae/Dance” vibe. Whereas he appeared to struggle a little with integrating all of these styles in his earlier singles, such as ‘Ghetto Life,’ ‘Hush’ and ‘Those Days Are No More,’ his progression - particularly over the past two years - is immediately clear when listening to his latest releases.
Not only showing more personal and creative maturity in dealing with his subject matter, he has also grown into his own vocal style so to speak, now flawlessly blending the musical elements that have influenced him. He feels that it is important “to be versatile and kind of change with the time and the type of music that people wan' hear but still keep your flava.” Still, he also explains that it is important to remember his Jamaican influences, stating “I have to fuse it, can't leave out the Roots, can't leave out the Reggae.”
Surviving the Industry
Whilst being fiercely competitive, the Jamaican music industry has nurtured a great many talents. In fact, he suggests that perhaps it is the level of competition that is to thanks for the constant evolution and progression of the Reggae and Dancehall scenes. “The music business in Jamaica is like a rat race,” he jokes. “Try and stay up on your game, bring the music that people wan' hear because if you slip there's somebody to take your place.”
When asked about the pressure of working in such an environment, he merely shrugs it off and explains bluntly, “Jamaican music is a fast-paced thing still, so you have to try and keep with it.” Rather than feeling threatened by this, if anything he seems genuinely proud of the local scene, with all this fresh, high-quality music coming from “a likkle island.” Although he acknowledges that it is important to develop as an artist to keep up with his peers, he feels no need to stray from his own brand of positive music. “That's the direction I want to keep…more positive, inspirational music that's how we gonna keep it.”
On & On - Lookinhg Toward the Future
He may be a little way from his dream of a Grammy win right now but with his passion, determination and self-belief, frankly it would probably be doing him a major injustice to expect any less than big things from G-Whizz. Particularly in the aftermath of the Haiti disaster that has cast a shadow of pain and suffering over many Caribbean nations, it is perhaps his enduring positive outlook that makes him stand out from many of his fellow artists.
He hopes that his music will continue to provide a proverbial breath of fresh air during in a period when many face difficulty and struggles. “I suppose it's the charisma and the charm in the music because that's what make people feel happy,” he adds reflectively. “Especially in the hard times, music will uplift people.”
Original Interview by Hannah O'Connor
Hannah O'Connor - With several years of experience, gaining a reputation as one of the hardest working and more creative young writers in hip hop ...
