Urban Heartbeat Visits Jamaica - Interview with Founder Jim Avignon The Street Art Project “Urban Heartbeat – An Artistic Encounter in Public Spaces” arrived in Jamaica on February 24-25 2012.  The founder of the project is German artist Jim Avignon. Urban Heartbeat, is regional project featuring artists from Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean working with Jim Avignon on creating a mural in a public place.  We interviewed Jim 3 weeks before he and his team arrived in Jamaica. 

A Conversation with Kalilah Enriquez, producer of the Jamaican documentary “Man a Gallis” This week we interview journalist Kalilah Enriquez, producer & narrator of the documentary “Man a Gallis”. In the documentary Jamaican dancehall artistes discuss sex, love, dancehall and HIV.  The documentary features some of Jamaica's major dancehall artists including Vybz Kartel, Beenie Man, Mr. Vegas, and Dancehall Queen Carlene. Here is our conversation with Kalilah.

Interview with Jamaican filmmaker and videographer Michael "Ras Tingle" Tingling This week we interview Jamaican filmmaker and Videographer Michael Ras Tingle Tingling. His is the chief principle of Tingle Films that has done quite a few music video production, films and documentaries in Jamaica. Michael is willing to “push buttons” with his productions and is always willing to assist in introducing film production to the youths in Jamaica. . With a passion and dedication to his country and family his upcoming projects include documentaries with a focus on stories indigenous to Jamaica and television programmes aimed to empower and uplift our youths. Here is our conversation with Michael.

A Conversation Bruce Wayne Gillies producer/filmmaker of “Rude Boy” the Jamaican motion picture This week interview filmmaker Bruce Wayne Gillies who is using crowd funding to underwrite the production of “Rude Boy”  a Jamaican motion picture. Rude Boy is the coming-of-age story of Winston Brown who navigates the shanty town gangs, recording studios and government yards. Winston pioneers ska music into reggae celebrating his Rastafarian transformation and reaching rock star status.

Interview with Zenesha Zenny Riley, assistant Director & Producer of the Jamaican documentary “ Hit me with Music" This week we interview Nicetime Productions Limited Productions Manager and Assistant Director/Producer, Zenesha Zenny Riley about their documentary on “ Hit me with Music”. Nice Time is a film company committed to capturing and documenting in film and music significant cultural and sports achievements of Jamaicans. Here is our conversation with Zenesha.

A conversation with Menelik Shabazz the creator, director and producer of the documentary film Lovers Rock This week we interview Menelik Shabazz the creator, director and producer of the documentary film Lovers Rock.  The documentary tells the story of how Lovers Rock music defined a generation in the late 70s and 80s hugely impacting on British Pop Culture.  The feature length documentary contains interviews, comedy sketches, dance, live performances and archive footage which are used to shed light on the music and the generation that embraced it.  Here is our conversation with Menelik Shabazz.

A Conversation wtih Yola Gray-Baker the Fashion designer and CEO of House of Flayva This week we interview Yola Gray-Baker the Fashion designer and CEO of House of Flayva. House of Flayva is known for their street life designs which, draws from Jamaican culture and the vibrant colors of the Caribbean. Here is our conversation with Yola.

Interview with popular Jamaican Entertainer Christopher “Johnny” Daley Interview with popular Jamaican Entertainer Christopher “Johnny” Daley . The multi-talented entertainer does it all, film, television, radio, theatre and comedy.   In 2010 Chris won Best Actor in a Lead Role winner at the 20th Actor Boy Awards in Jamaica.

A Conversation with Caribbean Beta PitchFEST winner, Dmitri Dawkins This week we speak with Dmitri Dawkins the winner of  PitchFest the Startup Contest at Caribbean BETA, which was recently held in Kingston, Jamaica. Caribbean Beta was the first of its kind Tech Entrepreneurship Conference that brought together the smartest Caribbean minds in a single event to connect to each other, learn from region & global experts, hear success stories and pitch their ideas in a Startup contest called PitchFEst. Dmitri Dawkins pitched his idea and won the PitchFEST.

Interview With Jana Bent – Producer of The Reggae Pickney™ Children’s Edu-Tainment Series Jana Bent is a Jamaican who has worked in the entertainment business as a dancer, choreographer and backing vocalist, touring with The Wailers, Julian Marley, Damian Marley and Shaggy among others. She recorded 3 albums of all original songs, with her Producer/brother Rupert Bent III, (musical director for Sean Paul) including the hits: “You So Fine”, “My Man Dat” and “No Regrets” featuring Bounty Killer. 

Making Bad Friday Better: An Interview with Deborah Thomas Dr. Deborah A. Thomas is a professor anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania, a dancer, and most recently added filmmaker to her accomplishments. Deborah directed and produced the new documentary Bad Friday in partnership with her husband John L. Jackson, Jr.; Junior "Gabu" Wedderburn; and Junior "Ista J" Manning. Bad Friday focuses on a community of Rastafarians in western Jamaica who annually commemorate the 1963 Coral Gardens "incident," a moment just after independence when the Jamaican government rounded up, jailed and tortured hundreds of Rastafarians

Interview with Sharon Gordon and Carlyle McKetty of The Coalition to Preserve Reggae Music (CPR) This week we interview Sharon Gordon and Carlyle McKetty of The Coalition to Preserve Reggae Music (CPR).  The Coalition to Preserve Reggae Music (CPR) is a charitable organization, established in 2005 to bring reggae lovers together to work to preserve the art form and its traditional message of healing and unity.  Sharon and Carlyle are also the organizers of the annual Reggae Culture Salute which not only an event but a campaign to increase understanding of the development and significance of reggae music.

RasTa: A Soul's Journey Interview: Patricia Scarlett An eighteen-year veteran of the international television industry, Patricia has developed an impressive list of clients, partners and co-producers around the world. As president and owner of Scarlett Media Inc., a television and film distribution consulting company, she has developed ongoing relationships with many international broadcasters and producers, including a longstanding relationship with the South African Broadcasting Corporation beginning with SABC support for the documentary series “The Five Minute Project” in 1997, and including pre-buys of the popular children’s series “The Adventures of The AfterMath Crew” from 1999 to the present.

An Interview with Jamaican Media Consultant & Author, Marcia Forbes, PhD Dr. Forbes is author of the book, Music, Media & Adolescent Sexuality in Jamaica.  She is well known in Jamaica for her success in transforming the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation (JBC) into the privately owned Television Jamaica (TVJ).  She was also the keynote speaker at Atlanta’s Jamaican Independence Ball in 2011.

An Interview with David Ritter the Director of the Documentary, "The Forgotten Faces of Jamaica”: History books have long told the stories of scores of African slaves who were chained and taken across the Atlantic Ocean by white oppressors. Since then, the stories of these slaves have been the canvas upon which most West Indians have drawn their ancestral portraits. However, what most people tend to forget is that the Caribbean region has a vast history that is tied to other ethnic groups, which had no connection to the slave trade. These are they who came after chattel slavery ended and human capital and labor were still in high demand. These are the indentured servants who came from France, Germany, Wales, Spain, Syria, China, and India.

A Conversation with filmmaker Diana O'Gilvie on the film "The Jerk Tour" This week we have a conversation with award winning filmmaker, Diana O'Gilvie as she delves deep into Jamaican jerk cuisine with her upcoming film "The Jamaican Jerk Tour." Diana explores Jamaican jerk cuisine’s humble beginnings to its rise on the global culinary stage.  Diana plays host in the film as she traverse from the streets of Kingston, the hills in Walkers Wood and to the birthplace of jerk, Boston, Portland.  The tour hops across the ocean to Florida, New York and New Mexico to feature young, innovative chefs and their interpretations of Jamaican jerk spices.

Conversation with Deika Morrison, the founder of Do Good Jamaica. This week we interview Deika Morrison, the founder of the online information portal Do Good Jamaica. The website is a clearing house for projects by civil society organizations in Jamaica. It provides an opportunity for organizations to collaborate and individuals to verify NGO’s.  Here is our conversation with Deika.

Interview with Jamaican Fashion designer Asanyah A. Davidson This week we  have a conversation with  Jamaican Fashion designer Asanyah A. Davidson. Born in Clarendon, Jamaica Asanyah is ready to make her mark on the fashion world with recent release of  her own label Circa24. Asanyah spent several years in the fashion industry and completed her MA in Design Studies at Central St Martins in London England.

A Conversation with Jamaican golfer Carl Whyte, from the reality show “Big Break Indian Wells” This week we have a conversation with Jamaican golfer Carl Whyte, who is currently a contestant on the Golf Channel’s reality show “Big Break Indian Wells”.  Carl hails from Manchester Jamaica and was a track athlete representing Jamaica during high school. He moved to the United States in 1997 on a track scholarship.  Carl no longer a track star but took up the golf 6 years ago and  went pro 2010. On the reality show “Big Break Indian Wells” he is known as the “The Jamerican”. Here is our conversation with Carl Whyte.

"All That Glitters" - Interview with International Jewelry Designer Pascale Rowe Her work reminisces the days for which true mavens of style long: The days of Garbo, Dietrich and Monroe. A time when a woman's private quarters was only referenced as the "boudoir"; a party was not a party without champagne and Sinatra and a lady never acquired an item unless among the myriad of adjectives that involved in its description was the word custom, rare, or one-of-kind.  

Interview with Unicyclist Christo Coetzer This week we interview Christo Coetzer a 24 year old South African Unicyclist who toured the island on his unicycle. He started his ride on March 28, 2011 at the Bob Marley Museum in Kingston going from east to west through St Thomas, Portland, St Mary, St Ann, Trelawny, St James, Hanover and Westmoreland. He ended his ride in Kingston via the south coast. Here is our conversation with Christo.

An Eye for Beauty: Interview With Kerrian Smart I once read that Christopher Columbus upon sailing into the pristine waters of the Caribbean Sea and coming across the Island of Jamaica, was not only quite taken by the majesty of the Island itself, but was even more staggered by the  beauty of the women he encountered there.  For hundreds of years Jamaican women have been revered for their diverse beauty which has among its numbers several international pageant winners and finalist, as well as world famous models and actresses.

Conversation with Kellie Magnus co-coordinator of the Anancy Festival Kingston This week we interview Kellie Magnus, co-coordinator Anancy Festival Kingston.  Kellie is a Caribbean author and journalist. She is the author of the “Little Lion” series of children’s books. She received her undergraduate degree from Harvard University and an MBA in Entertainment and Media Management from Columbia University. In addition to writing and publishing children's books she writes feature articles on Caribbean entertainment and media. She also serves on the board of the Early Childhood Commission in Jamaica and owns the small publishing company Jackmandora.

Conversation with Wendy Lee, owner and CEO of La Pluma Negra This week we interview Wendy Lee, owner and CEO of La Pluma Negra. The company was conceived in 2003 with the idea  to create simple, classy graphic designs for everyone, on a comfortably soft, quality garment. They create tough, sexy, humourous designs that reflect the “Out of Many” experience that makes the World. Here is our conversation with Wendy....

A conversation with Scheed Cole This week we interview the multi-talented Scheed Cole, Owner Prop and More Limited/Scheed International.  A son of the inner city, Scheed Cole, inventor, painter, sculptor, ceramist, graphic artist, interior decorator, set designer, video editor, animator and fabricator, has been an Art Educator since 1997. He has been mastering fine arts for the past 17 years and has been creating props for the past 10 years. Scheed was first recognized as a fine arts sculptor having had few exhibitions and having been commissioned to create sculptures for both public and residential areas.

A Conversaton with Jamaican Fashion Blogger, James Black This week we speak to Jamaican Fashion Blogger James Black. JB, as she is fondly known, blogs what’s hot in fashion in Jamaica and abroad at the JB Style Zone. She is also the Co-Director of a Jamaican female clothing line called 'Yahdie Conscious' and also has a a line of headpieces called 'GlamHEAD'. 

Interview Jamaican, Simone Harris, founder of "Choreography is Copyrightable" This week we interview Jamaican, Simone Harris, founder of "Choreography is Copyrightable".  The "Choreography is Copyrightable" is an initiative designed to inform and educate choreographers about their rights under copyright law. According to Harris, “choreographers in the Caribbean region have for far too long been treated as the forgotten creators of original content….they have just as much legal protection from infringements as musicians and should be aware of their rights under law.”

Conversation with Jamaican Based Fashion Designer, Lubica This week we interview Jamaican fashion designer, Lubica. Originally from Slovak Republic, Lubica now resides in Kingston, where she has a small boutique store, Base Kingston & Belle.  Most recently she has formed a partnership with Tami Chynn to design a new clothing line. Here is our conversation with Lubica.

11 Questions for 2011 With Peter Lloyd Peter Lloyd is a face and voice that Jamaicans have grown up with for nearly 20 years.  From numerous films and TV, where he is remains the popular Matthew Robinson on Jamaica’s #1 drama Royal Palm Estate, to radio and theatre, Peter Lloyd is currently enjoying success as a recording and performing artiste.  A Rasta and family man, Peter Lloyd’s easy sexy appeal, ranging from teens to seniors, is undeniable.  His latest CD, Stories From I Father’s Country, was released on March 11, 2011 on his own Blacklight Records label.

A conversation with Chef and Steward, Jamaicans living in Dubai This week we speak to the husband and wife team Lij and Kari Heron, Jamaicans living in Dubai . Lij is a sous chef in a fine-dining restaurant. Kari is a writer, photographer, filmmaker, and of course, the head cook & bottle washer in their low-carb home kitchen which they have recently taken online with a new blog called "Chef and Steward". Her photography work was recently displayed ever festival of Jamaican Art & Culture in the Middle East. Here is our conversation with them.

A conversation with the CEO/designer of the Ma-tings clothing line Introduction - This week we interview Alex Evequoz the CEO/designer of the hot Jamaican Dancehall clothing line Ma-ting. Alex Evequoz is from Switzerland and has a passion for Jamaica and reggae music. His clothing-line which features many of today’s popular Jamaican artists has gained many fans in a very short time.

10 Questions with attorney, & writer Philippa Davies This week we interview attorney, writer, and St. Andrew High School for Girls graduate Philippa Davies, author of Travel Light: Memories of a Covenant Journey  which was published on February 11th, 2011.

10 Questions with Gayle Cunningham from Kid Friendly Jamaica This week we interview Gayle Cunningham the founder of the blog Kid Friendly Jamaica. There are lots to do in Jamaica for adults but what is there to do for children. Gayle has set out on an adventure blogging on what is really there to do in Jamaica for children. The site was recently nominated for a Jamaica Blog Award and is certainly one to watch.

Interview Jollywood Productions, Kanhai Condison This week we interview Kanhai Condison, CEO of the Jamaican based, Jollywood Productions. Started in 2008, the main goal of the company is to HELP build the FIlm/Acting Industry in Jamaica. They have releases a set of short films online  with Jamaican actors. They are currently working on a few feature films ( God's Window, Snow, I Sleeper, Broken, Parallel Points and The Cycle) to be released in 2012 and 2013. Jollywood Productions have six sections; Jollywood ENTERTAINMENT, Jollywood FILMS, Jollywood MAGAZINE, Jollywood MERCHANDISE, Jollywood TALENT and Jollywood TV.  They recently released a  series of online clips on Youtube and Facebook with rehearsal footage from their up-coming local TV series, S.L.E.E.PERS .  Here is our conversation with Kanhai Condison.

Conversation with creators of the Jamaican film "Out the Gate" This week we interview The Village Brothers, a directorial team that consists of R Steven Johnson and Qmillion, directors of the Jamaican film "Out The Gate". The film is a cross cultural urban action/drama that follows the journey of Jamaican E-Dee coming to America to pursue his dreams in the entertainment industry. Shot on location in Jamaica and Los Angeles, this film boast a cast that reads like a who’s who in Jamaican entertainment including Paul Campbell  Oliver Samuels, and dancehall reggae artists E-Dee, Mr. Lexx, Edley Shine, Lady G, Ms. Triniti, and more. Here is our conversation with the Village Brothers

A conversation with Heneka Watkis-Porter, CEO/Marketing Director of Patwa Apparel This week we have a conversation with Heneka Watkis-Porter, CEO/Marketing Director of Patwa Apparel. It was always been her dream to own and operate a business and so Heneka started the operation of PATWA Apparel 2 years ago in august, 2007.  PATWA Apparel is a brand that is deeply rooted in the culture of the Jamaican society.  It honors the colorful dialect of the Jamaican people, recognizing that it is penetrates deep into the minds of all people.  The line features casual clothing with Jamaican expressions while it provides an explanation in English.  The response to this simple idea has been very profound with a far-reaching impact.  The expressions on the clothing has evoked many a smiles from all those who have come in contact with it.

Interview with Jonathan Gosse a co-founder of the Jamaica Fat Tyre Festival and vice president of SMORBA This week we interview Jonathan Gosse a co-founder of the Jamaica FatTyre Festival, Jamaica premiere mountain biking event. The Jamaica Fat Tyre Festival is a week-long mountain biking extravaganza that highlights Jamaica's unique, vibrant culture and awesome trails.  Jonathan is also the Vice President of the St. Mary Off-Road Bicycling Association (SMORBA). This non-profit organization has been running the event for the past 6 years. SMORBA is dedicated to locating, building and maintaining bicycling opportunities on Jamaica’s famed North Coast.

Interview with Joelle Cohen Wright Author of “A Soh Wi Do It” This week we interview Joelle “Wendy “ Cohen Wright who recently penned her first book “A Soh Wi Do It!”.   Many of her ‘Jamaicanized’ stories and original sketches have been ‘viral’ on the Internet for several years. Many who have read her work has been known to laugh uncontrollably from the hilarious portrayal of the characters in the sketches. Wendy’s impressive writing portfolio includes the very funny Jamaicanized version of the Titanic, Cinderella (Punchinella) and most recently the sketch on the American Airline crash in Jamaica. Her work is featured in the Jamaicans.com forums and  “Wendy’s Story Corner”   for over 12 years and also enjoyed by many around the world. Here is our conversation with Wendy.

Rasta Art - 5 Minutes with Artist, Geary Taylor It only takes a casual perusal of painter Geary "Rasta" Taylor's work collection to understand why it was not long after deciding to make is calling his career that word began to spread about the spread about the Tampa
Dread who could translate any artistic vision suggested onto almost any medium presented.  Underground buzz grew to a cacophonious drum beat and soon order were coming in from all over the globe, not only young urban trendsetters, but high profile celebrities were all now were all clammoring for a Masterpiece from the Master.

A Conversation with Jamaican bag designer, Alia Michèle Orane This week we interview up and coming  Jamaican bag designer, Alia Michèle Orane. A talented Kingstonian, Alia resided in New York City for many years before recently moving back to Jamaica, where she makes her bags using a small sewing machine. She has been featured in many online publications and print magazines as one of the hottest and hippest bag designers.