At 23, Kwasi Robinson is one of T&T's most respected local urban music producers. He is the man behind six-year-old production house, Studio 53. From Jamelody to Isasha, Squeezy Rankin, Mr King and Benjai, Orlando Octave and Devon Matthews-Studio 53 has left an impressionable mark on the local music scene. Remarkably, though, Robinson assured he was no where close to where he had planned on taking local music.
Youth in focus on No Scruples
"We're releasing a project called No Scruples," said Robinson, explaining that his team has been hard at work for the past year. The No Scruples riddim will hear the voices of 18 local urban artistes, among them Mr King, and younger artistes like Flawless and Chin Mischif. "We've done a music video but we've featured the younger artistes," he revealed, explaining that the overall goal was to encourage the growth of the music through the new artistes. The riddim features 12 budding entertainers, a strategy that Studio 53 has employed as part of its goal to establish a stronger local front and a better appreciation among the local audience for our music.
It's time for evolution
Highlighting that prior to the emergence of Buffy and Swappi two years ago, the soca fraternity suffered an almost decade-long lapse of young talent. Robinson said this should not be. "Before Buffy and Swappi, KMC and Bunji were the 'young' artistes on the scene," said the hit maker. He said the lack of youthful presence locally was detrimental for the local industry. "There's always a new artiste on the scene in Jamaica. If we don't have young artistes with innovative music like Jamaica, we won't be able to compete with them," he asserted. He said young artistes should be given the opportunity to express themselves. "Constant recording coupled with promotion via publicity and proper marketing, he said, would result in local music being better embraced here at home and overseas. "My goal is to fuse all of the urban music and help soca and calypso music evolve," said Robinson, adding that he believed soca music would eventually be played across the airwaves, long after Ash Wednesday.
Real Creativity at Studio 53
An official launch for the No Scruples project is in the pipeline. While a date and venue have not yet been confirmed, the young producer said beyond that launch, several other projects would be unleashed. Studio 53 is buzzing with creative energy. As the mastermind behind the umbrella company, Robinson encourages fellow producers to start their own businesses. Out of Studio 53 came Penco Music, Blue Larva Entertainment, Spectacular Productions and Short Boss Productions. He noted that the industry's stakeholders must invest in its growth and development. He acknowledged that while the Government could put systems in place for financial assistance to aid in development, the people who are directly involved in the music industry must mind their business and help it reach its full potential.
No stopping youth
For now, Studio 53 is working hard to bring the talent of young T&T to the forefront. "There needs to be a constant flow of new talent. They bring innovation," he argued. He noted that while calypso was an older genre, it would still receive the support of young T&T, whose support would pour in for younger artistes like Brian London and Karen Asche. Highlighting the ingenious tact of soca artiste Machel Montano, Robinson said, "Machel may not be the best singer but he understands that by surrounding himself with young, fresh talent and going with the flow of what's youthful at that particular time, he's bound to get the love of the masses." With youth emergence on his mind, Kwasi Robinson keeps going. He believes in his goal, and as co-executive producer for the local music countdown, Hard Local on Gayelle TV, he's making strides slowly but surely to the top.