Since his entry into the local music industry, gospel/inspirational singer Shane "Rizon" Gibson has always addressed social issues through his music. From his first hit single titled Reach, a song about overcoming obstacles, to Temptation, which focuses on infidelity, it is no surprise he has now chosen to address perpetrators of crime against children in his new release-No Entry. There has been a recent spike in heinous crimes against children in T&T, with the latest being the untimely death of two-year-old Aaliyah Johnson last month. Her mother, Candice Johnson, was slapped with a manslaughter charge. But it was not just Aaliyah's death that plucked at the singer's heart strings, causing him to put pen to paper. If anything, her unfortunate demise just re-ignited the anger he felt when he began writing the song one year ago. "I have a great passion for children," said Gibson, who is not yet a father.
He said his anger was kindled since the death of Sean Luke and Amy Annamunthodo. "I really wanted to do something more than just being angry without action." He says initially he wanted to start a vigilante group. Then it struck him, why not use his music to give children a voice. The result-No Entry. Gibson says the song is a combination of things. It is not only about child abuse, but about abuse across the board. "This song speaks to abuse of any kind on any level. It is about one making the decision not to allow negativism into their life. "There is a part in the song where you will here children singing. The first verse speaks about the wrath of the same meek and loving God we know, and what His intentions are towards those who harm children," says Gibson. "I felt the need to paint a vivid picture of the consequence perpetrators would face for doing this because the word of God does speak to this matter. And we learn of His wrath when He clears the temple of gamblers. "Children are so precious in God's sight, you have to be losing your senses to interfere with them," he opined.
No Entry praised
The track was recorded and produced by Gibson at his production house-Da Voicebox Productions, and has been receiving rave reviews from both the regional and international community since its release a month ago. He says there have been a lot of interest in the song from as far as Texas, USA and Australia. Gibson is actually billed to headline a concert tiled No Entry at the AT&T Centre in San Antonio, Texas on July 7. The occasion is part of a six-day World Leadership Summit for youth ministers."I also received calls from a radio network in St Vincent requesting the song and video; Tempo wants the video for a music countdown, and in Australia a Christian magazine and Web site will feature me on their cover," Gibson said.
Campaign
The song has inspired the No Entry Campaign, which Gibson says is still being fine-tuned at the moment. He said the campaign is going to be youth-based and will take on outreach programmes, online social networking and merchandising. "May is actually No Entry month," Gibson said with a smile. "So we are really going to be penetrating online social networks, Facebook particularly. People will be encouraged to take the No Entry Pledge-that is just pledging against anything negative in your life." As part of the campaign, he also plans to do a No Entry school tour, but not without the permission of the Ministry of Education. "The Minister was strongly against extra curricular activities being held during school hours, so I need to have a discussion with him regarding the tour before I can actually start it." Also on the UWI graduate's agenda is an orphanage tour. Gibson says he is part of a charity group called The Hope Committee led by his church. The committee visits orphanages bringing gifts and implementing programmes that will serve as part of a holistic development for these displaced children. "The orphanage is really a great place to visit because most of the children would have come from very hostile environments," he said. Both tours, he says, are in need of proper funding. "I do not want to do just another tour that really does nothing for children at the end of the day. "What I want to bring to them must be something of meaning, something that will help to prepare them for this world. But it will take some steady funding to pull it off." Liberate, the new album Gibson has also completed a new album titled Liberate. It features 12 tracks including Reach, Amnesia and other former releases like Preserve and Miracle, along with brand new hits. "The album will be launched on May 26, at least that is the set date at this point," Gibson said. "I want to also launch the full No Entry campaign on the same day too. But we'll see how it goes."
Empowerment is key
Gibson is a firm believer that empowering someone by feeding them the right knowledge is key to creating a people who make better and well-informed choices. "No Entry, the song, the video, the campaign are all about empowering people," he said. "If we empower our children, as young as they are, they will find a way to let someone know if they are being treated negatively. And when I say we, I am not only talking about parents. I am talking to teachers, neighbours, NGO's, the media, the community. It is our job to ensure that they have a voice. That they know right from wrong. "What we are focusing on with No Entry is really teaching people how to accept only the things in life that's positive."
