Guyanese should be real and truthful in their music
Quacy Hector
Quacy Hector

– Upcoming artist encourages patriotism through their art

THE issue of Guyanese entertainers imitating international accents in their music and radio ads is an age-old matter which does not receive the necessary spotlight it deserves.
This is according to aspiring recording artiste, Quacy Hector, who says that it is not easy being influenced by aspects of this practice but, personally, he wants Guyanese to be proud enough to promote their own culture in their music.
The Linden-born 26-year-old says that, although he is not well-known or seasoned in the business, he is conscious of the factors which influence these actions in other budding and well-known local artistes.
From the age of 10, Hector says he developed a passion for music through writing poetry and he, like many others, was drawn to the alluring lifestyle of international rappers such as 50 Cent and Eminem.
As he grew, he put his talents to work, in 2006, when he performed his music at 704 Sports Bar Club and Sky Lounge during Poetry, Jazz and Hip Hop Nights.
‘True Hector, No Lie’ (THNL) is the brand name he gives his creations and in his own time, he writes, records and self-edits Reggae/Dancehall music videos, publishing his work on platforms such as Youtube and Facebook.
The main challenge this presents, however, is locating a quiet environment for recording. Nonetheless, Hector relates that he manages fairly well as he has gotten used to doing things on his own.

When it comes to the matter of originality, sound and style of singing, the artiste says he looks up to the likes of Kwasi Ace and Blaze Antonio as upcoming artistes who stay true to their roots.

Speaking on Blaze Antonio, he said: “He’s not singing with any [foreign] accent. He actually started a gig for himself but that’s one type of music, that’s comedy.”
He says that there are many other genres and ways through which Guyanese can promote and be proud of their culture but the state of Guyana’s Music Industry leaves much to be desired.

“We don’t have a music industry and Guyanese have this mindset that Guyanese artistes don’t ‘mek it’,” Hector explained, adding: “They prefer to go and listen to other artistes or they won’t pay to see Guyanese artistes. They have to kill that mentality that they have.”
Hector then went on to add: “These Guyanese artistes who sing like Jamaican artistes, it’s because we don’t have a music industry and we don’t promote it or push it. Normally what Guyanese artistes do is try to go abroad and try [to get famous] from abroad.”
Hector says that the media also plays a big role in shaping the music society pays attention to and deems important.

“A lot of artistes may be a fan of Vybz Kartel or Alkaline or Drake and they try to imitate the artistes because those are the only persons they’re actually getting to look at,” the musician explained.
Every culture, he says, has their own style and sound of music, but Guyanese need to work on their originality and being proud of their own accent.

“They should focus more on things that are happening in the country and talk about things that they experience. Try to be yourself, try to focus on the culture and if you portray your culture in such a way that other people would be attracted to it and be pulled to it, your music will go around the world,” he said.

Hector says that politics also plays a role in the issue and recommends that the government introduce a branch which focuses primarily on music and its development in Guyana.
In his own music, Hector says that he tries his best to incorporate his creole dialect even though negative comments, some even from friends, encourage him to “sing what people want to hear.”
This, according to Hector, is oftentimes not conscious music.
“I used to sing secular music and I am still tempted to go back and sing secular music but I want to stay on a positive level,” the young man established.

Presently, Quacy Hector works at the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) as a Livestock Extension Assistant and tries to balance his job with his music production as he seeks to develop a bigger fan base to expand his reach.
“I’ll always be real in my music and truthful. My music is like a medicine, there are a lot of persons who are sick, who are not feeling well and THNL can be the antidote,” he said.

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