Vizion Sounds Records: the true icon of ‘real Guyanese music’
Some of the top-notch artistes that Vizion Sound Recording Studio produces and, in many times, manages
Some of the top-notch artistes that Vizion Sound Recording Studio produces and, in many times, manages

VIZION Sounds Records, an independent recording company created by Walter ‘Wally’ Fraser to channel his passion for Reggae music and provide an outlet for inner city youths to record their music and showcase their talent, was founded in London in 1992 under the name ‘Nu Vizion’, trading as (T/A) Vizion Sounds Records.

The company recorded several hits, including the national charting track ‘Loving Inside’ by Sharon Forester. Wally (as he is more popularly known) has a passionate love for his country, and the region saw him re-migrating to Guyana to build a recording studio and promote music tours in Guyana, hence the birth of Vizion Sounds Promotions, incorporating Vizion Sounds Records and Recording Studio.firstborn

Vizion Sounds Records has successfully carved its name in the Caribbean by recording several international reggae artistes the likes of Denis Brown, Gregory Isaacs, Luciano, Taurus Riley, Natural Black; Foundation Legend Big Youth; Anthony B; Reggae Superstar Jah Cure; singing sensation and August-town star Duane Stephenson; Guyana’s number one reggae recording group, ‘First Born’; the fast emerging Guyanese talents Shelly G and Fojo; and the very popular Ghanaian bassist, singer/song writer ‘Commander Messiah’.

The company has most recently added to its very extensive music catalogue Guyana’s youngest Soca artiste Jonathan ‘Lil Red’ King, Soca Queen Michelle ‘Big Red’ King, I Lambie out of First Born, female Dancehall artiste JP, Errol ‘Ejaay James’ and Shacole.

Vizion Sounds has also launched a publishing company, WFrazier Publishing.,It is registered with the Performing Rights Society (PRS), and artistes can register their music to have their royalties (mechanical & performing rights) collected.Celeste-David

The company has entered into a contract with Zojak Worldwide LLC, the premier digital download distribution company; so check out their site for Vizion Sounds music availability. Or for more on Vizion Sounds Records, visit their website at www.vizionsoundrecords.com.

Listen out for more beautiful sounds from Vizion Sounds Records.
In 2006, Guyanese reggae label Vizion Sounds Records launched its latest multi-million-dollar investment project in Guyana with the hope of giving Guyanese music a major boost on the international scene. The $10 million state-of-the-art Vizion Sounds Promotion & Recording Studio opened its doors in March, enabling Guyanese musicians to now access international standard recording at home.

The hi-tech studio, at that time situated on Robb Street in Georgetown, could produce both analog and digital recordings, and can accommodate up to 20 persons at one time.

The then Prime Minister of Guyana, Samuel Hinds, who attended the inaugural ceremony, lauded the continuous efforts of Vizion Sounds in building and investing in Guyana.

To mark the opening, Vizion Sounds’ promoter and owner, Walter ‘Wally’ Fraser, and then manager, Kevin Adonis, had organised a five-kilometre race in front of the studio, and a football match to emphasise the importance of fitness in the music industry. Wally said that 5k runs along with other exercises would help singers to produce better notes.

This was a breakthrough for ‘Vizion Sounds’ group First Born and the Guyanese music industry as a whole, as it meant “lower costs and greater access to all Guyanese wishing to make headway in the music industry,” according to Adonis then.
Adonis had said that Fraser’s goal was to establish a recording company that would provide greater marketing services to Guyana’s aspiring musicians. The company had staged regular auditions to give Guyanese citizens the opportunity to showcase their talent.alabama

Fraser, a Guyanese who worked for many years in the music industry in England, urged the Guyana Government, private companies and other stakeholders to collaborate in order to advance Guyana’s music industry.

Vizion Sounds Records manages Guyana’s internationally recognised reggae music group First Born. The group has released five albums since its debut in the mid-1990s. Its latest is ‘Irits’, which was launched recently and has since enjoyed tremendous response from music lovers all around the world.

First Born’s recordings are now done in Guyana at the studio. The savings are great, as previously the group would travel to Jamaica six or seven times per year to record its work.

Vision Sounds Recording Studio has since been moved to its new location in Anira Street, Queenstown, Georgetown. Vizion Sounds is a dream realised by Fraser in unearthing and promoting budding talents with positive messages to spread, as well as getting opportunity to produce excellent music.

In 1995, Vizion Sounds International Promotions was established in Georgetown, Guyana, with the mission of bringing to Guyana and promoting international reggae shows featuring such greats as Big Youth, Don Carlos, Sizzla, Luciano, the late Dennis Brown, Freddie McGregor, Terror Fabulous and Buju Banton. At the same time, the aim was to not only establish Guyana as a country with vision, but also Vizion Sounds as a company with insight, foresight and vision.

With these successes came a renewed sense of positive vibes, and Wally chose to once again pursue his ambition of music production on his own label, nurturing and displaying the talents of the young with positive messages to articulate.

Today, Fraser, and the Vizion Sounds team manage the careers of Guyanese reggae group First Born and many others. The company has also released albums for several of reggae’s veteran singers, such as ‘Bi Youth’, Gregory Isaacs and Luciano; and has done work with Dennis Brown, Guyana’s Natural Black, and Fantan Mojah, among others.

The company also produces excellent reggae music. Some of the albums Guyana and Jamaica-based Vizion Sounds has produced include ‘Exodus Chapter XIII Verse 2’, ‘Confident’, ‘Wake Up Call’ and ‘Irits’ from the quintet First Born; ‘Iration’ from Andrew Bees; ‘Running Stream’ from King Prof; Big Youth’s ‘Musicology’; Gregory Isaacs’s ‘Cutie Cutie’ and ‘Substance Free’; ‘Gideon’ from Luciano; and ‘King Juggler’ from various artistes.

While the company’s mission declares its belief that its calling isn’t to arrive at a destination of stability, but to travel a pathway of constant growth and transformation, the company records music; builds tracks; burns, prints and packages CDs and DVDs. It also manages a few Guyanese artistes like Michelle ‘Big Red’ King, First Born, Khyran ‘Was Sent’ Khan, Errol ‘Ejaay’ James and Jonthan ‘Lil Red’ King, among others.

Annually, the company takes some of its artistes all across the world to locations like London, Jamaica, Suriname and other areas with the aim of promoting their music and reaching to higher heights, so to speak.

‘As a company, our calling isn’t to arrive at a destination of stability, but to travel a pathway of constant growth and transformation’

 

By Alex Wayne

 

 

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