AT A time when Guyanese are enveloped in an immense feeling of pride for all things ‘Guyana’, local rock n’ roll artist, Gavin Mendonca has himself been receiving increased attention and kudos for his originality and unashamed embracing of his ‘Guyanese-ness’ in his music. Gavin has basically created his very own sound through what he calls ‘Creole Rock’, which, essentially, is his creative and extremely original pairing of the Guyanese sound, inclusive of our distinctive accent, while singing about aspects of our culture to the tune of the up-beat and edgy sound of rock n’ roll.

Having been active on the music scene for about six years now, 24-year-old Gavin is known mostly for his part in the bands, ‘Keep your Day Job’ and ‘Feed the Flames’. But, as he ventures into the world as a solo artist, Gavin is doing so just the way he believes it should be done: By not following any rules, and doing things his own way.
It just so happens that ‘his way’ turns out to be an entirely new, but at the same time familiar and refreshing way: Through creole rock, a genre which he says is similar to the legendary Eddie Grant’s ‘Ringbang’, but different all the same.
Gavin’s album, ‘Creole Rock: The Beginning’, is set to be launched very soon, and with remade versions of several folk songs, such as Dave Martins’ ‘Not a blade ah grass’ and a mix of his very own creations, Gavin’s work has certainly garnered much interest from the locals.
CHIT CHAT
In addition to his musical endeavours, Gavin is also a radio broadcaster on 100.1 FM on his show, “Radio Rock n’ Roll” where he provides all the local rock aficionados with two hours of rock music and playful banter.
Intrigued by his all-round talent and uniqueness as an artiste, I paid a visit to the National Communications Network (NCN) to get a candid insight on exactly what drives this young musical innovator as an artist, and what led him to this sound of music.
In his natural habitat, Gavin clearly enjoys himself, and loves what he does. If you have heard his music, you’ll agree that he is nothing short of inventive.
And the way he interacts with his listeners alone, tells of a young man who is passionate about music as a whole, and as such it comes as no surprise that his own work evokes the same passion. And with a large dose of freshness to boot!
“I began to sing ‘creole rock’ about two years ago. I’d say I scratched the match back then when I wrote, ‘City by the Tides’ and ‘The Great Rebellion’. That’s when I really started to apply myself, from a Guyanese perspective, as a musician,” he said.
The two songs speak exclusively about Guyanese culture, with the former taking the listener on a virtual tour of Georgetown and all its unique cultural attractions, and the latter exploring the 1763 Rebellion, both with a rock n’ roll Guyanese touch, of course.
Prior to that, Gavin admits he was still finding himself by emulating existing bands and singing cover songs. “I later realised I didn’t want to be a rock musician; I wanted to be a Guyanese rock musician, because I’m very proud of my identity and my voice,” he said.
He added that doing away with the aspired foreign accent that most local singers acquire when singing was something he didn’t regret doing, because it allowed him to sound Guyanese, and retain his uniqueness. “When I release my album, nowhere else in the world will you hear a rock song with a Guyanese accent,” he said. Moreover, Gavin is also introducing rock n’ roll to Guyanese who may not have otherwise been fans of the genre, by singing on subjects that Guyanese both love and can relate to.
By being true to himself, Gavin attests that he is living his dreams, and would like to encourage anyone else to do the same by shedding things that don’t make them happy.
A true believer in passion, Gavin believes that this is one of the most important things to have in life. “Passion is my fuel. It’s all about knowing how to use the energy in your life to create the most positive outcomes,” he said.
Through his passion, Gavin intends to promote and preserve the Guyanese culture by making music that he loves. “I bring Guyanese identity to the stage every time I perform. In this modern generation, technology has added a lot to society; but it has also taken a lot away as well, especially in the way young people are influenced to live their lives,” he said.
“American culture is the predominant culture on social media and other types of media… I just want to be able to not let it consume me. So, through my music, I want to always maintain my Guyanese identity and to always represent Guyana.”
Gavin wishes to be a cultural ambassador for Guyana by representing Guyana on as many stages as he can, because of just how much he loves his home.
‘Creole Rock: The Beginning’ is produced by Kross Kolor Records, and is sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism and Frank Willison. The album, which will all feature Gavin’s self-made new sound, will also be available on iTunes and other Online sources, in addition to hard copies.
And if you want to get a first listen of the possible future ‘Eddie Grant’, you should consider pre-ordering your copy soon!