– Jumo says still hoping to get people jumping out their seats at home

A VIRTUAL concert, aimed at promoting love and unity has been planned for this weekend and is expected to feature a number of top local artistes.
The ‘One Guyana’ concert is being held in the context of the racial tensions that have existed in Guyana over the past few weeks, and is being presented on Saturday by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.

Performers include Jumo Primo, Timeka Marshall, Saiku, Samuel Medas, Bunty Singh, Steven Ramphal, Vanila, Vanita Willie, Poonam, Calvin Burnette, Brandon Harding, Professor, Alabama and Whiz Phillips.

The show, which will kick off at 20:00hrs, will see artistes performing two songs each and some will even be paired with others during their performances.
The show will be on broadcast on the National Communications Network (NCN), HJTV, LT Rock, and E-Networks. It will also be aired on 94.1, 98.1, and 93.1 radio stations. Persons can also opt to view it live on Facebook at NCN News, HJ, MCYS, and GY Critic.
“The show is basically to show unity and love and to let people understand that regardless of ethnicity, party, religion, we must not forget that we are one Guyana,” one of the performers, Jumo Primo, told the Buzz.

“The order is to lend our voices to show unity between artistes…and also speaking out against racial tensions and all these things happening in Guyana. I am doing a song called ‘Unity’ and another called ‘Rise,’ a compilation of a project that I have been working on with other artistes,” Jumo informed.

The Same Vibes
Jumo is one of the local artistes who have been severely affected by the Coronavirus Pandemic. His livelihood has practically been halted, as he continues to try to find alternatives means of bringing in an income for him and his family.

Nevertheless, he said he will be giving his all to the show this weekend and will be working to put on a show as if he was actually interacting physically with his audiences.
“I’ve been taught that even if there is only one person in the audience, I should perform as if there were 10,000 people there. So even though a virtual concert is a bit different, I still enjoy it because I know the people are watching and I know what I want them to feel. They must sit down in front of that TV and want to come out of their seats, must want to jump and wave, sing, feel everything that is happening as if they were actually outside.”

“You have to still perform as if 10,000 people are looking at you. For me, it would never be the same feeling when you’re doing virtual concerts because you’re not getting to interact, but you still have to picture those people as if they were in the audience,” he added.

Jumo said he has so far refused to open his night club and studio for work as he does not want to contribute to the number of COVID-19 cases in Guyana. He has so far observed that many persons in his line of business are continuing to do as they please.

For persons like him who want to adhere to the guidelines, though, life is very difficult at the moment, financially. “Music is my daily bread and knowing that you cannot perform, travel, earn money for your family, it’s hard. The entertainment business in the whole is suffering because there is nothing in place for artistes. Some of us might be having a day time job, but I invested in my studio, in my night club. So it’s been hard for me; every day you have to study your kids, mortgage, etc.”