Musician hopes to make it big in music industry

Local musician Phillip Anthony Geer is sure that someday he’ll make it big and though he is grateful for all that he has managed to accomplish so far in his life, he’d be much happier if local artistes are given more opportunities. Geer is well-known in the music industry as ‘WizPhil,’ a nickname that came about because of his love for Wiz Khalifa music. “I use to listen to a lot of Wiz

Khalifa music back in high school. Phillip is my first name and I like the sound of Wiz,” he expressed. Geer loved music ever since he was a child and this was fueled by the time he spent playing instruments in church, but it was really in his high school days that the thought came to him that music is what he really wants to pursue. “I never thought about what I wanted to become while growing up but I always loved music and instruments. I grew up in church playing the drums, and then I moved on to guitars and so forth. I started developing an ear for music and I got better at it and I just continued and realised that I am really cut out for the music business,” he told the Buzz.

Geer started recording music in high school just for his benefit and that of his friends, but after finishing school, he began taking it seriously. “I started recording my own music by getting the right equipment and software, microphones and a better mix and sound. My friends told me I sounded good and it made me think I should continue.” Geer is especially proud of the fact that he has his own recording studio, has managed to get out several music videos, and has been able to perform at many big events across the country. His most recent performance was at the ‘One Guyana’ concert that was held by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport at the National Cultural Center. There, he said he was able to perform among some of the biggest names in entertainment locally. “At that concert, all of the artistes were Guyanese and that was a great event; the event was amazing and it was all local. We need more like that.” Geer also recently performed at all of the major rallies that were held by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) across the country. “That was a big exposure for me where many people got to see my talent. A lot of people got to know me and my music, so that was big for me,” he said.

Commenting on how he comes up with the lyrics for his songs, Geer said his inspiration comes from things that happen daily. “Relationships, things that happen in the community, lifestyle, stuff that people are going through in life; reality stuff, like people hating on each other,” he said. He and his team recently completed a song that’s not out as yet, but that is based on racial issues in the country. Soon, he will be putting out this song, along with a video. Asked about some of the improvements he’d like to see in the entertainment industry, Geer said people’s work and local talent must be recognized and valued. “The radio stations need to be valuing such work and not just taking music and playing it like that. We need to get copyright, royalties; those kind of things. The DJs need to value good music and not just play trash on the radio. Play music that would make Guyana look good,” Geer stated. The musician said he has often observed that Guyanese tend to put out and promote music that doesn’t make any sense, “that’s just a little hyper and the beats sound good, but doesn’t have a meaning that would inspire people,” he said He called for more local events to be organised. “We need to get local events, more events that feature local artistes as opposed to international ones. We have to showcase our own. Put them on stage, give them a spot,” Geer said.