VOCAL coach and singer Franale Holder is doing her bit to further the talents of those artists in Guyana who may really need some help to get their projects off the ground, and to this end, wants to launch The Artist Fund (TAF). Franale, who has been striving to promote the hottest poets, singers and rappers in Guyana through various initiatives such as her signature ‘Hip Hop and Poetry Night,’ also raps, writes music, short films and plays.
In an interview with Buzz this week, she explained that TAF intends to gather monetary donations and possible sponsors to create and distribute packages that ensure deserving artists get music projects off the ground. “From branding to a creative music video to getting said artist registered on the right platforms so as to propel them forward and beyond Guyana,” she said, noting that Guyana has enough “solid artists” and poets to have the country rank among other great countries with strong performers.

“However, it seems the scheme of things is to know someone who knows someone in order to get great projects done. I don’t know anyone who knows someone, so to speak, so I’m appealing to anyone who cares about the development of Guyana’s music industry to pay attention, sponsor or help in some major way so we can help them. We deserve representation. We deserve to make what we are great at our profession,” Franale expressed.
She is getting ready to host another Hip Hop and Poetry Night on March 28 at the South View Tavern, for which she has been getting new participants from all over Guyana. “The crowd has been super supported. They come out and comply with our guidelines; mask up and participate in our fun games to win prizes and are more open to the hip hop artists.” Training has rendered her hoarse a few times but Franale said everyone is improving drastically with their breathing techniques that can enable them to enunciate and project sounds better. Most of them, she said, are on the

lemon and ginger tea method to strengthen their vocal cords and soothe the body.

“South View Tavern manager Mr. Keri has been opening on days off so that we can get the best atmosphere during rehearsals and keeps the place sanitised and safe at all times with extra security. He and his team are truly great entrepreneurs to work with,” Franale said.
She is also working to bring back the National Hip Hop and Poetry Slam. “Counting on the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport to fully sponsor again since the development of our music industry is such a necessity.” Franale is not in the habit of just throwing someone on the stage, but she makes it a point to train them so that they can achieve the very best outcome with their performances. “Frankly, in the other events similar to mine, there is no vocal training, no on-stage presence, no training of the business aspect of music; there is none of that to help them out, nowhere are they given opportunities to record a song for free, have it mixed and mastered for free. There is none of that. I also give them vocal lessons,” Franale told the Buzz in a previous interview.