WHEN Rauole Samuels decided to open IQ Studios several years ago, he didn’t only want to focus on recording tracks, dubs and drops for anyone who walked through his doors. He strongly believed that he needed to channel his energy towards creating musical legends.

For him, this was no money making venture, but rather a golden opportunity to lay the foundation for youths, particularly those from underprivileged communities, who have the level of musical talent that is required to make it big both locally and internationally.

We at Buzz recently spoke with the music producer to get an insight into the impact the studio has had and is having on the lives of musicians and the Guyanese society as a whole.

Although the studio is small, it has been doing well. Kwasi Ace and Michelle ‘Big Red’ King are among the more established artistes who have chosen to record their music there.

“If I was to put a number to it, I would say that we have the largest traffic of recording artistes in the country because of our strategic location,” Samuels said. The studio is located in the heart of the city in the Mini Mall on Robb Street between Camp and Alexander.

Recalling the journey that led him to where he is today, Samuels said that his musical career began at the age of 17 and several years later he left Guyana for Trinidad and Tobago, where he studied that island’s music culture.

He said he returned home after a number of years as he simply couldn’t make it in the twin-island republic, largely due to his nationality.

When he returned, he acquired a renewed passion for music and the music industry, and that’s when the birthing of IQ Studios began.

Samuels explained that his focus centres around youths from depressed communities and several of them have so far passed through the studio.

“We are trying to give guidance to youths across the country. We are trying to develop a new breed of artistes,” he said, adding that most of his clients come from the Sophia area.

“Most of the artistes that come to the studio aren’t rich people. They come from depressed homes, and many of them, if you leave idle, they could venture into crime “, Samuels said.

He sees himself as a guidance counsellor who is using his studio to deter young people from a life of crime.
Samuels explained that because of his passion for helping young people to make something great of themselves, many of the young musicians see him as a father figure.

According to him, music must not only be seen as a hobby, but also as an avenue through which one can earn an income.

He outlined that one of the most important things to note, in his opinion, is that Guyanese artistes have an inferiority complex when it comes to music. He believes that having international exposure would be the best solution as it would market the artiste as well as our genres of music.

“Our goal at IQ Studios is to be able to have our artiste sooner than later start to tour and even work with not just my studio. I believe that a good leader does not bring up followers; we bring up great leaders and I want one day for some of the same persons passing through the studio, to be able to go into larger studios and encounter persons with greater experience and benefit from it. So, we are working on those persons that are showing interest in Guyanese music to work with them and give them exposure,” Samuels told Buzz.

He attributes his strength in the music business to strong and lasting relationships and having a great people-friendly rapport.
Legacy Entertainment under which the studio falls, will be hosting a series of activities during 2023.