Guyana’s new sound takes flight

LAST Saturday saw a creative dream come to life as a team of ambitious young men took a leap of faith, launching their first album titled “It’s About Time.” With its unique blend of reggae rhythm and dancehall energy, the group Timeless Music aims to establish itself as a pioneer of Guyanese music with a distinctive twist. The group is excited about the reception they’ve received and are ready to continue their musical journey. Speaking to Pepperpot Magazine at the album launch, the members expressed their satisfaction with their accomplishments, how far they’ve come, and their potential for growth.

Director of the group, Julian Dookum, explains the aim and inspiration behind Timeless Music: “We’re a foundation looking for young talent and pushing that talent forward. We want to make Guyanese music international. Our music reflects Guyana; every artist has their own story that is heard in the music, their own challenges living in Guyana. And that is heard in our songs.”

Brother duo Alexander and Nicholas Alfonso have been involved with music for several years. Alexander, stage name Alex, is the producer, while his brother found an interest in singing. Beginning in 2018, Alex would create the beats while Nicholas, or BNick, would write and record. Nicholas shares, “From being in the industry, I started noticing talent, other talent. And other youths who might not be able to afford studio time and stuff like that. Just like myself, because we couldn’t afford it. That’s how we ended up doing it by ourselves.” After gaining confidence in their skills, they began reaching out and found more resources and support before connecting with the other artistes of the team.

Singer Stephon Corbin, who goes by the name Stehigh, says joining Timeless Music has been a fantastic journey, and the release of the album is a dream come true. Having been in the music scene for quite a few years before joining the group, Stehigh believes Timeless Music is unique because of the effort and work put into it. He explains, “Creating this album was a lot of fun and hard work. The guys in the band really come to the studio at night and do their best.” He adds, “I am overwhelmed about the release of the album. I am happy to know that as a group, we have worked so hard, and it is going to pay off and we can now show it to the world. We can put on a good show without international artistes.”

Augustus Elocock is another member of the group who works as a technician by day and transforms into an artiste by night. The shy twenty-one-year-old shared, “During the day, I’m actually a GIS technician. But at night, I’m an artiste, too.” He further added, “Well, I started singing my whole life. And I actually started taking music seriously three years ago… It’s been the best musical journey I’ve ever had in my life- because of the effort being put in, the amount of time being put in. You know, and the love. You know, it’s family.”

Quenice Lorimer, also known as Lawva Don, packs a powerful voice and sees being a part of Timeless Music as his way of showing the world what he’s capable of. He states, “Being in Timeless is like the sign to prove that you could do this thing, and you will only have the facts to make it work. And, suddenly, I get to go away, so… It’s already been such a day, you know.” Quenice says he has always sought out a way to express himself, and Timeless Music allows him to do that. “This is one of my greatest accomplishments to be a part of Timeless Music. I have come a long way, and I have a long story to tell. I have had a lot of bridges to cross and hurdles to jump. So I am proud of myself,” he added.

Keshawn Mcbean, known as RGK, brings versatility to the group. He explains, ” I do many different genres – I try to be versatile. You know, like R&B, hip-hop, dance, a little bit of Afro and everything. But the difference is that it’s just like a certain kind of essence that anybody that starts listening to the music, immediately they will get trapped.” RGK’s unique style adds another layer to Timeless Music’s diverse sound.

As Timeless Music steps into the spotlight with “It’s About Time,” they’re not just launching an album; they’re introducing a new era of Guyanese music. With their blend of talents, genres, and experiences, these young artistes are poised to make their mark on the international music scene while staying true to their Guyanese roots. Their journey is just beginning, and if their debut is any indication, the future of Guyanese music is indeed timeless.