This post has nothing to do with me going to Jamaica.  But since discovering this song yesterday I just HAD to post it.

It’s a Caribbean artist collaberation through the Digicel Haiti Relief Fund and it moves me to tears every time.  Even though it makes me cry it’s also very uplifting in a way.  And what an awesome display of some of Jamaica’s and the Caribbean’s amazing musical talents.

Big up to Shaggy, Tessane Chin, Etana, Sean Kingston and all the rest. Bring out your box of Kleenex and enjoy.

I can’t really get enough of watching people dance….I grew up dancing myself. Maybe subconsciously that’s why I was drawn to Jamaica, because that’s all they do there is dance! EVERYONE in that country can do it!

When I’m at home and out in public listening to my Ipod I always feel like busting out into a Jamaican dance but then realize people would look at me like I’m a fool here. But if I was in Jamaica they’d probably just join right in!

A while back I made THIS POST about a little boy I hang with in Negril. The guys in these videos are just that kid all grown up….they never change, they just get better!

In December of 2008 I had the opportunity to visit a recording studio in the hills of Ocho Rios.  Unfortunately at that time it wasn’t in operation yet, it was just being put together.  But this was great and exciting to me since I have a background in recording studio operations.

Fire Traille Recording Studio - Ocho Rios

We found this place because of a few local dancers we met who live up in these hills. This studio is right by one of their houses and we happened to be driving up to the house that night. So the dancer asked if we’d like to see the studio and it just happened that the owners were there so we got to go inside.

It was interesting to me….the sound booth was just made of board walls. No sound proofing whatsoever. And not nearly as much gear as a typical North American studio would have but whatever! These guys were just starting out I’m sure. In all honesty, you don’t need that much gear to make a quality recording if you have the talent and skills to make it happen.

In all my subsequent trips I’ve found there seems to be as many studios in Jamaica as there are churches! Okay so I’m exaggerating but I see them on every other street. That just speaks to the music culture in Jamaica, it’s in their blood.