Music and fashion - the Romeich model

Garfene Grandison, Gleaner Writer

Fashion designer cum music producer Romeich Major has not only been dressing the stars in the entertainment biz, but also working with them in the studio.

Busy scaling the local musical charts with his very popular 'Bank Inna Pocket' rhythm, as well as pushing the careers of the first artistes signed to his label, Major has weathered the test of time and remains a fervent lover of the music industry.

He admits that like every other industry, the music industry has its challenges, but says the promoting business has been good.

"Dealing with the artistes is the most difficult part but as a new producer in the industry, I can't complain about it production-wise. The songs are getting out there, people are knowing them and they are doing pretty well on the charts, so it has been a blessing. As they always say: 'Good music always prevails'," adds Major.

Torn between two passions

The producer, who has worked with artistes such as Bounty, Konshens, Chino, Beenie Man and Mavado, confesses that it was difficult for him to choose between music and fashion, but explains that though music was his first love, he enjoyed being a designer more.

"The music industry is definitely more difficult because music is so widespread. It's harder to get a hold of a lot of people like entertainers, deejays and disc jockeys, so it adds way more pressure and stress. It's different in fashion though because I've done most of the hard work in the past four or five years," he says.

Major says his first single last year featured Versatile and Laden and that the experience exposed him to the entertainment industry, proving how rough the business was. That experience pressed home the need for Major to build his own studio, which was finished in February this year.

Since then, he has worked with TOK on a song entitled Prayer for their new album, as well as Marlon Binns' All I See.

Major says a new single featuring Chino and Konshen called Rave We A Rave should have been released recently. He adds that another single featuring Beenie Man and Versatile will be released next week.

"These two singles should both be receiving heavy heavy airplay," the producer says.

Busy summer line-up

A lot of things will be happening this summer for the 25-year-old. He will be getting ready to release his new summer fashion line, which he says will be very diffe-rent and bright.

In additon to all this, Major recently decided to take on yet another challenging role as director for the videos of the songs he produces.

"All I can tell people to do is to expect very creative, colourful and fashionable videos," he boasts. "Most videos will be fused with my fashion items, so it will be a way of promoting Romeich wear as well as Romeich Records."

Major also readily gives credit to those people who are involved in the success of Romeich Records, even though they are not on the frontline.

Donovan Davis and Rayon Curate are the other driving forces behind the production company.

So, is Major satisfied with all he has accomplished? According to the ambitious 25-year-old, no. He still has dreams that are yet to be realised, including working with acts such as Vybz Kartel, Sean Paul and Shaggy. There are other major international artistes with whom he would love to work because, as he puts it, "I've definitely got the beats and the music to keep them pumping."