Historyman spreads word through web

Mel Cooke, Gleaner Writer

Andrew 'Informtive Historyman' Kiffin specialises in packaging data into educational and entertaining pieces, staying true to the oral tradition while employing the recording process to ensure that the words are preserved.

However, it is through the tool of now - the World Wide Web - that he has been able to physically spread the word, recently returning from a six-week stint in France with Prince Ranny, one show taking place in Belgium. They also did a number of radio interviews.

He met Cathy Giordano of Cultural Reggae Promotion via the Internet, after pushing his tracks - primarily Bob Marley Story - to everyone he thought would give a listening ear. Giordano then came to Rebel Salute in 2008, specifically to see Historyman perform, and they have been working together since. "I met her on HI5 and send her some songs for a radio station in France," Historyman said.

His Internet self-marketing started in 2006, from a post-performance request in New York. After performing in Long Island, "Someone asked me for a card. I didn't have one. They asked me for MySpace and I said 'under construction', but I did not have one. When I came back to Jamaica I went around Studio Mix in Waterhouse. I told him I wanted a MySpace. He had two computers and he gave me one."

Historyman knew nothing about computers. He was shown the basics - how to start up and use the mouse - then he spent days teaching himself. It has paid off.

"One time you had to sit around and wait for people to do promotion for you," he said. "You can't wait in Jamaica for IRIE FM to play you. They will play you to next year and you can't put on your pot. Put it out on the Internet and people start ask for two dubplate and at the end of the day you get some royalties. The Internet is bigger than all the radio stations that exist in Jamaica."

Historyman also connected with 5 Rivers Entertainment in Canada through the Internet and did a stint there earlier this year.

"Me feel enthused, knowing me leave some man a studio '92, '93 and go back and see them man now, big and grey up and don't have a album yet. When me go studio and see how man have to diss you before them help you, I leave and go learn a skill at Parkinson's," Historyman said. His earnings were put into his first single in 1992.

Yellowman's advice

"When me win Tastee Talent Contest in 2000 me think some people would come strengthen the thing, but some just come to see what them can get. Is me take it up and push it," he said. He also got some invaluable advice from deejay Yellowman, who said "If 10 somebody come, perform like is 1,000. They will go and spread the news. That 10 will turn into 20, then 100."

So, Historyman said, "Me perform like that an me say Historyman name might no tall like some other people, but when me see 150 people it full me heart." His overseas performances are markedly different from those at home. "Me never perform one hour yet in Jamaica. Out there me perform all hour and a half and people sing and applaud. You feel like what you do worth it; it touch somebody," he said.

His Internet efforts have touched fellow artistes, as Historyman has set up social networking accounts for a number of persons. His self-sufficiency efforts have extended to purchasing a video camera, which has been using to do videos for himself and a few others, as well as a movie.

Travelling

It was not Prince Ranny's first European trip, as a university tour in 2003 with Ijahman Levi, Barry Brown and Frankie Paul ended up in France. Since 2005, he said, he has been travelling to Colombia and Argentina.

Next year, the two plan for another French trek, for what could turn out to be six months. Historyman said he intends to release the albums Higher Heights and Chronology Vol II next year as well.

"I would encourage every artiste to use the Internet. It will help them to get to the destination they want to get to," he said. He advises all to search for reggae radio stations and shows, then "send songs to all of them. If 500 play you it is so good to hear your song being played all over the world. Search for reggae festival - 1,000 will come up. Send to them; even one will be interested. Have a professional press kit ready."