Entertainment Roundup

Gospel Star Competition now accepting entries

The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) is currently on a mission to unearth Jamaica’s Gospel Star for the 2023 staging of the competition and is now accepting entries.

The competition is free for entry and is open to all Jamaicans 16 years and older. Potential entrants should note that they will be required to submit a three-minute or less video of them performing their original or favourite cover song.

The competition will resume face-to-face audition and elimination across three regions for a preliminary adjudication process, which will then move to the semi-final round to select the top 10 finalists.

The competition, which focuses on the vocal talents and performance styles of emerging gospel artistes, is a rebrand of the iconic Jamaica Gospel Song Competition, which has touched the lives of countless gospel singers and songwriters for over three decades.

Additional information regarding the entry process and competition guidelines may also be found on the JCDC’s website.

Rvssian links Sean Paul, Danny Ocean for ‘No Me Controles’

Producer Rvssian has joined forces with multiaward winner, Sean Paul, and Venezuela’s Danny Ocean to create No Me Controles. Described as “a sexy bilingual track” the song is accompanied by a video that celebrates men going out with their friends and women with their girlfriends on nights of dancing and camaraderie.

The video, which is directed by Rook, the US director who, a press release noted, “is famous for driving the Miami hip-hop scene”, was shot in Kingston with all three artistes.

This is not Rvssian and Sean Paul’s first collaboration nor the first time Rvssian has merged Jamaican and Latin sounds. Rvssian tracked down Farruko to voice the Passion Whine remix, the first in a run of cross-Caribbean collaborations between Rvssian and various Latin artistes.

Mr Easy to headline White Out concert

Reggae and dancehall artiste Mr Easy is headed to Maryland to headline Wee Culture’s 6th Annual White Out alongside Problem Child. The highly anticipated reggae meets soca-themed show is set to attract a cross section of Caribbean music lovers to Laurel, Maryland, on March 25.

Known for delivering hit music over the course of his storied career, DJs and fans around the world have vibed to the sounds of Mr Easy for decades. The Drive Me Crazy singer has recently released recently a slew of new songs, with Times Like These, High Grade, and Wait Forever leading the way.

Produced by Stingray Records, Times Like These, features the late dancehall deejay Trinity.