Nestled in the heart of Bartica, Guyana is a modest recording studio that has become a sanctuary for young, aspiring musicians and singers.
On a trip to the riverain community, known to be the gateway to Guyana’s interior, Guyana Inc. discovered the talented young men who are shepherded by Carlos Prowell, a manager at a bank in that district.
Prowell disclosed that Bottom House Records (BHR) was started up to serve as a platform for youths who are unable to afford the usually exorbitant prices for recording their music in most recording studios.
Prowell wanted to provide the youth with a space to develop their passion for music. Those who are recruited are not required to pay a single cent for studio time or for the recording of their music since the bank manager believes that in offering free services, he has been able to discover some of the hidden musical gems of the Cuyuni Mazaruni (Region 7) community.
In the initial stages of establishing the studio, Prowell had the help of three very talented young men, who are also the founding members of their humble sanctuary.
The trio consists of 23-year-old Neville Boodie, 22-year-old Christopher “YM Prince” Inniss and 20-year-old Kevin “DJ Kevy” Bobb. They attended Three Mile Secondary School. It was there that their musical relationship started and it eventually blossomed into the formation of a group called, “Mya Elite.”
Timothy “Zion Kidd” Hewitt and “Mackie Ranks” are two other BHR members who enjoy exploring the sweet and hypnotizing sounds of reggae music.
Boodie, also known as “Kray”, is an aspiring rapper. He asserted that he loves to rap about his perspectives of life as well as his relationships which had some sad endings. Kray disclosed that he does not have a lot of “idle time” for he is either focusing on writing music, rapping or spending time with his significant other.
He noted that he is grateful for being a part of BHR because he feels it is a family going after its musical goal. He described his style to be, “calm, cool and collected.”
“I’m not talkative in person but in my music I am very expressive. I am probably the introvert in the group,” Kray shyly added.
As for YM Prince, this young rapper deems his musical style to be more “suited for the bedroom.” He loves being the hopeless romantic of the group and expressing the sensual side of rap music. He was quick to note, however, that there are times when he would break away from that tone and adopt a more “hood” approach which would reflect the hardships of a humble youth growing up in Bartica.
He said, “I am a big fan of the American rap group, Young Money, hence the name I have, which is basically Young Money Prince. I admire the group for the lyrical creativity it brings out and it is always a constant reminder for me to ensure that whenever I rap, I should strive to have a creative approach and rap on topics in a way that has never been heard before.”
“Most importantly, I am happy for the opportunity we have here at this recording studio which has become like a second home for us. We have a chance whenever we can to train our voices and to make music without the worry of time running out on us. It is a relieving feeling because if you make a mistake in like a chorus or verse for example, you can improve on it and go at it again. We are elated that this platform is not just open for us alone but for all the residents of Bartica who desire to pursue their dreams of a singing career.”
Additionally, YM Prince believes that the one thing that separates him from other artistes of the same genre is that he is willing to do hard work to get quality music. He prides himself in not being in a hurry to get a “quick song” out there. He also wants to be a rapper with a difference and loathes music that either degrades women or does not make the youth out there think highly of themselves.
As for DJ Kevy, he is the creator of the tracks which his BHR colleagues use. He finds inspiration by listening to hundreds of songs from various genres. After this exercise, he would then tailor beats to suit the style and personality of the artists of the humble studio. He is also a very talented young rapper.
To listen to music from Mya Elite, simply visit YouTube and search for “31st Century Demo” to hear some of their latest releases.
