With just a little push and some input from the business community, Delanda Cumberbatch, a self proclaimed reggae singer believes that he can make a name for himself in the local music industry.
This 32-year-old father of three daughters has been a singer for the past ten years and during the last four he has been writing and singing his lyrics at home and even on the street corners with friends.
Despite his efforts he is finding it extremely difficult to secure a recording contract, but he still has his fingers crossed hoping that next year he would be given many opportunities.
In a recent chat with The Scene Delanda, a newspaper vendor, said that he has put together a few songs but not professionally, adding that his plan is to take his music to a higher level.
The Sophia resident said that he had been trying for the last two years to secure sponsorship without any success, but he would not give up the fight.
“For the past two years I have been trying to get the support of the business community. I believe that I haven’t had the support I wanted because there is a lot of competition out there,” he said.
Delanda added that he thinks that the persons whom he goes to for sponsorship are threatened by his talent, and that’s why the response has not been favourable.
He said he was only given an opportunity to showcase his talent before a crowd at this year’s Emancipation Festival held at the National Park.
“This was my first public performance and the people didn’t know my music. The crowd was just standing there listening. I was strange. I was a new face to them,” he said.
During the interview Delanda continuously stressed his need for sponsorship if he is to make his dream a reality and have his music in every corner of society.
He is confident too that once he gets an avenue he would be successful in his quest since he believes he has real talent.
Full of life and energy, Delanda told The Scene that he is presently working on a track entitled HIV is not a friend of mine.
Among those that he has already written are Haitians are always on my mind – this one was inspired by his membership of ACDA – Yes we have the love for you and Anniversary greeting.
He assured this newspaper that once his career gets cracking, he will not just focus on reggae music but on all forms of music.
Delanda says that Bob Marley and the other big names in the reggae industry are the ones who inspired him to start singing.
