Collage is Guyana’s newest band sensation, but don’t let the word ‘band’ fool you. Collage is more than just music, the stage, voices and a guitar. From what The Scene understands this trio is the foundation of a music revolution, fighting with a passion and producing music like nothing Guyana has seen before.
The groundwork of the band began in October last year when friends: guitarist Christian Sobers and aspiring musician Lerone Souvenir introduced young Hip Hop Queen A-TayJah to a musical spank. Christian and Lerone were already doing several gigs at the Upscale Restaurant and A-TayJah was already a songbird for Hits and Jams, but when they united it sparked something which they realised could be even greater.
In just a few days the little meeting turned into their debut performance at the Upscale Restaurant. Since then, they have performed at church concerts, charity events, and were featured on NCN’s Guyana Today.
A-TayJah, 20, was crowned Queen of Hip Hop by Hits and Jams Entertainment’s Rap Off last year Easter ‘Rozay’ Monday after Rick Ross was a no-show. The Scene had spoken with A-TayJah before, when she was a solo artiste. She told us this time around: “For me, the passion to want to bring a different sound to Guyanese music is my drive. My family, friends, band mates, my love for music; just wanting to hear something different is all I need.”
A-TayJah’s inspiration comes from her band members Lerone and Christian. “Christian being the music constructor puts together our sound and his ideas just turn the light on in my head,” she said. “Lerone listens to the solemn music, the ones you wouldn’t normally hear: soft rock, jazz – they start to inspire me. They pull on my inspiration strings.”
A-TayJah is a