Punk rock sensation Gavin Mendonca is set to release his first album ‘Creole Rock: The Beginning’ soon.
The 24-year-old Guyanese musician and composer, who is known for fusing Guyanese folk songs with creole dialect and edgy punk rock has put together an album of this sound. ‘Creole Rock: The Beginning’ was composed in Guyana and recorded and produced by Kross Kolor Records. It features 14 tracks: 4 original songs, 6 folk songs that were redone in Creole Rock style, 2 cover tracks of Guyanese icons and 2 national songs.
According to Gavin, this genre of music – creole rock – though it is new – is almost similar to Eddy Grant’s Ringbang music. “Creole rock,” he said “is the name of the fusion” he has created in order to preserve Guyanese culture through music, which is his primary focus for the album. Moreover the name of the album is to tell the story of how creole rock came about, that is, from folk music, such as “Bamboo Fire,” Guyanese influences like Dave Martins and Eddy Grant and Gavin’s style of rock music.
The reason behind his new album apart from launching his solo career as an artiste, is to showcase the Guyanese image through his rock and roll music.
Gavin said that lately, local artistes have been sounding like “non-Guyanese,” while he wants to sound like a Guyanese on his tracks. “Persons must listen to my music and know that it is a Guyanese singing it because we have this loss of identity where music is concerned,” he posited.
Gavin maintains that his music is for everyone, since it has the edginess of punk rock for the younger audience and the old folk songs for the mature audience. He says while the sound in quite new and unique it is catchy for persons who are alien to his music.
‘Creole Rock: The Beginning’ is slated to be released in Guyana later in April. The album, Gavin said, was sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism and Telecommunications.
The album when released, will be available at Kross Kolor Records on Duncan Street at a cost of $1,500. Those who wish to download his coming release can also access it at krosskolor.com, iTunes, Amazon and cdbaby.com
