After years of performing Guyanese folk songs side by side, Gavin Mendonca and Marlon Adams popularly known as ‘Chucky’, the leader of the Buxton Fusion Drumming School, last week released their first original song. “Everything Gon Be Alright” is the duo’s reminder to all to not lose hope.
“This song was inspired by everything that happened over the last year,” Gavin said. “In January to February of last year, I was on tour promoting our folk album, ‘Folk It Up (Volume One)’. I went to attend Folk Alliance International in New Orleans…
“We were about to do our first international gig together in April of last year at the New Fire Festival in Trinidad and Tobago which was scheduled a few weeks before all the borders were closed. It really bugged us out. We couldn’t go to perform at the Courtyard Mall anymore. We couldn’t do gigs anymore. We couldn’t practice together anymore. It was really depressing.”
He said that challenges usually show up when people are on the brink of realizing their dreams, but somehow they manage to rise above it.
The singer added that being a creative in Guyana is already a challenge, but the pandemic was a huge blow to the entertainment and creative industry in numerous ways. During this time, Gavin threw himself into gardening which began to lift his spirits and he was able to look at life from an optimistic perspective. Though it has not happened yet, Gavin said he wanted everything to be alright so the song is meant to be an affirmation.
He added that part of his self-therapy was giving gratitude for the things he has accomplished and by the time the song came along, he had found peace with himself and felt that if the pandemic was the end of the world, he has accomplished many things like getting the opportunity to travel the world and share his culture and music.
After he wrote the song, Gavin said, one day in October last year he drove to Buxton where Chucky resides and together they worked on composing the melody and beats for it. During this time, they also worked on a Christmas folk album. They did several virtual concerts as well as performed at small events.
“Everything Gon Be Alright” was produced by Kross Kolor Records featuring Birchmore Simon on the bass guitar. Though the song was released last week on MAAD FM/97.5 FM, the duo had already released it online and were performing it at their virtual concerts. Gavin also wrote the arrangement for the guitar which was an inspiration from ‘Blinky’, a member of the hardcore punk band called ‘Sugarcane’. Gavin said he was returning from a tour in China when he stopped in Trinidad for a week where he met up with Blinky. It was Blinky, he noted, who created the guitar riff for Gavin, which he used as the opening of the song.
“Me and Chucky are the whole heart and soul come together. His drums are the whole essence and message as well… Regardless of language or who is listening to the song, the drums are what everybody connects to instantaneously because that is what plays the rhythm. Chucky is a vital part of this because without him, I won’t be able to do anything,” Gavin said.
Meanwhile, Gavin and Chucky are also working on an original album as well as a folk song album. So far, one volume of their folk songs has been released and there are four more to come in the next few years. According to the singer, they have a book of 100 Guyanese folk songs. The proposed original album, will also be influenced by folk music and will surround their newly released song, ‘Everything Gon Be Alright’ as a way of inspiration for others. The album will promote harmony and unity.
Their aim is to get more involved in world music and folk music which they have already tapped into through their involvement in the Rupununi Music and Arts Festival. It was during the weekend of that festival that the two met in 2015. A seasoned singer and musician, who recalled playing with a friend from Africa, encouraged the two to play together which they did. The rest, as they say, is history.
Gavin and Chucky have been performing virtually at Folk Alliance International in February, Artist Showcase (February), Muzikstan Festival in Birmingham (March), and Nottingham Global Roots Festival in April. They are currently preparing for the Bankra Caribbean Culture Festival 2021 slated for June 5.
In the face of COVID-19, Gavin and Chucky decided to do more outdoor/nature musical ventures. Gavin invested in a portable studio that he could take anywhere. There are plans in place for an epic filming project revolving around protecting the jaguars and the rainforest and preservation of the Macushi language, later this year.
