STRATEGY THE BAND :: NEWS PAGE



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Strategy Leads Launching Solo Albums for 2008! When you think about the band Strategy, you think about consistency, energy, entertainment, Kirk Brown and Tejay. With names synonymous with high energy performance, these two budding local talents are fresh off Barbados Music Awards hype, where Kirk was nominated for Reggae Artist of the year, and Tejay gave an iconic performance of her new single Party Now, alongside Jamaica's Voicemail. This Thursday, February 7th, Strategy's home base in the Gap, The Ship Inn, will come alive with an entire new take on the Thursday night Gap experience. Launching solo albums, Tejay's "Summer Kisses" and Kirk Brown's "Must Get It", as well as individual music videos to the tracks Baaby (Kirk Brown feat Danny Reid) and Chimmie Papa (Tejay feat. Kirk Brown) the Ships’ audience will enjoy an entertainment package showcasing the growth of two of Barbados' greatest non-soca artists. Taking the Veejay party into the band area, both music videos will be showcased on giant projector screens as well as on a 32" monitor by the main bar. Additionally, Strategy the Band will undoubtedly lend their vocals to promoting the 100% Bajan sound which has been in the works for well over a year now, calling on some of the incredible artists who made these two stellar projects possible. Both albums will be on sale for $30.00 on the night providing patrons with an incredible deal on this CD/DVD combo package, which in addition to belting out 23 hit songs between the two, feature the latest music videos, photo galleries and hilarious behind the scenes footage. Of course in true launch fashion, Strategy will be providing tons of giveaways to all of their supporters on the night, including posters, T-shirts, and countless other surprises. Launching here in Barbados this Thursday, Kirk and Tejay are already getting their bags packed and ready for a mega Caribbean promotional tour, which will see them and their local sound touch the islands of Jamaica, St. Lucia, Trinidad, St. Vincent, Antigua, Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Croix, Bahamas, Bermuda and St. Kitts between this month and April. Noting that the region deserves the first taste of their solo talents, Kirk has not denied that plans are underway to make headways with the album in the UK and US where both artists have enjoyed previous success, even appearing on BET's 106 and Park in 2006. Kirk Brown: Must Get It. As if the name doesn't already speak for itself, "Must Get It" has to become the part of any serious enthusiasts album collection. In addition to being 100% homegrown as featured artists fall under the spell of Kirk Brown's infectious multi genre talents, this 11 track mega album features an impressive DVD combo showcasing music videos for the hit singles Chimmie Papa and Baaby. Throw into the mix behind the scenes footage, a steamy photo gallery and 11 pulse pumping tracks showcasing Kirk's focus on the Reggae/Dancehall Genre mixed with locally infused Hip Hop. Then as if to cement the fact that he calls Barbados home, the totally soca track J'Ouvert Carnival forces you to hit repeat and take in the experience all over again. Incredibly versatile, Kirk Brown has taken years of hard work, a honed skill set and the energy that can only be gained from endless nights on stage and delivered a winner for local, regional and international consumption. For up to the time information on Kirk Brown log on to www.myspace.com/kirkstrategy Tejay: Summer Kisses. Though dubbed Summer Kisses, Tejay's latest contribution to the CD shelves of the world seems most suited to cold, rainy days, when persons want nothing more than a smooth sensuous voice to set the mood for a day indoors. While still focused on the high energy party vibe learned from night after night on stage, Tejay certainly explores a little known side of her incredible vocal talents, keeping it truly R&B and reducing the average listener to wistful silence. That said, one cannot emphasize enough the strength of tracks like Party Now and Chimmie Papa, featuring Jamaica's Voicemail and co-lead Kirk Brown respectively. It’s from the party to the bedroom with this 12 track album, showcasing a matured vocalist who has come a long way from her early beginnings in the church choir. Music aside, Summer Kisses enjoys a well produced DVD combo disc, which not only grabs immediate attention with its beautiful lay out, but demands attention with the music video for Chimmie Papa, a stunningly personable photo gallery and behind the scenes footage that truly brings this star to the people. Destined for greatness, Tejay has stamped her foot down, shaking the earth and her diminutive frame, letting Barbados know she is destined to be the next big export taking the blue, yellow and black across the globe. For up to the time information on Tejay log on to www.myspace.com/tejaystrategy -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- STRATEGY REACHES HAT-TRICK Strategy Nears Hat-Trick Nothing is more satisfying than a strategy which works. A plan which yields success and excels beyond the very vision which facilitated its birth. Such is the case with Strategy, one of Barbados’ busiest and most highly acclaimed bands. On the verge of celebrating its third anniversary in November this year, the Barbados Music Award-nominated band boasts a track record which, to say the least, is enviable. Lead vocalists Tejay and Kirk Brown have released a wealth of recorded material, which has graced local, regional and international airwaves. Quality singles including Summer Kisses, Chimmie Pappa, Baby and the powerful J’Ouvert Carnival have enabled the band to land tours of St. Vincent, St. Lucia, London and Leeds (UK)and New York, where they were hailed by Julissa on the World-famous BET 106 & Park as “one of the Caribbean’s Hottest Bands”. Strategy has also shared stages with many international recording stars including Fat Joe, Ne-Yo, Rihanna, Shontelle, Sean Paul, Maxi Priest, Beenie Man, Rupee, Alison Hinds, Papoose, Shaggy, Dru Hill, Kevin Lyttle, Bunji Garlin, Machel Montano and Mr.Vegas among others. The band is commonly known in Barbados for its fiery performances on the nightclub circuit, particularly Tuesdays at the Boatyard and Thursdays at the Ship Inn. These days tremendous amounts of time and effort are spent upgrading the band’s recording studios (The Cottage Studios) and rehearsal facilities, and pampering its cutting-edge website- www.strategytheband.com, which is quickly approaching 200,000 hits. To date, the band has released three albums- the Strategy Compilation, Strategy & Friends Presents Future Soca and the Good Vybz compilation, and has its own facilities for artwork and manufacturing, making it one of Barbados’ most self-sufficient musical outfits. With all of the evidence presented, it seems logical to conclude that the Strategy has worked. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- KIRK BROWN TO PREMIERE NEW DANCEHALL TRACKS PRODUCED BY VERTERAN JAMAICAN PRODUCER DANNY CHAMPAGNE March 22, 2007, BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - Dancehall heart-throb Kirk Brown is scheduled to make a special guest appearance at the Reggae on the Beach show slated for April 22, 2007 at the Boatyard Beach in Bridgetown Barbados. The show is part of the three-day Barbados Reggae Festival produced by FAS Entertainment headlining Sean Paul, and Maxi Priest. Brown, who has been working with a number of Jamaican producers including the likes of the renowned Danny Champagne, will officially premiere his latest dancehall tracks ‘Teasing Me’ and others on the April 22 event stage. Kirk Brown is one of Barbados’ biggest wildcards in the entertainment industry. Often one to stay behind the scenes, he has been quietly working not only on the development of his record label Good Entertainment and roster of artist, but also his alter ego, Kirk Dirt. Influenced by longtime reggae and dancehall veterans such as Bounty Killer, Tiger, Shaggy, more recently Mr. Sean Paul and many other top dancehall artists, the April 22nd show in Barbados will see the emergence of what promises to be a succession of hit dancehall tracks from the artist. “Some great artists have influenced my career, from the pioneers like Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Jimmy Cliff who were foundation builders in Caribbean music, to the newer artist”, said Kirk Brown. “Music was always my first love and being an entertainer is my dream. I’ve been involved in the entertainment business for close to five years now, and I’ve always been one to push local Barbadian and Caribbean music and entertainment. Yes, I have been and continue to be a recognized face, but come April 22, my alter ego Kirk Dirt, thanks to the likes of Danny Champagne and Fewwture who currently steer my musical path, will make his debut performance on the Reggae on the Beach stage.” Over the years, through his band Strategy, Kirk has co-headlined several major events in London, Jamaica, St. Lucia, Canada, Boston, Connecticut and New York with international stars Fat Joe, Dru Hill, Terror Squad, Beenie Man, Buju Banton, Kirk Davis, Kiprich, Dougie Fresh, Ashanti, Ja Rule, Benzino, Barrington Levy, Beres Hammond, Kevin Lyttle, Iwer George, Edwin Yearwood, Krosfyah, Rupee & the Dot Com Band, Allison Hinds, Lil' G (Silk & Madea), Mad Cobra, Rayvon, 4 D People, Toni Norville Project and Blaze. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMER KISSES COMING SOON FOR LOCAL R&B ARTIST TEJAY Bridgetown, BARBADOS, March 22, 2007- Another local Barbadian artist is set to take on the local, regional and international entertainment industry with the release of her new single ‘Summer Kisses’. Recently nominated at the Barbados Music Awards in the categories of Best New Artist and Best Dance/Pop single, the fiery, sensual, beautiful - Tonya “Tejay” Montague has undoubtedly risen to become one of the leading female vocalist and performers in Barbados’ urban music industry. Fully prepared to conquer on the regional and international arena, she sought the guidance and creative talent of Good Entertainment and label mate producer Fewwture to produce her hot new single ‘Summer Kisses’ which also features rapper McNeil. The Good Entertainment label has produced the hip/hop R&B hit, ‘So Good’ by Nitro and Slimz. Fewwture meanwhile is a renowned international producer and the engineer of Focus of Aftermath Entertainment, part of one of the world's hottest production teams. They have producing hits such as ‘Yes’ by Beyonce, and ‘Pop Ya Collar’ by Usher. Tejay is set to appear with the band Strategy, as part of the line up for the Reggae on the Beach event produced by FAS Entertainment on April 22, 2007 at the Boatyard Beach. At present Teejay is in the studio completing her debut album, ‘My Life’, a creative blend of R&B fused with Caribbean rhythms and a balance of alternative/rock music set to be released by the end of year 2007. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 'SO GOOD’ CASTING CALL FOR HOT NEW VIDEO SHOOT Bridgetown, BARBADOS, February 27, 2007 – Models, actresses, actors, dancers, and simply people who look good and are comfortable in their skin. Here’s a great opportunity to be featured on the set of the video ‘So Good’ by Nitro and Slimz. Open casting call for the video shoot will be held this Thursday March 1, 2006 at the Ship Inn, St Lawrence Gap at 11:00 pm. The casting call party will feature a live performance by Nitro and Slimz and the entire Good Entertainment roster including Strategy the Band, Gregory Ayeun and others. Also making guest appearances are Mixmaster Donne of Hott 95.3 FM, the Boomtribe DJ’s and the Final Image VJ’s. The video will be shot on March 4, 2007 and is scheduled to be released on major networks including MTV, BET, Hype TV, and Caribvision following its premiere on March 24, 2007. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CRICKET LENDING TO THE ECONOMIC SUPPORT OF THE CULTURAL INDUSTRIES Bridgetown, BARBADOS, February 20, 2007 – The ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 has created a vast number of opportunities for various business sectors, most notably construction, vending, and merchandising. But whilst others pay attention to the obvious, many have forgotten the aspects of music, art, entertainment and our cultural industries. The music and entertainment industry will be cashing in big time, as all across the Caribbean region artist, bands and musicians have been booked to perform and entertain the thousands of visitors estimated to travel to the region. One entertainment company in Barbados, Good Entertainment says that within their camp they are using the opportunity to market and promote their individual acts which include Gregory Ayuen of Digicel Rising Star fame, the live urban and soca/reggae band Strategy which includes recording artiste Miguel White whose hit soca track ‘Cutie Gal’ has been making waves in Trinidad for Carnival 2007, Kirk Brown with the infectious soca fused track ‘J’ouvert’ and TeJay with ‘Chimme Papa’. Also included in the Good Entertainment line up are rising stars Caribbean hip/hop artist Nitro and Slimz whose hit track ‘So Good’ has been making the rounds in the USA and most recently the Caribbean radio stations and dance floors. “We recognize, that with the ICC Cricket World Cup being the main highlight of sporting events in the Caribbean for 2007 there will be opportunities for live performances, and general entertainment packages and in 2006 we have decided to cater to those market across the region using direct marketing methods like radio and flyers also incorporating internet marketing from our website at www.strategytheband.com and promotional performances”, said Kirk Goodman, CEO of Good Entertainment. Good Entertainment will be making appearances in some Caribbean territories during the ICC Cricket World Cup event dates. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BAJAN ARTIST SET TO BLAZE FOR TNT CARNIVAL 2007 January 18, 2007 New York, NEW YORK- Call Barbados the new Boom Town! Over the past two years Barbados has risen to become of the hottest melting pots for Caribbean music and entertainment. With the break out of artist such as Rihanna, signed to Def Jam and Shontelle signed to Universal Motown, one wonders, who will be the next Shaggy, Sean Paul or Shabba Ranks to emerge on the entertainment arena? WE DON’T! Introducing – KIRK BROWN- He is not just spectacularly toned, but turns heads with his boombastic, smooth and sexy reggae tones fused with hints of soca, R&B and hip/hop. Now with his hot new release for Trinidad Carnival 2007 ‘J’ouvert’, produced by Barbadian veteran producer Alain Shepherd from the band Spice and Company, Kirk is a definitely the next Caribbean artist to watch in 2007 with additional singles with major international artists coming in May 2007. Growing up between Barbadian and Jamaican cultures, he always longed to become a performer and recording artist, drawing inspiration from many genres of music including Soca, Hip Hop, Dancehall, Reggae and R & B and favorite artist including The Notorious B.I.G, Nas, 2Pac, Jay-Z, Wu Tang, Tribe Called Quest and EPMD. With a heavy influence from Soca/Reggae/Dancehall longtime veterans such as Lord Kitchener, Shadow, Shabba Ranks, Tiger, Shaggy, more recently Mr. Sean Paul and many other top dancehall artists. Possessing great ambition and drive along with his musical talent, Kirk seized many opportunities over the years leading to the formation of Strategy the Band, which to this date remains the biggest weekly drawing card of any band to be found in Barbados. Just one year after its launch Strategy was nominated for Band of The Year at the 2006 Barbados Music Awards and in January 2007 Best Dance Pop/Single for the hit track ‘Chimme Papa’ and again Band of the Year. Kirk Brown has been the face and voice for many advertising and promotional campaigns throughout the Caribbean including Telcoms giants Cable and Wireless and Digicel. He has also appeared in several local and Caribbean magazines, including the centre fold of the She Magazine in 2006. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- STRATEGY IN TNT! A RECENT photo shoot with Trinidadian fashion photographer Calvin French, has sealed the image of local band, Strategy, for their debut performance at Carnival 2K6. Going down the road with Poison, the band Strategy has now established themselves as a regional force. With roster changes here and there, Strategy has now incorporated the talents of former Junior Monarch, first runner up, Miguel White, who has made an easy transition into complementing the well known vocal talents of remaining leads, Tejay and Kirk Brown. With a consistent set of gigs around Barbados and recent calls to perform in England, New York, Trinidad (Carnival), St. Vincent and Jamaica, things are looking good for this marvelously talented group of musicians. The Barbados Advocate, February 10, 2006 (edited for this format) Strategy's image ready for T&T The band Strategy will be going down the road with Poison for T&T Carnival 2k6. Strategy has now incorporated the talents of former Junior Monarch first runner up, Miguel White, the well-known vocal styling of remaining leads, Tejay and Kirk Brown- The future looks bright for this hot group of musicians. HEAT, Issue #10, February 10-16, 2006 (edited for this format) Strategy Heats Up New York! Local turned International Band Strategy has recently returned from a successful tour of New York, and from all reports, they took a healthy bite out of the Big Apple! With lead vocalists Kirk Brown, Tejay and Miguel, ace musician Corey Forde, technical personnel and public relations team from Timeless Barbados in tow, Strategy, in a trip assisted by the National Cultural Foundation and American Airlines, made their way to New York to get their feet in the door of the World’s largest music market. As featured performers on two nights of the inaugural BK Fashion Weekend, the band gave the hundreds in attendance a healthy serving of their original material including Chimmie Papa, Come Close, J’Ouvert, Come Back, Sometimes I and Wha’ Ya Want, along with local and international favorites including material by Alison Hinds, Rihanna and Rupee. The media’s reaction was nothing short of phenomenal, as numerous media houses in and around New York interviewed the band for print media (Hip-Hop Secrets Magazine, Partyzone Magazine, New York Post, BK Journal), internet (Steelwheelz.com) and television (Hype TV, Brooklyn Daily News, BKTV and NY Entertainment ). Among those who interviewed the band was noted actress and model Kelly-Ann Ross. So significant was their impact, that the band was specially invited to attend a taping of BET 106& Park, where they were hailed by the show’s emcee, Julissa Bermudez as “the hottest band out of Barbados”, on international television for millions of viewers. Since their return, the band, now under new management, has also launched a Fan Club, which gives fans the opportunity to follow the Band’s progress and win lots of prizes. Check out www.strategytheband.com for more information. Strategy, which performs each and every Thursday to hundreds at the Ship Inn, St. Lawrence Gap, has since launched the singles ‘Chimmie Papa’ and ‘Come Back’ to local radio, as the first releases from their upcoming album, and are booked for future performances in England, Miami, Jamaica, and, of course, New York. Groove Magazine, Friday 26th May 2006 Positive Mania at Gymnasium Teenagers, some parents and many of the Crop-Over Seasons most popular musicians gathered at the Sir Garfield Sobers for what many are calling a very positive show. Youth Mania produced by Bacchanal Time and Crossfire Ventures catered to the young citizens, giving them a safe space to enjoy the season’s hits and those hit-makers are lauding the effort. I think this is a really great effort, said local hip-hop artist, Billy Kincaid to the Barbados Advocate. It’s always fantastic when organizers give the youth a show where they can relax and enjoy themselves in a positive way. Krosfyah lead singer Edwin Yearwood said he hoped that the show would become part of the regular crop-over calendar. I don’t know if the sponsors realized it at first or not, but I think they have stumbled on a fantastic show. Yearwood cited the fact that the positive messages presented throughout the show such as don’t use drugs and 'wrap it up,' were being presented in a way that was not confrontational. I think we need more ways and more shows where the youth can feel that they are part of society all the time. Despite concerns that the show would be hindered due to the fact that it was held on the same day as the official Crop-Over launch at Queens Park, Youth Mania arguably drew a sizeable crowd of mostly teens who seemed ready to cheer for every entertainer. When Krosfyah hit the stage the youth danced and sang along with the songs. DJ John Doe and Mikey Dread also hyped up the crowd with some of the more popular dancehall hits. Also garnering many cheers from the youngsters was rapidly rising group Strategy with their popular lead singers, Kirk, Miguel and Tejay. Malcolm X joined Styles P and Rameses for growing favorite Wine Down Low and Bacchanal wuk-up ballet masters Spin Pooch Inc. had the crowd screaming their approval. Another crowd pleaser was the dance competition between three of the top groups Infrared, Urban and Turbulence. Urban presented a hot new routine reminding the crowd why they won the recent Shake It competition. However, they had to settle for second place after Turbulence gave a mind-blowing world class performance. The show also featured artists, Donella, Brimstone, LXG, Keann, Lil Rick, Billy Kincaid who performed with singer-songwriter Shontelle, Jigga Ward, Peter Ram and his little sister Typhoon. www.barbadosadvocate.com. Web Posted - Mon Jul 10 2006 By Khalil Goodman New 'Strategy' for the season. While the name Strategy has become extremely familiar to regulars of the Ship Inn in St. Lawrence Gap, the bands popularity outside of this night club has been less so. For Crop Over 2006, however, this fact is rapidly changing as Strategy, a band which some individuals believe to be nothing more than a 'cover band' (no original music), is breaking out for Kadooment in more ways than one. Heading into The Gap this reporter was unsure of what a sit down with Strategy regarding the Kadooment season would reveal. As many know, the band does not fit into any mould and lead singer Kirk Brown attributes this to the fact that "music knows no limit." Entering into the labyrinth of Strategy, Cottage Studios, a short distance from their regular Thursday night gig at the Ship Inn, the first thing that one recognizes is that these entertainers are completely focused on what they are doing for a living. The band is practicing with new beats and melodies; the singers are working on cover art, song lay-outs and a 'techy' (computer guy) is tacking away as he reviews a past performance of the band. This is a unit of individuals who are not working a 9-to-5 job they are living a 24-hour lifestyle and earning a living from it. Still, amidst this hustle and bustle, the three lead singers of the band Kirk, Miguel and Tejay are nestled in the darkened atmosphere of their studio, looking amazingly comfortable in this peaceful environment. Soundproofed and completely cutting out sunlight, the fact that I had never seen the lead singers in daylight made me worry that I had perhaps walked in on a coven of vampires. Fortunately they all proved to be 100% human and the only supernatural quality was their cumulative focus on making music. Kadooment 2006 Today, it is clear that Strategy has come a long way from November 2004 (Genesis of Strategy) and the question on everyone's lips is what can be expected for the festival season? Immediately latching on to a previous comment that they appear to be a cover band, all three lead singers cite a slew of original tracks slated for release this season. Tejay hands me a song list with tracks such as 'De Feelin', 'Summer Kiss', 'Wah Yuh Want' and 'Come Back' and Kirk, cool as ever, speaks to me about 'Jouvert', 'Mo Fyah' and 'Soca Don't Hurt Nobody'. Offended by the notion that they would ever retard their talents by only performing the works of other entertainers, Kirk does note that since they play in a club atmosphere they find it necessary to perform music that club-goers would be comfortable with (covers). However, there is a real issue with individuals mistaking their original songs (which form a significant part of their Thursday night performance) for covers, due to the high quality of the performance, lyrical quality and arrangement. Noting that this season will truly highlight their passion for song-writing, the band Strategy is preparing to stamp their unique, mixed genre musical contribution onto the season. With an album entitled B.A.J.A.N. in the pipeline, countless performances for the season at the Ship Inn, Tim's on De Hiway, Glow Fete, and preparations for a trip to the United Kingdom for another round of live performances, Strategy has in two years certainly done their name proud. With sound planning and execution this young group has showcased the importance of hard work, self-confidence and the maintenance of unique talents