Veteran Punta artists release new CD
Punta Rock is still the most identifiably Belizean musical genre, and its proponents continue to pump out the high-energy beats. Today a familiar Punta Rocker dropped by our studios to introduce his most recent effort.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
“Desire” the latest release by Lloyd and Reckless has been getting a lot of airtime since it was introduced to the electronic media one month ago.
Lloyd Augustine, Lead Singer
“We are getting very good feedback about the CD. People are waiting for it right now.”
The new CD is the second release by the duo. Both men are former members of The Sound City Band and Punta Rebels.
Lloyd Augustine
“We sing Punta because that’s our culture. We’re trying to, you know, keep it alive. We do Soca as well and other different music, commercial music. We do that as well.”
However, the work has not always been easy. Lead singer Lloyd Augustine says most local artists struggle financially to produce an album, only to have their work copied and then sold for hardly any money.
Lloyd Augustine
“They found out that people in Mexico and Guatemala are bootlegging the CDs for a cheaper cost and it hurts us the artists and the people who put finance towards the album.”
Jacqueline Woods
“It’s not only happening in Mexico, though. The pirating of CD’s is also taking place right here at home. How does that make you feel?”
Lloyd Augustine
“Ah it makes us feel bad because we are trying to sell a CD for twenty-five, twenty-six dollars, while the ones pirating the CD’s are selling it for ten dollars, that’s no comparison, so they prefer to buy the bootleg than buy the original copy.”
Lloyd and Reckless say after the new CD goes on the market on Friday, they are hoping people will support them and buy the real thing.
Lloyd Augustine
“The songs talk about a lot of women, but not disrespecting them, loving the women, so that is why we call it Desire. We have an international artist on that album, Lovindeer. We have him singing two Punta songs.”
Jacqueline Woods for News 5
As of Friday, the Desire CD will be available for twenty-six dollars at all leading record shops, as well as Love Entertainment on Slaughterhouse Road.
