Belizeans dominate Papaya Music Festival

Earlier this month Belizean musicians travelled to San Jose, Costa Rica, where they joined artists from throughout Central America for the first ever Papaya Music Festival. Team Belize was represented by Punta rocker Mohobub Flores who opened the four-day event with his turtle shells, and poet Leroy “Grandmaster” Young who stole the show with his performance alongside Amarillo, Cyan y Magenta, an acid-jazz ensemble. Back from his trip, this afternoon the Grandmaster says the Costa Rican experience has inspired him to take his skills to the next level.

Leroy ?Grandmaster? Young, Poet
?When I go, from di dog outta di road go, I ker from di cato, from di politician. When I go, dah noh only mi go, dah two hundred and fifty odd thousand ah we go, you know. And to me, I feel like I did a very good job. The Costa Rican people was like going crazy over my stuff and I was amazed. And what I?ve learn from that experience is that Belizean musician have to become professional and stop di cry and cry. I did a rehearsal with these guys and by di time I reach the rehearsal location, the guy got my music on music sheet, write out everything and it only tek we bout three minutes, you know. And time, because, professional-wise and this dah weh my artist and my Belizean musician and whosever else out deh, should take into serious consideration that dah why we are this standing stage. So if they wah hold on, me noh di hold on, I di push forward my dear.?

Janelle Chanona
?What?s next in your personal career??

Leroy ?Grandmaster? Young
?Well my personal career, blessed are those who expect anything, for they will never be disappointed?

The Grandmaster is the subject of a documentary being produced by Brent Toombs of Oxa Productions. While at the Papaya Music Festival, industry insiders used the opportunity to establish the Central American Network of Independent Music Producers.