Gospel Spotlight: Bradda Biggs doing the Lord’s work through music

Twenty-six-year-old Alando Williams, also known as ‘Bradda Biggs’, is based in Tampa, Florida, and has been recording gospel music for the past seven years. He gave his life to Christ in 2010, and made a vow then to do the Lord’s work and make a difference through music.

The entertainer is making good on his promise, having just released his debut EP, Activation For Service. He is hoping the messages will reach at least one person because, for him, touching one life will have a domino effect.

“When I see how the society is out of control, I want to play my part with the music to help make things better. I know I can play a part, even if I just reach one. If I reach one person, and that person reach another, who reach another, then I did well; because the scripture said one shall chase 1,000, but two shall put 10,000 to flight. It’s about the chain effect, that’s what I’m about,” he said.

Growing up in a household where his father owned a small sound system, the entertainer said music was unavoidable. Before transitioning to Christianity, Bradda Biggs was trodding the dancehall route.

Although he did not record music as part of the secular space, Bradda Biggs said that he was duly exposed to the music scene and learnt a lot during his time in the dancehall.

“In 2008, I used to do dancehall, but it wasn’t recording. I used to work on a sound system called Boomblast, and I used to deejay on the mic. So, it was like old-school dancehall, like back in the day when yuh freestyle and yuh go to the clubs, and so on. I learnt a lot those times, especially how to engage my audience and make songs that will please them,” he said.

MUSIC FOR EVERYONE

“I want to make music that everyone can appreciate – the old, the young, Christians and secular people. This album is versatile. I have songs with a pop beat, hardcore dancehall, old-style soca and calypso. The first song on it is called Dance Like King David, and it is a remix of the song we used to sing in Sunday School, ‘ When the spirit of the Lord descend on me, I dance like David dance.’ I’m putting old songs in a newer style so the younger people can understand and love it.”

Bradda Biggs said that even though he is based overseas, he still wants to connect with the Jamaican audience. The latter, however, has been somewhat of a struggle, as he believes Jamaicans are not as open-minded as they should be when it comes to switching things up on the music scene.

“Right now, where I am at, it’s easier here than in Jamaica to get a break. In Jamaica on a whole, there isn’t a lot of people with open minds. Here, we have a lot of people who love the culture and the music more than even those in Jamaica. They don’t care if you sing a gospel song in a dancehall fashion or if you remix a dancehall song into a gospel song. Jamaicans, however, are very strict on that stuff. But I have a love for my people and my country, so I am still trying to target the home audience.”

As he continues to promote his music, Bradda Biggs wants Jamaicans to check out his songs, all of which are available across all digital platforms. Among the releases on his 10-track EP are Believe In God and Exodus Exodus.