Guidance gives dancing community maximum respect

Dancehall singjay Guidance is overwhelmed by the outpouring of support he has been receiving with his recent productions, which he said is owed to the camaraderie developed with the dancehall dancing community.

Known for reggae tracks like Love What You Got and God Set Me Free, recently the artiste has been exploring the upbeat style of dancehall, "and finding ways to deliver the same conscious message in a way that draws the attention".

Three years ago, Guidance, who is signed by Kerron Records, convinced popular dancers Boysie Roses and Energy to record the single Logo Boss, and subsequently formed a connection.

"The link is coming from much earlier too, because inna my earlier days, the legend Bogle gave me an opportunity to perform in Asylum and showed me a different kind of respect that set a link from them times. I started interacting more with more of the street youths. Me link Boysie and we find the song, and then him and Energy say we need a next song," Guidance told THE WEEKEND STAR.

He continued: "The next song was inspired by a youth wah dem say dance one way, Shamballa. So we name the song Shamballa Rock and the song get buss inna Uptown Mondays last year with the dance. We continue to play off that same energy. We not too long ago, as a nation, came out of a pandemic and people want to hear positive songs, a feel-good vibe, and this is what we are giving. The dancers dem never stop give it."

Guidance hailed the dancing community for being a resilient and unified set of people who have managed to spread local culture even while the world was under quarantine.

"The in-the-streets people are very important to Jamaica. The dancers, even in the time of a lockdown, found a way to keep the reggae and dancehall culture going and growing stronger by engaging the world and the few visitors. They have my full respect," the artiste said.

Dancer Shelly Belly has also joined forces with Guidance and created the 'Charge Up' dance move for another track titled Everything Bun Up, which was released last September.

"That song is another conscious, dancehall dance track. It starts out with the iconic line, ' if you live in a glasshouse, don't throw stone' from Peter Tosh, and speaks out against bad-mind mentality and people that don't want to see others step up in a life," Guidance said.

"I'm doing feel-good music and I have positive people working with me. I love the strength the song is getting on radio, social media and in the streets. Me and Boysie dem have another one called Run Dem coming soon, and I am working on an album," Guidance continued.