Bounty Killer calls for more live events

Following his live performance at Sashi Live, dancehall star Bounty Killer believes that more live band shows will help to preserve the culture and keep the music alive while exposing real talent.

"This is what make Jamaica music - live performances. This is what build the whole entertainment scene. People rather to go to a live concert than just a party because they like to see their artistes [at] live concerts. Di only thing I miss from [my performance] was a band; I did need my Ruff Kutt [band] and mi did kinda disappointed seh mi neva get Ruff Kutt," Bounty Killer shared with THE STAR, after his performance.

He highlighted that while some artistes genuinely do not possess the stamina to hold a good note on a live band, at his age and with his range of music, he is the "master" of both.

"Yuh naah fi [talk] bout 'Dash, dash, dash', and mek di ting sound boring. Suh yuh affi know how fi perform on the track different from the band because it's slightly different suh yuh affi learn the difference and master di two a dem," he said.

"A band is better than tracks. I never prefer bands or tracks, I just know dat di bands bring a better momentum to di people when yuh perform. People move betta wid di bands suh mi learn it. It was hard cause wi always like work pon di track because wid di track, yuh can bring back up track [but] wid di band a you affi sing everything. Some artistes don't even know how fi use the track because yuh a hear dem voice and dem a sing ova waah voice and it sound confusing and I neva like dat, suh I just like to work wid di band," he added.

The artiste highlighted that another downside to the live shows is the lack of physical engagement from the audience due to cell phone use.

"People hol' up dem phones [now] instead a rail up. Dem wi scream but dem hol' up di phone mostly. [Stage shows] back then are similar but because wi neva have much things to distract us, the momentum was a little greater. But people still love music and will pay dem money to come to these concerts and it nuh cheap. Suh even if di people dem come and nuh scream, mi naah bex wid dem cause dem pay to attend [and] dat more important dan just scream," said Bounty Killer. However, he opined that the crowd's lack of participation "took something away from di experience because it look more exciting on camera when yuh watch it back in di days dan today".

He insisted more live shows are good for the country, especially the younger artistes who need to develop their singing skills.