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| Monday, April 16, 2012 |
| THE "CHINEY" IN GUYANA'S MUSIC |
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| Courtesy of entertainmentmacco.com |
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Lime, tomato, celery, seasoning has gotten so much promotion this past Mashramani Season in Guyana, adding flavour to our ears in the soca song “Whine Attack”. Performed by the confident, humourous, and focused George Anthony Abrams now known to many as “Chiney Boy” and who placed 2nd in the Carib Soca Monarch.
Chiney Boy hailing from Linden, Guyana is a young, fresh and green to the music scene, he has been warmly welcomed, enticing local and international fans. As he Grooms his legacy, he intends to continue challenging himself, deliver good music, contribute to the growth of music industry in Guyana and win International Soca Monarch to name a few things. All things are possible, smiling, do enjoy George Anthony’s first international interview with Entertainment Macco.
Entertainment Macco: Thanks for connecting with EM to do this interview, by which name show we address you by George Anthony or Chiney?
George Anthony: “Despite I prefer being called by my middle name Anthony. It is evident that my fans love “Chiney,” I want to please my fans so Chiney is it.”
Entertainment Macco: Who is George Anthony?
Chiney: “George is a fun easy going kinda guy, patient, understanding, humble, jovial and passionate about music and entertainment.”
Entertainment Macco: How old are you? When is your birthday?
Chiney: “Just turned 20 on January 29th.”
Entertainment Macco: You are very young. Are you still in school?
Chiney: “Education has always been high priority for me; as such I have always made sure that I did my best when it comes to academics because I always wanted to ensure I have a “Plan B”. To date I am in my final year perusing my Diploma in Computer Science at the Linden Technical Institute. Career wise maybe if it’s destined, I see myself holding a high office in the computer technology field.”
Entertainment Macco: Why do they call you “Chiney Boy” and do you remember, the first person that called you by that name:
Chiney: “Well everyone says I look like one, the first person that called me that was my Grandma, ever since then everyone pretty much went with the flow.”
Entertainment Macco: Can you tell me a little about background? Where you were born and raised and your lineage/roots.
Chiney: “My father is a Filipino (Philippines) even though I’ve never set foot in that country and my mom is a born mixed race Guyanese, so I can safely say I am half Asian and part Amerindian. I grew up in Silvertown, Wismar Linden all my life.”
Entertainment Macco: What do you do for fun with your friends or when you are by yourself? Are you into Sports, books, the arts?
Chiney: “EM these days I don’t find time for fun because I am mostly rehearsing with Divine Entertainment Family or studying, hoping someday to reap the benefits of my sacrifices. I would say basketball, football, all genres of music and sometimes I find pleasure in exploring science to a lesser degree.”
Entertainment Macco: If you had to define yourself as a colour what would it be? Why would you choose that colour?
Chiney: “EM every colour has a meaning and a mood attached, some days are good, some days are bad never the less what I believe is that no color can define who I am. For now you can find me at the end of the rainbow (Lucky Charms) lol”
Entertainment Macco: So, do you have a girlfriend? If so, how is she dealing with the newly increased fan base of females?
Chiney: “Yes I do, and many of times she is jealous, but it comes with popularity. What we do, is talk it through despite skepticism, she remains supportive.”
Entertainment Macco: Do have to do chores/house work at home?
Chiney: “My mom once told me that “a man should know to wipe his own ass and wipe it well”, to be honest EM even though sometimes I don’t feel up to it, I like to feel independent and in the future it will prepare me for a more serious commitment.”
Entertainment Macco: Do you know how to cook? What was the first meal you cooked on your own? Who taught you to? What meal your mom/family prepares that you enjoy eating?
Chiney: “Yes, I can cook, but I really don’t like doing it, kitchen is not my thing. Chicken Curry was the first meal I cooked, my mom taught me. So far my Aunt prepares the best roti and curry in the world.”
Entertainment Macco: What is your favourite childhood memory?
Chiney: “I would say my first kiss in nursery school, I did not do anything (I wish I could re-live that experience).”
Entertainment Macco: When did you realize that being a singer/entertainer is what you wanted to do? What inspired you making this choice? Do you sing other Genres, if so what are they?
Chiney: “When I was 15 years old, like every teen I was fascinated by the American Idols, and I figured the only way I can have my voice heard is through music. So I started writing poetry, some were good, lots were bad, but somehow it touched my enlightened senses that drive the need to create music in my head. At that given moment I knew that this is what I wanted, to be an entertainer.”
Entertainment Macco: Do you have any influences in your life that helped developed your musical ability?
Chiney: “My family always encouraged me, my Divine Ent. Family and even those who told me that I couldn’t do it. I used that negative energy to prove them wrong.”
Entertainment Macco: What do you like most about yourself? If you had to enhance a characteristic trait, a skill, a weakness, what would it be?
Chiney: “Personally Entertainment Macco, I never thought about it, most times I focus on identifying the good in others. I would like to someday pride myself as a great musician, so I would say explore every option as a musician and aspire to master them.”
Entertainment Macco: You recently placed 2nd in the Carib Soca Monarch for Mashramani 2012. How, has your life changed since then? What does this achievement mean to you?
Chiney: “The popularity, recognition as an artiste and fan base increased almost immediately; nevertheless I always try to keep a level head (my manager would always say that). This achievement proves that I can do anything, for me the mentality that I have developed is, the sky is the limit.”
Entertainment Macco: Was this your first time entering the competition? Can you briefly describe to us your journey to the Carib Soca Monarch 2012?
Chiney: “Yes this was my first time. It was a lot of hard work EM, late nights practicing, getting the pitch, diction and articulation right, travelling back and forth to Georgetown for band practice, EM it was exhausting, thank God it’s over.”
Entertainment Macco: Was it nerve wrecking, going up against the veterans?
Chiney: “It was not nerve wrecking at all, at every performance I knew what I needed to do, and the only person that can get it done was me. I saw myself as equal to everyone else; we were all after the same thing.”
Entertainment Macco: Do you think, your ethnicity is one of the reasons people are fascinated by you and being that there are really no known Asian “Chiney” Guyanese in the Guyana music industry?
Chiney: “LOL it might have drawn interest and support, that I am grateful for; to be the only “chiney”. To tell you the truth EM I did not depend on that, I am just an artiste, but collectively it was a team effort.”
Entertainment Macco: Did you expect Guyanese people to embrace you the way they did with your song “Whine Attack”?
Chiney: “Yes, the main reason being; it was written by the best songwriters in the country, Mr. Michael James, support from Divine Ent. “
Entertainment Macco: So, we asked a few people in Guyana and foreign based that were familiar with your work, what they would ask you, if they got an opportunity. Everyone is interested in “Whine Attack”. Here are a few questions:
Questions from the Fans
Shaquille R: How did you come up with the song?
Anita O: What inspired you to write that song and name it Wine attack?
Walden A: How did someone with your background put together those lyrics?
Chiney: “Shaquille, Anita and Walden, the Divine Ent. Family was looking for a wining song to enter and our writer/composer Mr. James had an epiphany about a new instruction soca, that embraced our culture and tradition, and like we know, soca is about Whining, so the thought came; let’s attack the whine…hmm “whine attack”, we built from there.”
Nkel M: What brought about the chorus of the song? How did you come up with the concept lime, tomato, celery, seasoning in relation to whining and how did the two collate in the song?
Chiney: “Lime, tomato, celery, seasoning describes apple bottom women or in Guyanese terms “big bamzie” women who would be chipping down the road, left, right, left, right… it creates a rhythm, try it (smile).”
Aquilah E: What age did you start to sing and what was your first song?
Chiney: “I started in Grade 6 (11yrs); back then Jah Rule was an icon.”
Wallace T: Would you enter the International Soca Monarch?
Chiney: ”Wallace, it would be an honor. It is constantly on my mind.”
Entertainment Macco: So we covered the song, smiling, now, what is the story behind the “Whine attack” dance, who created it?
Chiney: “EM picture a man getting so much lime, tomato, celery, seasoning till he gets a heart attack, it’s funny right? That’s the concept, lots of whining till you can’t take it no more.”
Entertainment Macco: When you’re on the road, do people shout out. Lime, tomato, celery seasoning? Has anything changed now, when you are in public? Do you get more hail ups, than before?
Chiney: “Lmao, that’s another name I’m known for. I always remember to hail them up; sometimes I even stop to sing a part.”
Entertainment Macco: Will you be entering Carib Soca Monarch next year and did you start your preparation as yet?
Chiney: “Yes, I plan to enter again, this time I am more prepared and even more confident. Preparations are well on their way.”
Entertainment Macco: Describe your Mash day 2012. What thoughts were going through your mind?
Chiney: “Mash 2012 was amazing, a better word unbelievable, and my first time participating in Mash. This year I was privileged to perform with the Carib band in front of thousands of cheering fans.”
Entertainment Macco: What are three things that you learned from this past season that will make you a better Artiste and person? What would you do differently the next year?
Chiney: “The need to respect others’ time; gave me confidence and earn respect as an artiste. Certainly it would be to improve on my presentation.”
Entertainment Macco: What was a difficulty you experienced, that you weren’t able to overcome just yet, from this past Mashramani Season?
Chiney: “Every difficulty that I have struggled with as an artiste I have overcome.”
Entertainment Macco: Where was the first place you performed as a singer?
Chiney: ”Wow, Linden Technical Institute Valentine Concert 2011, it was crazy EM, everybody was doing love songs, I jumped on stage, green as ever, rocked my own dancehall with hype to follow, surprisingly everybody liked it. There on, I met Devin Sears who gave me and my singing partner Alkophi (Mixup) a break singing “jus be yuh self” featuring Diana Chapman which would grow to be a home town hit, from young to old, from there on the pieces fell into place.”
Entertainment Macco: Do you intend to make singing a full time career?
Chiney: “Singing full time is a dream that I plan to see through, however the reality is that the Guyanese music industry does not necessarily provide those opportunities; I will strive to change this trend and remain optimistic.”
Entertainment Macco: What are your parent’s views about you singing? Are they very supportive? What advice your parents give to you that you attribute to your achievements?
Chiney: “They are concerned about the choices I make and they are supportive. “Be careful with the choices you make, always remember to work hard and no matter what I will always be proud of you…”
Entertainment Macco: What do you think is the most unique thing about you that you bring to the music arena?
Chiney: “My heritage, coming from Linden, Guyana is a privilege. Linden is the most talented community in the world, EM we have everything when it comes to talent, my people sing, write, compose, are great athletes, world class body builders, and we even build model planes. That is what makes me unique, a region that never cease to fail or buckle at a challenge, I won’t either.”
Entertainment Macco: Do you write songs? Do you have any more songs other than “Whine Attack” released? If so, what are they and where can it be bought or found for listening pleasure?
Chiney: “Yes, I write and compose songs as well, in Divine Ent. As artistes we are encouraged to be well rounded. We have quite a few songs released, such as “Money”, “Fire marshal”, “Big up every girl”, “Jus be yuh self” and others. These were all released on YouTube.”
Entertainment Macco: If we borrowed your iPod, or go through your music collections, who are some of the singers, I would hear on your favourite playlist or find in your collections?
Chiney: “Those would be: Michael Jackson, R. Kelly, T.I., Mavado, Machel and Bunji.”
Entertainment Macco: What are three of your all time favourte songs?
Chiney: “Man in the Mirror “by: MJ, “Dying” by: Mavado and “Still I stand” by: TI”
Entertainment Macco: Who do you admire in the Guyanese music industry and why?
Chiney: “Jory, he got the hype and the talent that coordinates with his crazy lyrics.”
Entertainment Macco: What are your views on having no modern copy write laws in Guyana? How is this affecting your growth as an artiste? What can you do as a young artiste to help bring about change in this area?
Chiney: “It hurts me personally as an artiste because there is no protective guarantees that I will make any profit off my album when it is launched, hence I ask myself what sense does it make to record my music, but I think again and with the same breath if I don’t record, how will our Guyanese music become recognized, stuck between a rock and a hard place. The bottom line is EM, in modernized countries copy right laws exist and are enforced with tight penalties yes, but citizens still have the same opportunity to buy booth leg just like an average Guyanese, but they make a conscious choice not to because they know they are contributing to the success of a young artiste like myself, and want to ensure that their culture lives on. For me, I need to educate my country that copy right starts with our mind, our consciousness, seeing the need to purchase original local artiste music as oppose to illegal copies.”
Entertainment Macco: What are three characteristic traits would your manager use to describe you?
Chiney: “LOL when one thinks of manager, they would think of a bully, “get this down”, yes sir, “go do this”, right away sir… but Devin Sears is a father/brother/friend whose interest is in the development of young artistes rather than profit. Most times he would say he admires my confidence, my zeal for perfection and the ability to be down to earth and simple.”
Entertainment Macco: What is the name of your management company? Did you go seeking their management or did they find you? What inspired the union and how long have you been with them?
Chiney: “Divine Ent. Started back in July 2011, with myself, Alkophi and Manager Devin Sears, back then we knew what we wanted and where we were heading. I am proud to say I am a foundation member of this family. To date Divine Ent., has flowered into a company of elite young, talented and well-rounded young artistes. EM it was destiny that brought us together, a blessing; together we will bring international recognition to Guyana’s music.”
Entertainment Macco: What do you like most about your management team and why?
Chiney: “Divine Ent. Is more of a family rather than management, we make collective decisions in the interest of every member, we are open, we have each other’s back at the end of the day . I guess that is what I like the most.”
Entertainment Macco: What activity you and your management team did to celebrate your recent achievement of placing second in Soca Monarch?
Chiney: “Well we started with two days rest and we were back at it again, EM we haven’t got the time as yet to celebrate, however we have vacation in the making.”
Entertainment Macco: What is your personal mission statement?
Chiney: “To be a rounded artiste” (write, compose, sing, produce etc.)”
Entertainment Macco: What are five goals you would like to have life in the next five years?
Chiney: “Win international soca monarch, be in a position to help Guyanese artiste develop their talent, be an influential musician, be an international artiste and get some sleep lol.”
Entertainment Macco: Recently what have you read, that made you look at your life differently?
Chiney: “An article in Stabroek News that describes “whine attack”, the writer said that he was impressed with the song because it was one of those soca that appeals to all ages. That made me think about the impact and responsibility I have to maintain credible music.”
Entertainment Macco: Describe a situation where you were being influenced by peer pressure and what were the results?
Chiney: “Gaining this recognition has drawn some undesired attention from women, and many of times my friend would encourage to go have ‘fun’ with them, but I very quickly realized that repetition is one of the keys to success, and you can strive to be a successful artiste all your life but loose it in one night. I’m gonna play it safe for now.”
Entertainment Macco: What are your achievements thus far?
Chiney: “Love and support of fans, pride and a sense of accomplishment.”
Entertainment Macco: What should your fans expect from you in the near future?
Chiney: “Coming out from de “chiney” man, fans can expect a new breed of music, with the help of Divine Ent. We are going to put a spin to music, all genres. On stage, expect lots of hype, energy and full-joy.”
Entertainment Macco, would like to thank you for taking time out to speak with us. We wish you, continued growth and all the bless in every area of your life. |
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hi chiney i dont really know if u even recieve these things or who these things go to but damn boy u are hot and sexy. ive bin swooning for you and whats wierd is that i have wet dreams about you. i wanna be an actress someday i wanna meet some the most amazing people i'd like to have a little chat one day with u heres my number 2234199/0 call if u wanna. oh and i was right next to you at guyexpo by digicel side, you had on the cutest supra and a red pants
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By:
skyler
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10/2/2012 10:58:19 AM |
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omg i'm so jealpous of you 2.I can't wait to play mas. I love soca and i love to dance so why not do canravil. lolglad you guys had fun. Carnival is such a beautiful tradition. |
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By:
Erika
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7/21/2012 12:47:40 AM |
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hiy bro i think tht u should start a new album any see wht the public will say because u done song good bee and its time u take ur musical to a next level.................
one love and all the best......~_~
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By:
*keith williams*_*
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4/24/2012 3:13:35 AM |
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