http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,163762.htmlMontano: ‘Going For Gold’ with foreign artistes
By LEISELLE MARAJ
Tuesday, July 24 2012
http://www.youtube.com/v/DTyNZMiWVlM
International superstar, Chaka Khan, Cuban artiste Pitbull, and Jamaican dancehall king Beenie Man, are just some of the artistes who will be featured on the album being compiled by Machel Montano working with the Government to commemorate this country’s Golden Independence Anniversary.Montano premiered the first track from the album, Going For Gold yesterday at the Trinidad Hyatt Regency, Port-of-Spain. The album was announced by Planning Minister, Dr Bhoe Tewarie, and is expected to be released before Independence Day (August 31).
“We wanted to do something not resembling the last 50 years, but the next 50 years. We want to put Trinidad and Tobago ahead,” Montano said while speaking to reporters after the launch of the song, and an accompanying video, “We are not only promoting Trinidad and Tobago, we are embracing and partnering with the world. We see it as a process of inclusion.” International producers, who Montano described as some of the best at present, are also working on the album, including Dutch music producer and DJ Afrojack and producers who have worked with US group, Black Eyed Peas.
The triple Carnival title-holder said while some may criticise the move to include international artistes, the album will open the doors of the world to young upcoming local artistes.
“The album will prove itself in time. We are building relationships with powerful producers and there will come a time when artistes like Kees will be able to just go to them and work. It will give young people the opportunity to take local music further,” he said, adding the album will also serve as a template for government to follow while working with other artistes.
Montano and Tewarie, whose ministry hosted the event, addressed criticisms made regarding Montano being the artiste in charge of the Anniversary CD.
“He is it right now,” Tewarie said, “He represents the musical genius of Trinidad and Tobago to the world.” The minister continued stating Montano built bridges to the region and the world through his music, and knows key artistes in the global industry. “People need to understand the significance of this album, not only for Machel, but for the country. He is a great musical talent and he has not reached his full potential,” assured the Minister.
Montano said he was the one who approached government with the project, and asked for their support to do the album. “When I took the project to them, it was like an alignment of the stars,” he said, “It was not government choosing Machel, but I went to them and they were open to talking about the album.”
Montano described the album as the “soundtrack of a Golden summer” which will serve to encourage the momentum of the public as Trinidad and Tobago competes in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, beginning this Friday and celebrates 50 years of Independence next month.
Local artistes will be included on the album, he said, including former Digicel Rising Stars winner, Neval Chatelal and local producers. Montano expressed hope that other artistes will be interested in working on the album and possibly doing a “We Are the World” type song, a collaborative charitable effort done in 1985 by US artistes for African famine relief.
Montano said the album would include local hits of yesteryear, but he is encountering difficulties in sourcing the master copies of the tracks like “Progress”. He said they are working with Copyright Organisation of Trinidad and Tobago to try and locate the owners of the music.
“We need people to come forward,” he said. He said the idea for the album came to him on Ash Wednesday this year while relaxing with Beenie Man at Hyatt. “Beenie said my song Mr Fete was a great song, and he could see people jumping to it in a stadium,” he said.
They spent the day working on music, but Machel began thinking about doing an album for the country for Olympics. “Around the same time I was meeting with Tewarie who liked the idea of the album so we decided to involve some of the major players, ones who see our potential,” he said.