Tonight’s the night to meet D.I.A

If you want to see some of the best in young local talent you may want to take a trip down to the Chewstick Lounge later tonight. 

Some of the island’s top young rappers, singers and musicians will come together for an eclectic evening of live music.

Backed by the talented DIA band (Devil’s Isle’s Audio) there will be performances by the likes of Raven, attendee of the prestigious Berklee College of Music, rapper supreme KASE, whose birthday will be celebrated on the night, Rowdy Piper, up and coming hip hop artist Makeen ‘Haz’ Bartley, the sultry vocalist Amora Rose as well as Hip Hop Challenge champion Imari.  

The night of music is being billed as the end of summer party and a chance for the community to hear the real sound of DIA. 

Music director for the band Derek G Simmons, who is in charge of bass and production, told the Bermuda Sun: “For this gig and for the rest of this year we have been focusing on a lot of fusion and ‘mash ups’ from the 90s to 2013. Some of them are covers which the artists put their own spin on, but there will be original songs too.”

Simmons said that the gig aims to introduce parts of the community to their music who might not yet be familiar with it. 

Awareness

“The whole purpose of this gig was for awareness — we have had the same  response from some of the promoters on the island who say they haven’t heard of us. 

“If no one has heard of us then this is the gig to come see us and see for yourself what you will get.”

DIA has been growing in popularity since its formation in 2010. 

The band opened for international star Toni Braxton at the Bermuda Music Festival along with Chewstick performers in 2010 and accompanied Chewstick musicians on a tour in both New York and Toronto. 

Made up of “drummer ” Scarlet Thomas, guitarist Kofi (Justin Whitter), “electronic maestro” and percussionist Aden Peets and Simmons. 

The band has backed some of the island’s best and most successful performers including Joy T Barnum, Riddla, Kombat, Uzimon, Ramon Clarke. Formed as a backing band they play music from a varity of genres including hip hop, reggae, soul and their newly developed, “uniquely Bermudian” Gombass — traditional Gombey rhythms infused with other contemporary styles.

Speaking of his fellow band members Simmons said: “Aden won the Mary Prince Chewstick scholarship, Scarlet is one of the more legendary drummers on the island. 

“Kofi is a prolific Gombey dancer and has been involved in playing guitar for well over ten years. 

“Myself I have travelled to different countries — I spent time in Ghana for a drum workshop when I was nine and played in Mohawk Radio before joining DIA.

“I am still expanding my track record.

“Aden is in Stanford, Manchester, he plays in a jazz band out there. 

“His forte is drumming but he is studying pop culture in music. He DJs and produces electronic music the same as my self I produce, engineer and mix audio.”

The night’s entertainment will be opened by The Three Kings (Jules Roberts, Arijahknow and Live Wires.

DIA performs tonight at The Chewstick Foundation. Doors open at 9pm, with the show starting at 10:30pm.  Tickets can be purchased on the door for $15, with ladies free before 10pm.