‘We are seeing a renaissance of music’

Music, arts and culture are undergoing a renaissance in Bermuda, thanks to technology and social media, according to cultural activists.

Gavin ‘Djata’ Smith, executive director and co-founder of the Chewstick Foundation, believes the talents of the younger generation can thrive amid social networking and multimedia.

The Chewstick Foundation is this year celebrating its 10th anniversary, and Smith said one of the reasons he and fellow co-founders set up the organization was to give the next generation more opportunities than they had.

Agreeing with Dale Butler (see bermudasun.bm for corresponding article on music) that artists and musicians have struggled to find venues in Bermuda at which to play, Smith said these days youngsters can promote themselves on the Internet without much assistance.

“Unfortunately, the hotels in Bermuda don’t tend to have Bermudian acts,” he said.

“Bermuda’s creative community has also suffered from a lack of resources at every level — managers, agents, promotion streams and venues.

“But, because of the new technological age, this is giving everything a lot more potential. Now we all have free social media and networking tools such as Facebook and Twitter.

Social Media

“When Chewstick got started we were just handing out flyers, but now we have a social media presence which we attend to on a daily basis. This has been vital to promoting Chewstick. Without these tools it would have been a lot more difficult.

“Because of this technology, the younger generation has more opportunity and potential. Nowadays you can film a music video on your phone — I’ve seen kids doing that, and that is what makes this such an exciting time.

“We are really seeing a renaissance of music, the arts and culture in Bermuda, which I’m proud to say Chewstick has been a big part of.”

The Chewstick Foundation has been a major force in encouraging and promoting local talent on the island. It has also highlighted Bermuda’s talent overseas, with trips to New York, Toronto and elsewhere.

The charity has its roots in the island’s open-mic poetry nights and has remained true to its principles of storytelling and freedom of expression.

The Chewstick movement really began in the mid to late-1990s when Smith, Roddy Nesbitt, Owen Millett and Tyrone Iris were looking for venues at which to perform.

“As young men, the four of us were trying to be rappers, but in those days there were very few places at which to perform,” said Smith.

They started attending a poetry open-mic night at Rock Island Café in Reid Street, Hamilton, called Flow Sunday, and then the poetry night Neno Letu, at Hubie’s Bar in Angle Street.

“We were trying to be rappers but didn’t really get much of a play, but we did get to see what open-mic models look like. We rapped everywhere we could but then we each went off to university to get our education.

“We all went to different places and independently started picking up instruments and getting our minds on different types of expression.”

After studying graphic design at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia, US, Smith returned in 2001 and tried to get the group going again.

“I reached out to Roddy about linking up to go to Flow Sunday and he said it had finished. So that created a need to create another option, and so we brought the crew together and also set up with Beatnik Rubaine. He was one of the founders of Flow Sunday as well as Neno Letu, and was a DJ, so he created a musical backdrop. We got him involved and started going to Hilly’s on Front Street (later Bootsie’s), in 2002.

“We were there for a few months before moving to Champions on Reid Street, where Chewstick really started.

“It took off as the Chewstick Open-Mic night, and we were there for several years. Then we started alternating between Level nightclub on Front Street and the Spinning Wheel on Court Street. We did this for about a year, and then settled into just being at the Spinning Wheel.

Schools and prisons

“Back then, around 2005-6, we started getting invited to do broader things in the community, like going to schools and prisons, to engage with young people.

“We started to realize there was more work that needed to be done and which we could do to assist the community. This planted the seeds of the Chewstick Foundation.”

The non-profit organization was then invited to attend the first Centre On Philanthropy Conference.

“Through that conference we were able to get an understanding and a deeper appreciation of the not-for-profit community, as well as to make contact with various mentors,” said Smith.

“This enabled us to develop into today’s Chewstick Foundation and to officially become a charity, which we did in 2009.

“At one point we had debated whether we should become a commercial, label-style entity, but we thought this would limit the impact we could have in the community, which is where our heart lay. Rather than developing a platinum artist, we wanted to focus on developing youth, the arts, culture and community in Bermuda.

“After that conference, we knew that this was the direction we were going to go on.”

Smith added: “We’re excited to be going back to the conference this year (February 22-23), where we’ve been invited to be on a panel discussion.

“The Centre on Philanthropy Conference is a great opportunity for the non-profits to come together. One of its great success stories is in enabling the community to help itself, and I think Chewstick is an ‘Example A’ of that.”

Smith said: “Over the years, a lot of people have been involved in Chewstick at different levels. Of the original crew, there’s myself, co-founder Najib Chentouf (Tan Zaoui), and Roddy (also known as the rapper R?ddler). Also, luminaries like Milton Raposo (musician/filmmaker/videographer) have got involved — he’s also on our board.

“We’ve seen multiple generations come up through the ranks as well — artists like KASE (Keamon Woolaston), Stephan Johnstone, Derek G, Canjelae (Taylor), Zion. We’ve seen so many different icons come up over the years. 

Hone skills 

“Part of the opportunity Chewstick represents is to encourage creative people to connect with each other at various levels, and to hone their skills and build up their confidence so they can take it to the next level.

“We also want to promote social justice. Early on, we decided to base Chewstick in a less desirable location. What we identified as a success strategy was that, by being in ‘less refined’ places, a bit ‘rough around the edges’, this would enable broader demographics of people to attend.

“We found that people who couldn’t afford a door price or certain drinks prices, or who wanted to dress in a certain way, weren’t able to attend some of the bars on Front Street.

“So, we have always promoted a ‘come as you are’ philosophy. This has been graciously accepted in places which have more of a maligned reputation, based on people’s ignorance. Some of our best years were at Champions and the Spinning Wheel.

“What we hoped to do was rehabilitate not just their public image but also that of the surrounding community.

“This became a big part of our goal of breaking down barriers, and this is something we try to do to this day.

“We are constantly striving to break down social segregation in the community, both on a small scale level at the Chewstick facility as well as at larger events such as the BeachFest Emancipation Celebration.”

The Chewstick Foundation states its principles as ‘Respect. Freedom. Love. Truth’.

Three years ago, the charity moved into its current headquarters on Elliott Street. The team renovated the building, turning former storage space into its offices, as well as a living space, rehearsal and recording room.

But it discovered that the building also had an important musical heritage, dating back to the 1970’s, when ‘Bermuda’s greatest reggae band’, Ital Foundation, used the building for its rehearsal and living space.

Smith said: “Before then, it was also the rehearsal space for (Michael) Curtis Clarke, who was one of the great musicians of the Sixties and Seventies.”

The charity then acquired a performance venue, at the corner of Elliott and Court Streets.

Smith said the team noticed a ‘For rent’ sign in the building in 2008/9 but did not have the financial resources to take on the lease at the time.

He said: “Once we got registered as a charity it all happened quite quickly. After a year of being here (in the Elliott Street office), we were strong enough financially to expand upstairs.

“It’s been great to have both spaces. Downstairs is the workspace, rehearsal and recording space, and upstairs is the performance space. We have the latest technology to expand its usability, and we are

having lots of presentations, concerts and meetings. 

Revenue stream

“We are able to stream out teleconferencing and it has become a revenue stream for the Foundation, as well as a community building. It has enabled us to deploy our programmes at a deeper level and has allowed us to have more of a presence in the community.

“It means we are now residents, rather than nomads.”

He added: “And with the gun violence of recent years, there’s only been two incidents in this area, so I like to think that we have a part to play there and that we’ve had an impact on this.

“Chewstick has had a positive impact on the North Hamilton ‘Bakatown’ area.”

Last year, Chewstick presented the inaugural ‘Bakatown Short Film Festival’ to celebrate the cultural history of North East Hamilton. The three-day event featured films and music by local artists.

Smith said: “What drives members of the Chewstick administration is to try to offer artists the things that would have helped us coming up. So a big part of the programmes we deliver is about what will best serve the next generation, so that the void that was there is never there again.

“We also aim to give people an opportunity to speak up about what matters most to them, and to connect with people they wouldn’t do normally.

“A lot of people with their own initiatives now originally met through Chewstick, such as Bermudian Artists Rise Up (BARU), Tha Underground, the Rainbow Alliance and DIA. A real community has developed to the point where people are independently working and connecting with each other.

“That was always a goal of ours from way back, to create a creative community. In the next few years, it’s going to be about creating a creative economy, to fortify efforts and develop this.”

Asked about Bermuda’s contribution to world music and culture, and whether there is a ‘Bermuda sound’, Smith said: “I’ve always associated Bermuda as being a complete cross between the UK, US and the Caribbean, with equal parts of all of them.

“Those are our biggest inspirations and influences on our heritage, and the origins of most of our population.

“We are also a very affluent society — everyone has the latest phone, smartphone or gadget. So we may be a very isolated community but we are also a very connected one.

“This can be challenging at times, as artists can get overrun by their aspirations and it’s difficult to find an authentic voice, but it’s happening every day.

“For example, someone like ‘Haz’ (Makeem Bartley) has one of the most authentic Bermudian voices heard in a long time. He is both true to himself and to his community.

“I have great hopes for the community when I look around, as more artists and young people are being inspired, so I think the future looks very bright.

“But without the development of the younger generation we won’t see some of the things people hope for, such as another Collie Buddz, or even a Beyoncé or Rihanna.

Icon potential 

“Our goal at Chewstick has never been to create that icon, but to develop a safe place for such an icon to develop.

“We know there are great artists out there who may have limited opportunity.”

Among Chewstick’s initiatives is TWIGS — a monthly open-mic night to nurture talent among under-18’s.

“We want to help people explore and find their strengths, and then master them,” said Smith.

“TWIGS has seen some incredible growth and is now a hot spot for aspiring performers.

“These days there are few opportunities for schools to get together in a social setting, and so this event also aims to break down the tribalization of schools and the polarization of gang violence. Every school is represented at TWIGS.”

The organization also hosts the weekly ChewSLAM Teen Poetry & Spoken Word Club. This is open to anyone aged 14-19 and is held every Saturday from 2-4pm.

“It’s all about developing their voice, creative writing, public performance and speaking, as well as developing a social conscience,” said Smith.

“By talking about the things they are going through, this also helps their peers to understand they are not alone.”

“We were excited to have a team attend the Brave New Voices International Youth Poetry Festival (in the US) last year for the first time. And it was a life-changing experience for the participants.”

Three years ago, the Chewstick Foundation also launched the Mary Prince Award — a $1,000 annual award to help support young talent. It has been awarded to Aden Peets, Yesha Townsend, and this year, to 12-year-old Quinn Outerbridge.

“Quinn is a singer, songwriter, model and actor, who was the lead in our musical (The Story of Chewstick, 10th Anniversary Musical).

“This award is an opportunity to keep the fire lit, as we know there’s so much potential out there and so much that young people like her deserve, so they can truly shine.”

The Foundation now hopes to expand the award into an additional scholarship.

Education

In one of its latest initiatives, Chewstick has launched the Mary Prince Crowd Fund. This helps local artists to raise financial support for their education and progression, by receiving the proceeds from a performance staged at Chewstick.

“It enables them to talk about their aspirations and to raise funds,” said Smith.

“We donate all of our resources to help promote them and the funds at the venue then go towards their education programme.

“A big part of the initiative was that Mary Prince (19th century former slave) was able to free herself through telling her story (the autobiography The History of Mary Prince, 1831). A big part of the work we do at Chewstick is to enable people to tell their stories and to break down barriers, thereby developing a stronger community.

“The Mary Prince Crowd Fund helps the next generation to free themselves from financial barriers, and enables them to tell their stories at the highest level. It’s a win-win all round and we are happy to help.”

The charity had to suspend its prison programme “due to funding constraints”, but Smith said the team “hope to resurrect it”.

He added: “Our long-term goal for Chewstick is to have a presence on each school campus, but we are probably two to three years away from that.”

In the meantime, the organization is busy promoting Bermudian music, arts and culture through various events.

It hosts an annual KiteFest festival on Good Friday and the BeachFest festival on Emancipation Day, both at Horseshoe Bay.

There are also three retreats planned throughout the year, in the winter, summer and fall, where people can spend a weekend at Ports or Paget Island, developing creative skills and talents.

Workshops have included creative writing, yoga and healthy cooking.

Smith said: “The retreats help people to take off the mask and to really connect with other people. Bermuda can be claustrophobic at times and it’s easy to get stuck in a routine, so the retreats offer an inspiring weekend of creative programmes.”

Chewstick is however probably best known for its open-mic jam sessions, held every Sunday night at the Foundation’s Neo-Griot Lounge and Café, from 8-11:45pm.

“This is Bermuda’s longest-running open-mic event, and is all about breaking down barriers and community-building. It’s about giving people the opportunity to hone their skills and tell their story, which is part of our mission.

“Whether you’re a singer, writer, a poet or a rapper, this is all about telling stories, and everyone has a story to share.”

The Chewstick Foundation, 28 Elliott Street, Hamilton, Bermuda. Call 292-2439 or e-mail [email protected]. Website http://chewstick.org. By becoming a member you can help to support the charity and to nurture local talent. The organization is also looking for volunteers.