Waterhouse to get new recording studio

Patrick Roberts, the councillor for the Molynes Gardens Division in which a community-based recording studio will be located, has hailed the decision by Fathers United for Change to embark on the project.

"The way the society is going, the only uniting forces are music and sports, and it is a good thing to try and get the youths focused," said Roberts, who heads the Shocking Vibes label.

Roberts pointed out that some of Jamaica's leading entertainers are from Waterhouse. The list, he said, includes Beenie Man, Little Kirk, Admiral Bailey, Shabba Ranks, Half Pint, and U-Roy.

"The reservoir of talent is there, and we have to put out every effort to harness the talent," Roberts said.

Keith Sailsman, a member of the committee establishing the recording studio, said Tankweld is assisting in shouldering the cost of the project. He said the company has pledged its continued support, including assistance with getting the equipment as soon as work on the studio is completed.

BENEFICIAL TO YOUTH

"It would be beneficial for the community because it will give young artistes a chance to prove themselves," Tankweld's boss Bruce Bicknell said.

"Everybody loves music, its like sports. You can bring a lot of people together from all income and social fields," he added.

Meanwhile, Sailsman told The Gleaner that once the studio is completed, persons in the community will have full access to the facility. He said that if there will be a charge for the use of the facility, it would be negligible.

"We will have light bills and other cost to operate the studio to think about but the whole point of the studio is to unearth talent, so we doubt that we will go commercial," he explained. "But if there will be a cost for using the facility it will be at a minimum. For persons outside of the community, the cost for using the facility may be higher but we have to iron out all those details once the studio is completed."

The studio is expected to be completed by October.