By JOEL K ANDREW
A GROUP of likeminded young talented musicians collaborated to form a new record label, with an aim of promoting tourism, the diversified culture of Papua New Guinea, as well as fostering youth empowerment throughout rural societies and suburbs within the Papuan region, as well as other interested provinces throughout the country.
Award winning music producer from Gulf Province Wills Evaha on an interview this week informed the Sunday Bulletin News about the record label’s objective, composition, aspirations and their main purpose.
The Papuan Black Label PNG Limited is a newly registered business, operating as a music production and multimedia company in Port Moresby. The record label comprises of three music producers in the likes of Liberty Gia Ai or Statz Man of Stagajah, Wills Ehava of MRW Records and Addy Malaisa Junior, who are also directors to the company.
This trio are not new to the music scene in Papua New Guinea as Statz and Hotwills are two household names in the industry, who produced non-stop multiple hit songs that took over airwaves on all FM stations, whilst getting massive publicity on all social media platforms and online music streaming platforms. In the recent decade, Stagajah grew into fame in the industry through their soulful lyrical compositions and music productions, as well as Hotwills through his reggae productions and ragga/rhymes.
After successfully registering the company, the Papuan Black Label started business as usual by recording artists and bands. The Record Label’s spokes-person Hotwills said that their first project for business was recording a band called Broken Tiles of Ijivitari. “Broken tiles of Ijivitari is a band comprising of artists from Popondetta, Gulf, and Central,” said Hotwills.
“Broken tiles of Ijivitari comprises of several artists in the likes of Eldiz Mune, Chaddy Chad, and Widdy Boy of Tarvin Toune’s Blaze 1 Records, legendary artists in the likes of Roberth Oeka, Basil Greg MBE, Saugas and Garry Vaibua, with additional support, mentoring, supervision and productions from us, the three producers of the record label.”
The Papuan Black Label PNG Limited then started partnership with Ijivitari Open, specifically to promote, showcase, and advertise the diverse culture and tourism products of the district and Oro province as whole to a much wider audience in the Pacific, and the world.
So far since they started, the record label has produced seven complete songs for Broken Tiles of Ijivitari, in which the first one titled Mystic Tufi Girl made it into the top 20 count down on PNG FM Limited’s YUMI FM and is spreading like wildfire on other radio stations as well in the country, the team expressed.
As per the completion of all these songs, Hotwills emphasized on the significance of culturally blended music and lyrical composition of all these songs with the originality of the then PNG Local music. “The songs are all sung in different vernaculars in the Papuan Region, Tok Pisin and English as well.”
He said that their reason for transitioning into the type of songs they are producing is to keep the originality of PNG music, but on an advanced level with collective blending of the current music trend’s taste through the lyrics and the foundations of their music production styles.
“We want to keep and revive the original PNG Music taste, and promote culture and tourism simultaneously, as well as embarking on youth empowerment initiatives.”
Hotwills further alluded that the launching of their record label, Papuan Black PNG Limited will be on the ninth (9th) of February at the Cosmopolitan main arena, vision city, level two in Port Moresby.
“Prior to our label’s official launching, a soft launch will be held at the Dream Inn pool side from 4pm till 9pm as curtain raiser before shifting over to the big stage for the main show from 10pm till 1pm.”
After their first partnership with the Ijivitari District Development Authority, the Papuan Back Label team then made mentions that they look forward to partner with other government entities, state agencies, business entities and corporate clients as well.
“We are open for collaborative partnership with any interested DDAs and Government agencies who share a similar vision like ours. In our music productions and the tenure of this company and its operations, we aim to prioritize the publicity of our diversified cultures and majestic geographical features and landscapes in Papua New Guinea.”
The record label called out to government agencies like the Tourism Promotion Authority (TPA), National Cultural Commission (NCC), and the National Museum and art Gallery for an open collaboration to drive this very significant agenda forward because culture is a non-biodegradable revenue generating medium that Papua New Guinea has.
“Our natural resources will possibly run out one day but our cultures, traditions and diversity will live on forever thus, taking pro-active approaches in commercializing this entity is highly beneficial for our country’s long run,” said Hotwills.
The Papuan Black PNG Limited crew concluded by announcing the formal launching of their record label, which will be held on the 9th of February (Friday) at the Cosmopolitan.
“Tickets are going out on sale for K40 pre-sold and K50 at the club’s main gate. Those interested music supporters, fans, and advocates of tourism and cultural promotion that wishes to support can call us on the phone numbers provided on the official launching flyer.”
The launching night will witness fire from the coastlines of Central Province, up to the Gulf of Kerema and off to the rugged terrains and jungles of Oro province.
ENDS!
“A brief insight on the new record label”
Junior Addy Malaisa is the producer for Shady Tree Productions. He is a mix parentage from Oro, Gulf and Central provinces. Picture by JOEL K ANDREW.
Wills Ehava is from Gulf Province and is the producer for MRW records. He goes by the stage name Hotwills. Picture by JOEL K ANDREW.
Liberty Gia Ai is from Gulf province and the senior music producer of Stagajah. He is a professional session musician and plays lead guitar. Picture by JOEL K ANDREW