Where Did Anthologies Come From?
There I was, sitting in front of my computer, working on the prototype for one of my collaborations with DJ Omari. In the midst of that moment, I couldn’t help but think about the rich history that we have in the Caribbean as far as gospel music is concerned. I reflected on how grateful I was to be able to experience some of the momentous highs and lows that have led to the state of Caribbean Gospel Music today. From the dawn of the Flowmasters Era, Pilgrimage, Let Loose etc to our current initiatives, a lot has happened over the years.
My father was always into the music. He’s actually the primary reason I appreciate it so much. I would often raid my parents’ bedroom cupboard as a child growing up because the CD collection was too tantalizing to resist. Sherwin Gardner. Mr. Lynx. Christ Dymension. Carlton Louison and Prayze Project. Shiselon. Tiko and Gitta. Papa San. Jadee. SOS. Ayanah Gordon-Wallace. Melchizedek Order. Chevelle Franklyn. Mission Epistle. Positive. Koen Duncan. Isaac Blackman. Transcend Klan. The cupboard had everything. Trust and believe. This was my education, my upbringing, my life.
I wanted to share my love for discographies with the masses but I wanted to do it in a way that felt natural to me. I wanted to honour the labourers who relentlessly contribute to the movement while incentivizing the new wave to not grow weary in well-doing. Ultimately, it all had to be strategically designed and packaged palatably for effective distribution.
I had an idea.
What if I partnered with the artists? This vision would be too great to accomplish on my own, so partnership would be inevitable. Be that as it may, it couldn’t be just any artist. In keeping with the overall vision of the series, eligibility would only be granted to persons that satisfy the following criteria:
Artists that have released at least one album
Artists with catalogs that have the density and diversity to span a minimum of 1 hour under mixtape constraints
I called my good friend Shurdelle Jennings to do some brainstorming in terms of the overall creative direction of this great cause. We were able to design a schematic in terms of who we’d partner with and when, based on the ever evolving state of our industry. We came up with a name – a name that has since been able to encapsulate my development in this craft; one that has informed my philosophy of respect for the past, appreciation for the present and optimism for the future.
ANTHOLOGY.
The name just felt perfect in that moment. The mix would solely contain music from the featured artist. On June 10th 2019, the Anthology Series was born with the release of Anthology: Nathanael. Since it was the first instalment of the series, I had my elder brother Udo Ibeleme do a foreword and he did an excellent job at it. The impact of the partnership with Nathanael was palpable. The mix would yield chart topping results the following day as I had the highest ranking music podcast in Trinidad and Tobago after that release.
The series has since gone from strength to strength as there have been multiple instalments to date. It is an initiative that takes a lot of effort, PR, prayer and research. The results are well worth the investment though. I am honoured to give back to the industry in this way as its impact on me throughout the span of my life can’t be overstated or underestimated. The Anthology Series is primarily built on my respect for the art form and my appreciation for Caribbean Gospel Music. When I partner with an artist, I don’t take it lightly. Not only is it my contribution to the universal set of culture, but it is also my way of saying , “I see you and I honour you for putting out all this intellectual property for our edification as a community.”
Long live the Anthology Series. The saga continues.