The Tribune

By Arthia Nixon

The top 20 Bahamian artists on Island FM’s Inspiration with Keith radio show were officially revealed last week as ones to watch in the new year. According to Sunday morning show host Keith Rolle, last year’s list showed a wide range of diversity and has already set a high bar for what’s to come in 2013.

“I received over 60 singles from the Bahamas so local artists really stepped up their game in 2012,” said Rolle. “Bahamians did not limit themselves to any specific genre of music but instead combined local flavours to create unique international sounds. We also have Bahamians who sent in music from Atlanta and Los Angeles. Ultimately Bahamians are stretching their talents through singing, song writing and music production. They are making critical transitions to appeal to listeners outside of The Bahamas.”

For the second consecutive year, Kevan McKenzie snagged the number one spot on the countdown with his latest single, “Leave The Boundary Lines”. It was also the official the Song Of the “Save Our Bahamas” awareness campaign on the national gambling referendum. Meanwhile, the new artist of the year was Halle with his song “We Alright”, featuring Stacs of the Gospel Boys, which earned the seventh spot on the countdown.

Number two on the list was jazz vocalist Brettina with “Pardon The Storm”, followed by gospel choirs Ambassador Devon Rolle & The Barak Movement with “Not 4 Sale” and Soultimental with “Power In The Blood”.

In the number five spot was pop/rock group Truesdale from Atlanta led by Bahamian Stefan Moss with their song “Turn Around”. Taking number six was Dynamite Daisy actress turned singer/songwriter Lynn Terez Davis with “Beautiful”.

Terrance Forbes’ Caribbean Medley took the ninth spot while gospel singer Jonathan Farrington made the list twice – in eighth place with his “I’m Gonna Wait” single and in number ten as the featured artist on Mr. Beeds’ hip hop track “Get It Right”.

The eleventh through fifteen spots went to praise and worship Adrian Edgecombe and Harvest Generation’s “Clean Heart”, Tracy Tracy’s traditional “Let Me Touch Him”, Barz Noble’s hip hop “The Music of Life”, Simmone’s reggae worship “Our God Is An Awesome God” and Lyrically Blessed’s R&B worship “Jesus”.

Rounding off the countdown was Preston Wallace with the rake & scrape “Lord I Thank You”, Landlord’s reggae worship “Eagles Wing”, Demetrius Stubbs with rake and scrape “Prayer Changes Things”, Colyn Major’s contemporary “Peace In The Streets” and Denero Williams with the inspirational single “Believe”.