The Tribune

By LESH

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

THE BAHAMAS’ very own international and local sensation, Rik Carey, of the Grammy award winning group Baha-Men, is set for a great 2014.

The recording and visual artist is preparing to perform for the first time at the upcoming 50th Annual Heart Ball on Saturday, February 15.

Out of all the projects, Rik said this one is special because it humbles him to know that he is assisting in helping kids with heart problems.

He said: “I am happy to be contributing to that. I have submitted a few art pieces before in previous years but now is a special time for me to come out and perform. It is going to be a lot of fun and I am looking forward to all of it. I wish to encourage others to join us in the fight to save a child’s life.”

At the ball, attendees may get the chance to hear Rik’s recent single entitled “You Can’t Blame Me.”

Rik calls it a tribute to his love for Rake ‘n’ Scrape.

“It’s about how I ventured off into doing something different with the traditional Bahamian sound and made it my own. It is like a graduated process. Over the years I’ve been working on this type of sound and now I think I have something really strong and powerful that I know people are going to love, so that is what this song is all about,” said Rik.

Rik’s recent work also include a project that he produced for group members Wendy Lewis, Dyson Knight and Collin McDonald. The song is entitled “Happy Hour.”

“Before that, I did the tribute to the Golden Knights when they won in 2012. It was out then and it is still very popular on You-Tube,” said Rik.

Rik said since he started with his career at a young age, the music scene has definitely changed for the better.

Calling it a ‘bittersweet thing,’ Rik said there is always room for improvement, but at the end of the day it is all about getting Bahamians to support each other.

“That is always the fight but I think music kind of graduated into a more refined and marketable type of sound in the Bahamas. “The quality, content and writing has changed since I first started and I am excited about that. I feel like I kind of contributed to that new type of Bahamian music genre,” said Rik.

He said Baha-Men proved that there is an international market for Bahamian artists and there is a way to make it happen.

“We have made our own niche in the world and I am thankful for that. I am thankful for people across the world for being so receptive to our music because when people abroad look at Baha-Men, they think of the big tune that won us the Grammy Award, but when we actually get out there and do a whole show, they are wondering ‘what is this sound?’

Rik said listeners love the sound and they enjoy themselves at the Baha-Men shows.

“There is no way that Bahamians can’t make it on the international scene. People have proved that before. You got the ‘T-Connection’; ‘The Beginning of The End’; these people have crossed the waters and made it international. I see a lot of promise in it,” said Rik.

Rik said supporters can look forward to more singles from him for the rest of the year.

“We are just waiting for Sony to get to finalising with the mastering,” said Rik.