Actress Aixa Kendrick pays tribute to iconic women
Aixa Kendrick portrays Jamaican actress Grace Jones.
Frank Good
Continued from Page 29 Continued from Page 29
“This track is a fusion of the
sounds within the dancehall and
country music space, with the
simple message: despite hardships,
the human spirit survives
— an apt message in a time
where many are facing some of
the toughest conditions they’ve
ever known due to the global
pandemic,” added the chief executive
officer of Destine Media.
“Wesrok is a retired superintendent
of police and a holder
of multiple degrees, which are
mere exhibits of his bravery and
drive for success,” Tomplinson
continued. “This bravery is also
evident in his creative life, as he
continues to push the boundaries
of what is considered Jamaican
music with his signature
country reggae sound.”
She said Wesrok’s premise of
his musical philosophy is solid:
“country music has always been
an outlet for stories of rural
life — something that is evidenced
by the deep connection
rural Jamaicans have always had
with classic country artists like
Kenny Rogers, Johnny Cash,
Dolly Parton and more.”
As a fan of country music,
Tomlinson said Wesrok “had the
bravery to take it even further
than ‘fandom’ and pursue creating
a brand of country that
could stand as Jamaican.”
She said Wesrok has cultivated
his following diligently since
entering the music scene, “using
only good music, with his latest
album ‘Look at Me Now,’ which
had songs like ‘Poor Country
Boy,’ ‘Born As A Winner,’ ‘Left
Out In The Dark’ and more.”
For Wesrok, “Try to Hold Me”
is meant to uplift.
“Through the years, I have
been through the struggles,” he
said. “Now, my pain has made
me stronger.
“I want to use my life to
inspire people to be strong and
push forward, and always to
make this world a better place.
That is all that matters.”
Tomlinson said: “Now, more
than ever, the world needs a
message of hope, and Wesrok is
committed to playing his part
as someone who is intimately
familiar with struggle.”
Caribbean L 30 ife, OCTOBER 22-28, 2021
Freisei said Intence’s
breakout single, “Seh Dem
Real,” on the Sed Way Riddim
helped him step into
the limelight in the summer
of 2019.
She said that success was
followed by the release of
several hits, including “Weh
Dem Know,” “Dolla Bill,”
and “Dream Life.”
“Bringing more visibility
to artists like Intence
is exactly what Audiomack
is all about,” Freiseis said.
“Audiomack Caribbean is
a division of the business,
focused on supporting the
region’s music, culture, and
artistry.
“The company is recognized
as a platform for
digital music and exclusive
content that serves to
inform and influence the
audience,” she added. “With
more than 12.5 million daily
active users, it has become
an entertainment source
with global reach and tech
notoriety.”
The series of videos can now
be seen on social media.
For Kendrick – Audelco
Award winning Best Actress for
the Off Broadway production
of Oya: Warrior Wind Goddess
and winner of last year’s
Best Actress award at The Harlem
Hip Hop Film Festival for
the short film The Company
You Keep – her involvement in
both projects was a life changing
opportunity to celebrate the
work and legacy of two women
she has long admired and whom
she describes as “transformational
and trailblazing.”
“I’m thoroughly humbled,
and frankly, over the moon
with joy to sit in this moment
in my career to pay tribute to
these two legends on back to
back projects,” she says. “As
an actor and multi-disciplinary
artist, I’m always drawn
to opportunities that highlight
and portray strong, determined
women. Grace Jones and Kathryn
Bigelow epitomize that in
every way.”
From humble beginnings in
Jamaica, Jones rose to become
one of the most unique and
controversial figures of beauty
and style for her own and future
generations. She was one of the
first women of color to openly
embrace her androgyny and,
according to Kendrick, “Whether
in fashion, music, or her roles
in films such as Boomerang or
as a Bond villain for the ages in
A View To A Kill, she paved the
way for a new generation of artists
especially black artists like
myself-to own and embrace the
beauty of our diversity. We are
deeply in her debt.”
Kendrick booked the shoot
after liking several of photographer
Frank Good’s posts on
social media. He contacted her
to ask if she would be interested
in working with him to
celebrate the essence and style
of Jones. Once the photos went
viral- including one of Kendrick
dressed in a two piece men’s
suit and uncannily re-creating
a look made iconic by Jones
decades ago- OSSMA Magazine
reached out and subsequently
created the spread which has
been seen worldwide to great
reviews.
Of Bigelo – two time Oscar
winning director and producer
of the acclaimed war drama
The Hurt Locker and the first
woman ever to win the Academy
Award for Best Director
– Kendrick draws several parallels
with her and Jones as
women who challenged the establishment by being true to themselves, trusting and following
their own vision and
thereby changing the perception
and position of women in
the industry.
“Before Kathryn Bigelow,
women were hardly ever afforded
a seat at the Hollywood table
as equal creators and directors
of major studio projects…
and even when we were, we
were relegated to regurgitating
content that was deemed
for ‘female audiences,’ which
meant endless tear jerking dramas
or fluffy romantic comedies.
With The Hurt Locker,
Ms Bigelow swooped in packing
a big, muscular war epic punch
with an all male cast in tow
and super charged the world.
Like Grace Jones, she dared to
follow her story and kicked ass
doing it, offering little girls and
emerging artists the hope and
vision of what is possible. So to
be directed by her on this exciting
project for the Apple iPhone
13 Pro is essentially a dream
come true for me. Like Grace
Jones, she’s changed the industry
and we’re better for it.”
The video- or “mini movie”
as Kendrick calls it- was conceived
and crafted by Bigelow
and shot by Oscar nominated
cinematographer Greig Fraser
(Zero Dark Thirty, Lion, Rogue
One).
Continued from Page 29
Wesrok ‘Try to Hold Me’ ‘BLESS THE YAAD’
Dancehall Artist Intence. Shotbydeth