The Tribune

By LESH

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

BASED on the quality of the music he has put out so far, Bahamian performer Tony Bryte said the possibility of him becoming a household name in the near future is a very real one.

Although he has not yet taken on music as a full-time job, Tony told In Ya Ear anything is possible as long as he continues to believe and works hard towards achieving his goals.

Inspired by his musical heritage – both his father and uncle played in a Creole band in the 1980s – Tony said he became mesmerised by what he heard and saw.

“I don’t remember much of it because I was very young at the time and my father died when I was four and my uncle didn’t continue to play. I guess by then the musical bug had already bit me, despite the little I saw. As soon as I could understand the concept of music, melodies began to float in my head. I dreamed about artists and songs that I’ve never seen or heard of before,” he said.

Growing up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Tony said at age 14 he spent his time in the park, socialising with his friends, and the lyrics just started to flow.

“I just started busting rhymes. All of my friends jaws dropped and they was like, ‘Dawg, I didn’t know you could rap’, and I was like I didn’t know either. I guess that’s where it all started for me,” said Tony.

After moving back to the Bahamas in his early 20s, Tony took his music from just singing in the park with friends to creating songs and later on full-length albums.

“I have an album on iTunes and several other online stores called ‘A Millionaire’s Dream’,” he said.

“My favourite song on the album is called ‘Dreams’, because it addresses the situation most artists face in the Bahamas, especially us rappers, in regards to authenticity. Most people feel that rap is not a part of our culture, and I disagree because how could it not be a part of our culture when most Bahamians grow up listening to it and loving it.

Rap music is played at least a hundred times per day on local radio, so how can you blame a young Bahamian kid that grows up and wants to be a rapper?”

Currently working on several music projects, Tony said the one outstanding venture has to be his upcoming album, “Against All Odds”. The first single from that album is called “Miracle”.

Tony said the song is very powerful and inspirational, and it is expected to be released within the next week or two.

“People can find my music on cdbaby.com/tonybryte or just search Tony Bryte on any major online store such as iTunes. The feedback I have been getting on my music has been great, everyone that heard my album loved it,” said Tony.

Giving thanks to his mother, Tony said she is the most influential person in his life. Despite facing the many challenges of being a single parent, Tony said she did a great job raising him and his siblings.

Tony said he believes there is a great market out there for his music. With people in places as far as Australia listening and purchasing his music, he said as long as Bahamian artists do not think in local terms and produce quality music regardless what genre it is, there will always be someone who enjoys it.

“My music goals for the remainder of 2014 is to release two album projects, do a couple of shows ,and most importantly, make myself and my music well known in the Bahamas,” he said.