Monea was just ready to go - R.A.Y.D.A.R. Ent.
Monea follows Travis Walters aka Travie Rozae as the second Virgin Islander to benefit from the programme. Walters completed his six month stint in Atlanta, USA and returned to perform at the recent Top 7@7 Music Awards where he was snapped up by UpFront Records.
“Hashim was on superstar mode and there was also SEF but we felt like Monea was a little bit more polished than everyone else and a little bit more ready,” said Daniels while encouraging the other artistes to not be discouraged because they were not picked. “Monea was just ready to go."
Daniels said Monea will undergo vocal training with Rock City and will also be provided with better Choreography. ‘We want to put together a team around her and take her on a whole new level to compete with the top acts in the world.”
Richardson is expected to leave in September for the six month programme and return for the next Top 7@7 Music Awards Show to perform in front of record label representatives.
Meanwhile, President of FTM, Craig Lake, said Bryan Cox of So So Def Records will also be doing Richardson’s records. “The trip will be a serious one because you now have Bryan Cox (So So Def Records) will be playing a major role in this part of the programme as far as doing the records for her and getting her up to where she should be....I would not say it is a record deal but who knows, she just might not return to perform as she might get a record deal over there. At the end of the day it all boils down to the artiste.”
Lake, who also said he would be stepping down from the helm of FTM before the next Awards, noted also that many of the artistes were being looked at including SEF, Hashim, Aaron Da Jedi, B. Breezy and of course Monea.
The lady of the moment, Monea, said she was most grateful for the opportunity being presented to her and noted that she prayed about it. “I wanted God to have his way and it happened so I am so grateful for this opportunity.” She also said she was aware of the pressure that she would be under to succeed but right now she is relieved to know that she has been chosen. “It’s like a weight lifted off of me and I am very excited. I remember all the stories that Travis used to tell me and already he has given me good advice so I think I will be good.”
She expressed gratitude to Craig Lake, Minister for Education and Culture Hon. Walwyn, Hon. Andrew Fahie , her family, friends and all her supporters. “I will try my best to just live up to the expectations because it is going to be very hard but I am ready.”
Minister Walwyn also thanked Mr. Lake for his work with FTM and said what has happened to Travie Rozae is because of a vision that Mr. Lake had years ago. “And there are times when the Lord puts certain persons in your life for a particular reason-to take it from point A to point B. I think Craig was deliberately placed there so that the talent we have in the Virgin Islands could come to the fore because I myself, before we had this show, didn’t know that we had so many young talented young people and so many young people who were interested in the performing arts.”
Hon Walwyn also pledged his Ministry’s continued support to the FTM Programme. “The Government, even through its manisfesto, made it clear that we are going to support our young people in any way we possible can.” He also said there has been a request for a performing arts studio, which the Government aims to have plans in hand before their four years are up.
Even before it was announced who the next person for the programme was, Walters’ advice was for that person to be humble and listen. “All I have to say is be humble and stay humble, listen but never be afraid to voice your opinion. Take in everything that you can and listen because they know. I mean you can voice your opinion as well but at the end of the day they know what the industry wants. It might not be what you want but it is what the industry wants and for you to make it, it is best to listen to them.”
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