Blade

Blade! A name that is well known in Barbados and making waves globally. At the age of three he was drawn to the piano which he played by ear astonishing his mother who wisely arranged for him to take piano lessons. It wasn’t long before he was writing musical compositions.

His journey shows someone who is intent on smashing barriers and expanding limits. He has evolved from that three year old playing the piano by ear to a musical artist, song writer, producer and performer who rocks the guitar.

And so the journey begins!!!

Blade was born on the 21st of August, 1981 in Trinidad and named Shane Free Anthony Richard Moore. He grew up and attended school in Barbados. His Trini born mom whose father is Bajan and mother is Vinci, saw her son’s genius from the get go and would later inspire his song “I’m from the West Indies” on his soon to be released album.

Blade is the son of Barbadian vocalist Anthony Moore (Mickey Dee), child star and heartthrob Barbadian vocalist of the sixties. Mickey Dee mesmerized his fans both locally and internationally with hits such as “Time is on my side”, “Betch your life I do” and “Ask yourself”. Anthony is now a worship leader in his church and in 2007 he recorded a gospel album and continues to perform Caribbean folk songs at the Sandpiper Hotel, in the popular West Coast area of Barbados, to the delight of visitors.

Blade’s style stems from his first true inspiration, rap. While at Foundation Secondary School in Barbados he started rapping with two school friends who became known as G Sharp. He embraced the world of hip hop with passion and was deeply influenced by Warren G’s album Regulate and Snoop Dogg’s Doggy Style .His hands jab and slice as he raps “The hardcore truth, rawness and flow inspired me and sparked a desire to write my own lyrics, to make music”. A year later at 15 years old he released his first recorded tract “Don’t you love my sharp style baby” which reached 22 on Barbados charts.

A gift of a guitar for his 21st birthday marked the beginning of a new musical challenge. With the help of the late Hassan Graves, Victor Linton from Billy Ocean band and Shane Foster he jumped to the next level and forged a love affair with this instrument. He laughs infectiously and sings “From there I put skills on the stage and rip that shit off, yah’’. It wasn’t long before he became known as a talented rapper who also strummed a mean guitar. This rapper/guitarist combo would sharpen his performance and magnetize his stage presence.

In 2003 Angie Alison of Magnetic Image Records introduced herself to Blade after seeing him perform. She loved his performance and expressed an interest in being his manager. This led to her signing Baytown Crew to Magnetic Image Label. Baytown Crew was the more mature and dynamic incarnation of the high school trio G Sharp, Blade, Buggy and KB. Baytown shot a video in Barbados for their single “Homeland” which was written by Blade and Buggy. The video starred British actress Danielle Bright. Over the next three years Blade with Baytown Crew toured the UK extensively performing at popular night clubs including Ministry of Sound and Mass Club Brixton to an audience of over 2,000, the Opera House and Carnival Splash in Bournemouth and the Time Club-Birmingham and Zanzibar in Middlesbrough and also The Works, Ten Rooms and the Hippodrome. Baytown also did interviews on Benn TV and the popular Choice FM radio, and had the pleasure of seeing its music aired on Sky TV.

By 2005 the Baytown Crew experience had run its course and it was time to venture forward as a solo artist. Blade put writing/recording on hold for a couple of years while backing up on guitar for a popular Bajan band “Strategy”. In 2007 he was nominated in the instrumentalist category and also performed with Edwin Yearwood at the Barbados Music Awards.

The New Year 2006 started with the decision that it was time to take up another challenge. He formed “Red Alarm” and Blade the music director was born. Red Alarm played predominantly reggae with splashes of hip hop, and dancehall and quickly became Barbados most popular band. Red Alarm made an impact on the Barbados music scene and in 2008 scored a nomination in the Band Of The Year category in the Barbados Music Awards. They performed regularly at popular night spots such as The Ship Inn and Reggae Lounge located in the trendy and famous St. Lawrence Gap aka The Gap. Blade reminisces, “A cool vibe, a great experience. This band taught me to run a band and be a music director and also inspired the style I now have”.

His lyrics paint the picture of a story while his music catches your ear and quickens your pulse. Yes, you feel good!!!

Blade has named his musical style “guitar driving hip-hop”. His music is a “world beat” blending the hypnotic sounds of reggae and the audacity and boldness of hip-hop, the “in your face” story telling of rap with some very mean guitar licks. The whole sound comes tog