Hotta Flames and Bigg Rock band

RODERICK HURLEY aka Hotta Flames, sat down with Groove this week to discuss Life, this being the title of his first album.

Flames takes us on a musical journey through 12 tracks, some old, some new, including the hugely popular single Girls Need Love, which is also in video production.

From his beginnings in school and at church recitals in his native Barbados, he took his talent to his current status of singer/songwriter, producer, director and DJ.

His career started professionally at age ten, when he placed third in the Barbados Junior Calypso Competition. Since then he has gone on to work with Sizzla, Gregory Isaacs and 2face Idibia and he credits H.I.M Haile Selassie I, Bob Marley, Vybez Kartel and Jah Mason as being amongst his influences, not just musically, but also spiritually.

Flames declares himself to be a messenger, who sees his music as a medium to spread the word of love, and upliftment, to nurture a greater understanding of life and the lessons it teaches.

Reflected throughout the album, the philosophy for his own life is detailed, "the responsibility we all share to provide young people with a positive outlook on life, by being aware of the influence we have on children. My eight-year-old son knows all the lyrics to all my songs", says Flames, proudly smiling.

An accomplished guitarist, Flames uses this to build songs emotionally and likes to work with people who understand him and his desire to get his message out. This is also reflected in his role as a producer. He feels a greater responsibility to create an effective sound rather than a different sound, as this allows for a better avenue to communicate.

Flames considers himself his own critic, part perfectionist part free spirit. This, he says, "has helped the album evolve to become connected as a whole entity, much like life". The sum of its parts creates something bigger.

When asked for a wish list of collaborations, Flames mentioned Vybez Kartel for his use of language and songwriting skills, Steven McGregor (Freddie McGregor's son) for his production talent, and to sing with Janet Jackson.

As an artist, used to performing on the international stage, he finds the Bajan crowds more reserved: "They wait until they hear a song they know", whereas the international audience, "they just go wild".

Flames is using new technology, such as MySpace and Facebook, to grow his fan base: "It brings an audience who wouldn't ordinarily be familiar with my work, this also influences record sales.

"Artistes need to focus on the international market more, and the DJs don't play enough local music, and that is the cycle which stops Bajan talent getting into the mainstream." says Flames.

He can be found at Bigg Rock Studio, which he opened in 2000 and where he produces and writes his own material, as well as developing a number of local and regional artists.

Flames' style is very polished, due to his experience across the genre, enabling him to keep his energy and focus on driving forward the Hotta Flames Brand.

Jamaica is the birthplace of reggae music. It is now a global entity and, like calypso, its base is social commentary, and Flames uses his history with both, as a vehicle to take his lyrics and sounds, and compiles them into a universal vision.

As Flames continues with his promotional tour, there will be an album launch at Bump And Wine on September 21 at 7 p.m.

Groove will be at this event, and will bring you all the latest from the launch.

- MANDY CLEAVER - nationnews.com

A MAMMOTH crowd converged on Farley Hill National Park yesterday, to signal the end of the 2009 Barbados Reggae Festival.

From as early as 11 a.m. hundreds made their way to the main entrance of the Park to be part of the Reggae On The Hill - the final of three shows that featured top names in local and regional reggae music.

The festival opened last week Sunday with Reggae On The Beach with contemporary dancehall names like Jamaican Aidonia and Busy Signal.

Another crowd puller was Vintage Reggae held at the Lloyd Erskine Centre on Friday featuring Gregory Anthony Isaacs, Biggie Irie, followed by Fab 5, Boris Gardiner, Li'l Rick and Freddy McGregor.

At Farley Hill the pace was set for the reggae lovers with the likes of Hotta Flames, Buggy and Ayana John.

Top Jamaicans down to appear at Reggae On The Hill included Morgan Heritage, Queen Ifrica, Buju Banton and Beenie Man.

Here Hotta Flames, one of the local reggae acts, performing before a large crowd on the Hill. (JS) - nationnews.com