by ERIN MACLEOD

If you’re into reggae and don’t know Zulu Black, Rasul, Dulcie, SK and Progress, RASE TV (Reggae and Soca Entertainment TV) wants you to listen up. These five finalists will be chatting, chanting and singing this Saturday, in hopes of being crowned the winner of RASE TV’s Canadian Reggae Star. RASE TV’s In the Zone co-host Lisa J spoke to the Mirror about the contest and Canadian reggae music.

Mirror: What led RASE TV to develop the idea for the competition?

Lisa J: Because of being in the industry as media for so long, we saw that there was a lot of undiscovered talent.

M: Is it difficult to get recognized as a reggae artist in Canada?

LJ: There is no platform on which to be discovered. The only reggae artists that do get exposure are Jamaicans or other non-Canadians. We started RASE TV because no one realized there is talent out there. RASE TV believes that the Canadian Reggae Star competition will revolutionize the Canadian reggae music industry as a whole.

M: So this is much bigger than just the competition.

LJ: I would say so. We’ve got a lot of interest from non-reggae media, media outside the Caribbean community. There’s curiosity.

M: People should pay attention, given that the grand prize includes a deal with Shocking Vibes.

LJ: The fact that we are working with a Jamaican production company has opened people’s eyes. Shocking Vibes, who produce Beenie Man, Tanto Metro and Devonte, is one of the most powerful production houses in the reggae industry, and for them to work with RASE TV—we’ve only been around for two years. We’re honoured to work with them. We wanted to work with Canadian record labels, but they didn’t see the value. When people found out later, they were very interested. Some artists were disappointed that they didn’t try out.

M: There is always next year.

LJ: Yes. It is going to be a yearly event and we have gotten some interest from Toronto, so it will be on a much broader scale.

Canadian Reggae Star finals, with guests Tanto Metro and Devonte, are at le Showcase on Saturday June 10, 8 p.m., $30 (broadcast live on CFMB 1280 AM)

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