DJ Rusty G takes the lead in showcasing Bermuda music
On Audiomack, DJ Rusty G’s playlist is introducing Bermuda’s music to a new audience.
It has 24 tracks featuring hits by his special picks. Aalai, Bermuda Cal, Kaelyn Kastle, RtwoG2, Collie Buddz and B.L.A.C. are among them. The run time is 73 minutes.
The playlist came through an invitation to be a part of Audiomack’s Made in the Caribbean series, a musical journey featuring home-grown talent curated by top DJs in 25 islands.
As described by the streaming platform, the idea was to “exhibit the ever-evolving style of the Caribbean artist, the music genres that emerge from the Caribbean and the DJs responsible for breaking these artists and sounds”.
It is a huge opportunity for new artists especially, said Rusty G.
“It's a streaming platform that has been really exploding. It's been growing really fast and right now is a number one source for emerging artists and for new music to get discovered. So a lot of people are jumping on Audiomack now.”
Artists had to have their music on Audiomack in order to be included. Just as important was that it was music the DJ liked. Rusty G ultimately chose a range of genres – “from reggae to soca to dancehall to R & B to pop”.
“If I hear a song that I like from a Bermudian artist then I'm gonna support it and that's kind of always how I've always operated. But nine times out of ten, if it's a really good song by a Bermudian, it finds its way to me,” he said.
“As a DJ, I'm constantly looking for new music and I'm always networking and working with different artists and trying to stay in tune with what's the latest and what's the newest type of thing. I produce and release my own music as well so, obviously, I put my own music on my playlist. But there's quite a range.”
DJ Rusty G travels the world performing and has been “in music in Bermuda for a long time”. He was not surprised when Audiomack reached out to him.
“I was in Trinidad in February. I just got back from Miami last week. I will be on the Uber Soca cruise in April. I will be in Germany in May, Barbados in July … so I move around a bit. I'm just doing my part to try to help spread our music to the world.”
He is also busy as a producer and performer under the alias RtwoG2. Full Stop, a song of his own featuring Fire Wayne was a hit last year.
“That's a song that has done very well on island. The Bermuda Tourism Authority picked it up and they use it in all of their promo campaigns. It's a song that made it on to NBC’s medical drama New Amsterdam, in one of the episodes in Season Five.”
On April 24 the plan is to release a follow, a soca song called One Blood.
“Basically, the theme is togetherness and unity. We felt that in our community right now we needed a song that brought people together and that's exactly what it is.”
One Blood will stream on a number of platforms including Audiomack, which is “showing a lot of positive traction for new artists to get discovered”, the DJ said.
It is one of the many ways he stands out in the entertainment industry.
“There's a lot of ways that entertainers build their brands. I always just try to make sure that I give really strong, energetic stage performances; that's always been a good thing to help me. And also other things that DJs do – we put out mix tapes and live recordings and different things.
“Social media helps a lot as well. Clips of my performances in Bermuda ended up growing my social media and people in other places saw them and [decided to book me]. So it’s all that put together, and just being consistent I guess.”
He continued: “But you’ve got to do your homework before you go. Ask other DJs and artists and the promoters what kind of vibes are people expecting. And then do your homework and just pay attention and make sure that you're on point when you get there.”
For more information: www.djrustyg.com. Listen to Made in the Caribbean: Bermuda Edition at audiomack.com/audiomack-caribbean/playlist/bermuda-hits
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