Hit songs from The Bahamas are few and far between. Funky Nassau by The Beginning of The End and The Baha Men’s Who Let The Dogs Out were big in the United States in 1971 and 2000, respectively.
Padrino, a singer/rapper and producer from Nassau, is eager to break that drought with Brighter Days, his recently released song that features deejay Monty G, another native of The Bahamas.
“To me, it (getting a hit in the US) would mean a lot but it would also mean that my work has just begun and I’d need to have other records ready to go,” he said.
Brighter Days is an acoustic, island-flavored single that calls for optimism in tough times. Padrino, who is based in South Florida, went for a different feel from his previous songs that leaned toward hip hop and dancehall.
The 39 year-old artist has produced songs like Life is Real which he did with Jah Cure and Popcaan; as well as New York, a collaboration with rappers Jadakiss and Fat Joe.
Padrino has also recorded with acts in his homeIand but believes for Caribbean music to be more commercially viable, established artists have to be less selfish.
“I personally feel like everyone is out for themselves and there is very little unity and support by top tier artists in the Caribbean music industry. We should take a look at how the Latin community uses those very things to succeed on a much larger scale and using Caribbean culture to do it,” he said. “We need to help each other and support each other in business and we lack that tremendously.”
The Latin market is one of the most lucrative in the music industry. Traditional artists pack arenas throughout Latin America, so too performers who do Reggaeton, a frenetic beat strongly influenced by Jamaican dancehall.
Padrino was born Rory Bowe to a Bahamian father and Irish mother. His influences are diverse, ranging from the reggae sounds of Bob Marley and Beres Hammond to Miles Davis’ jazz tones and country twang of Patsy Cline.
In terms of contemporary music, his tastes are just as eclectic.
“I’m excited by good music that comes from the heart. I think meeting Beres Hammond was the most excited I’ve ever been in music to date but there are many others from hip hop, reggae and other genres that ignite excitement out of me,” he said.
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