Plans to take his career to the international circuit after two years of holding the title of GT&T Jingle and song competition winner are in the pipeline as singing sensation Brandon Perido Harding is pumped to forge ahead musically.
Two years ago at age 17 this average teen’s colossal vocal talent wooed Guyanese, proved the best of more than 200 entries and won the judges’ approval as Guyana’s best in the talent competition. Life before the jingle completion was that of a normal teenage but now he’s got big dreams.
While Region 10 rejoiced at yet another win of the title two years ago in reflecting Harding said the win was a personal achievement. I High Praise to GT and T he said he ably demonstrated that focus, hard-work, sacrifice and sheer ‘God Given talent’ are important ingredients for success.
To that ‘little red boy’ it was a moment of satisfaction when his name was announced as the winner because as he puts it “I was able to use my singing and entertainment talents, in-keeping with the desires and expectations of my fans, to reinforce the point that Guyana is a reservoir of talents.”
The competition was also a boost to my self-esteem as I was able to discover a new level of hidden courage, even though I knew I had talent and the drive to be successful Harding noted.
Flash back Looking ahead…finished recording One, nine more to come
On my part there is a serious concentration on advancing my music career. Since the competition I recorded a song, titled, ‘got to get you girl,’ a story from my school days fantasy when I chased after a sweetheart. In addition Harding says he has a compilation of nine more songs in the recording line-up. An effort that reinforces that he is a team player he has been working with the lyrically talented, Johnathan ‘Lil Red’ King who is a song writer. And while he has made some appearances on stages across Guyana he continues to spend time in the studio making sure his vocals and talent are kept in check.
Singing since age five Harding has participated in school junior calypso competition and church and it was during this period that his father recognised his singing talent. Fondly he recalls, “I use to take a small tape recorder to sing and record my music creations and he used to listen and smile a lot and that alone made me happy.”
However while most of the Jingle and song Competition contenders have seemingly faded according to Harding ‘the big game is yet to be played’… Emphatically the father of one son says, “I am focused on putting together my first album which is a big challenge but not unachievable even as I recognized the local music industry has its ups and downs.”
Given his experience of competing in Caribbean competitions and doing well in his not so younger days he has not ruled out entering other competitions. However there is a ‘but’… “I believe that even though competition is an excellent measurement of your strength, unless there is an absolute need for me to compete in music show I would prefer to leave space for others… but you never know.”
For Harding the jingle competition was a major launching pad to widening his music career but admits that it is now left up to him for to use that experience to move upward.
“Its exciting thinking about the future of my music career and to be one of Guyana’s best and an ambassador who is not only recognized because of singing and passion for music… to me the Brandon brand has got to be constant and consistent at trying to be the best. This of course necessitates me having deep appreciation and understanding of my fans whose love and affection have been a major part of my drive.”
As he gears to perform on Saturday night his message to those in the competition is that the music business is about being focused, having the drive to work hard and sacrifice. He notes that once there is this understanding “I can assure you of success.”
His final thoughts as he congratulates the competition finalists his parting words are “its all up to you, be focused, have a good time and don’t worry the judges will be on your side if you bring it on.
Mondale Smith