Philip Scantlebury
When Philip Scantlebury hits the stage the last thing one would expect to hear is the raw, edgy alternative rock sound he has become best known for. With locks like a lion’s mane cascading down his back, and smooth chocolate skin stretched over well-defined muscles this walking anomaly has carved a niche for himself in a musical genre not typically associated with a person of West Indian roots. He is arguably among the best alternative vocalists in Barbados whose raw vocal talent began to bloom over a decade ago when he began performing with the local R&B Acappella group Suave. Here is where the gradual rollout of his vocal range and versatility began.
Shortly after the break up of Suave, Philip was invited to audition for the blues and soul band ‘Acoustic Blue’. Needless to say, the audition was successful and Philip’s growth and evolution as an artist began. It was also with Acoustic Blue that he got bitten by the rock bug. They were brave, crazy, in your face, and undaunted. It was in this environment that Philip felt he had outgrown playing covers and yearned to play original music. Eventually gaining a spot on the local nightclub circuit the band changed its name to Le Groove and began performing at McBride’s Irish pub. Under the name Le Groove, Philip recorded six original tracks notably ‘Without You’ and ‘Where Were You. The singles became a staple on local radio and one could say here is where Philip’s local fan base began to grow.
Philip’s journey continued as a vocalist with the Toni Norville Project, further impressing audiences with his range of sweet R&B and reggae vocals. Such was his passion for the stage that he teamed up with singer Kirk Browne and formed the band “Strategy”. This partnership cemented Philip as a local star of the stage and allowed him to work on his songwriting skills as he became a weekly feature at various venues across the island.
After a year with Strategy, Philip decided to return to the genre that brought him the most satisfaction. The year 2005 witnessed the emergence of the alternative band Masala – a 7 piece band featuring Philip together with some of the island’s most versatile musicians. Together they tirelessly rehearse and fine-tune their sound to set the band apart from any other as they incorporate various genres of music into their alternative rock set.
Local music producer Gary Serrao of Gee Wiz Studios keenly watched Philip’s evolution over the years and introduced him to Canadian music producer Derek Brin. This marked yet another milestone in Philip’s career. So impressed was Derek with Philip’s vocal style that they recorded the edgy soulful track ‘Beautiful Surprise’ a song which had been penned by songwriters in a Sony/BMG songwriters camp. Then came the song’s reggae remix which was recorded by the legendary Clive Hunt at Harmony House, Jamaica.
“Beautiful Surprise” was accompanied by a glossy, international quality music video produced by Stuart Hall of Creative Junction and shot at various locations in Barbados.
The local music industry recently endorsed Philip’s talent when he was awarded “Best Rock/Alternative Artist” at the 3rd annual Barbados Music Awards.
With the success of “Beautiful Surprise,” Philip again put his faith and talent in the hands of the track’s masterminds for another three new recordings. Barbadian producer Gary Serrao and Canadian-based international producer Derek Brin have crafted the just released alternative tracks “Nothing Left to Say” and “Unconditional”. These were followed by “Blame it on Love” which easily become heavily rotated on both local and regional radio stations.
During 2008 Philip continued on with his determination to push past boundaries and achieve distinction in the Caribbean’s alternative arena. He released a song for Barbados’ Crop Over season titled “Bring De Wuk” which garnered him significant recognition locally and regionally. Also in that year, he went on film two music videos for his latest singles “Space and Time” and “Looking For”. Both are again excellent embodiments of this rising star’s abundance of vocal range and versatility.
In 2009 Philip started the year in the same suit as the previous one. He began exploring the reggae genre with more passion and enthusiasm than ever before. A trip to the reggae epicenter reaffirmed Philip’s interest and led to him capturing the attention of some of the island’s leading producers. Working with names like Stephen McGregor, Richard “Shams” Browne, and Donovan Germaine, Philip created four tracks that reeked of potential. These tracks were crucial elements in his infiltration of the stiffly competitive Jamaican industry. Such a feat is incredibly notable particularly as he is a non –Jamaican.
The existence of talent has never been in dispute for Philip, but this exciting new phase of his career will focus on Philip Scantlebury the entire product.
