Entertainment

Green Synergy Semi-Finalists Named

By TEINO EVANS, Staff Reporter

Francois St Juste - file

THE THIRD HEINEKEN Green Synergy competition will get on the way this Friday, as the eight top disc jocks were named last Tuesday at the FAME FM studios gear up for battle.

Francois St Juste, executive producer, FAME 95, welcomed the eight lucky semi-finalists, noting that this year, the competition had more contestants reaching the finals from all over the island.

Of the more than 50 entries assessed, the named semi-finalists were Leighton Cunningham (DJ Slim), Lionel Creary (DJ Lynel), Derron Seville (DJ Deja), Francis Asiedu (DJ Franco), Stavin Rose (DJ Bull), Robert Vassel (DJ Fuse), Dominique Davis (DJ Chinsue) and Andre Bryan (Fire Chief).

High spirits

All are in high spirits and are eager to get the action going on the turntables.

"I used to deejay while at Moneague College and it is really the love that I have for music and seeing people in a good dancing vibes that encouraged me to pursue this. Also the support of my friends who told me I could do it, was another reason why I entered," DJ Lynel said.

Being FAMEous

Another contestant, DJ Slim, says "Mi love music and I also like a challenge, so I hope this experience will help me in a good way to publicise myself and improve my mixing. Right now I'm not nervous, just happy for the opportunity."

Most, if not all the deejays, however, admitted that one of their main aims was to acquire a job at FAME FM.

"I couldn't let this opportunity pass, because FAME is my number one station and they have the best deejays, so I would want to get the chance to work there," DJ Franco said.

DJ Fuse, who is entering the competition for the third time says he is also motivated by getting a job at the station.

This year, the Heineken Green Synergy competition will take the fiesta a few steps further, as two semi-finalist deejays will spin off each week at the Asylum nightclub starting this Friday.

In addition, the winner of Heineken Green Synergy 2K5 will have the opportunity of representing Jamaica, as other Caribbean countries are also getting their best deejays together in a similiar competition.

"This year, Heineken has upped the ante and has added a new Caribbean flavour, designed to engage the interest of all music and Heineken lovers. For the first time this year, the local winner of this year's competition will compete in the first ever Heineken Green Synergy regional finals in St. Lucia," Gareth Geddes, brand manager, Heineken said.

Finalists in the regional competition will be drawn from Trinidad, Puerto Rico, St. Lucia and Jamaica.

The winner of the Heineken Green Synergy Competition in Jamaica, will win an all-expenses paid trip for two to St. Lucia, plus state-of-the-art DJ equipment valued at $350,000 and an internship at FAME FM. Second prize will be DJ equipment valued at $200,000.

Preliminary finalists

A panel of FAME FM and Heineken judges will select the winner in the Jamaican leg of the competition. Eight preliminary finalists will play off every Friday between July 5 and August 19, in knockout eliminations and semi-finals, which will take place at the Asylum nightclub. Each segment will be broadcast live on FAME FM. The listeners will be allowed to eliminate one DJ per week, via text messages from both Digicel and bMobile customers. By the end of the competition, two finalists will vie for supremacy.

The competition climaxes at the Asylum nightclub on September 2, 2005.