Sabrina 'Breeze' Foster (left) and Savanna 'Sunshine' Cole of the group Islandgirlz. - Contributed

WESTERN BUREAU:

Daring to be different in a musical world high on sexual explicitness, the fresh and inspiring teenage group, Islandgirlz, has boldly declared it is the alternative to daggerin'.

Ten-year-old Savanna 'Sunshine' Cole, 14-year-old Sabrina 'Breeze' Foster and 15-year-old Tiffany 'Rain' Finnigan are defying the predictions of one of the island's most reputable producers who said "It is going to take five to six years for them to gain popularity because they aren't touting sex, drugs, thugs and hype".

"We are going to prove that producer wrong and go 100 per cent in the opposite direction of daggerin'," declared the youngest singer in the group Cole, a Jamaican who attends school in Houston, Texas.

"We are bringing a more positive vibes to the music, but making it kinda cool. Our sound should be unique and different, something that would be inspiring to young people," said Cole, who at times sounded more mature than 10 years old.

Inspired

Revealing that she is inspired by girl group Brick and Lace, Tessanne Chin, Seal and the king of reggae, Bob Marley, she gave an example of rap artiste TI, who has wielded his influence on youngsters in the United States.

"Although he has found himself in a tough situation right now because he has some gun charges and could serve up to 30 years in prison, before this happened he was touting positive lyrics, and this has had an impact on the young people where I live," she said.

Accordingly, she believes that no type of "bad" lyrics could sway her in the wrong direction "but I am aware that there are children who are not as strong and they are Islandgirlz target market".

So, not touting sex, drugs, thugs and hype, the group, which doesn't really sound dancehall but more like a delicate fusion of jamrock and alternative in their latest song Sunshine, speaks of the plight of the homeless, the hungry, wanton firing of gunshots and the need for positivity, irrespective of the violence that is wreaking havoc in the country.

Strong message

Tiffany 'Rain' Finnigan

"Our music is message music," declared 14-year-old Foster, as she took The Gleaner through the words of the song Promise Us Love - which portrays a father who is being urged by his children to give them love and support instead of the money he brings each time he visits.

It's a strong message coming from teenagers, but one that is needed at this time, said Foster.

"Our music is different from what our youths are used to so we want to make a big impact, helping them to decipher what is wrong from right," she said.

"There are no doubts that people want a choice and Islandgirlz is pushing the positive side of the music, and plan to showcase this in a very catchy style," stated their manager, Raymond Cole.

He added: "We really believe that there is a great majority of Jamaicans that, if given material, will prefer positive lyrics."

He said that in five years Islandgirlz is aiming to become an exportable force in the music industry, particularly in the youth market.

'Good to the bone'

Likening their potential to the likes of a Hannah Montana, the Cheetah Girls and Jonas Brothers, he said Jamaican youths are constantly being fed foreign music on cable and it was time to deliver a group capable of reaching those heights.

Revealing that he had played their music at bus stops, cook shops, parks and just about every nook and cranny throughout the country, he said their greatest impact has been on youths seven to 19-years-old, the loss leaders of the country.

This summer will be even more exciting for Islandgirlz as they will have a full product. "People don't take you seriously until you have your own album," said Raymond Cole.

The fate of the young women is deeply rooted in their refusal to be 'bad to the bone', instead "we are good to the bone".

janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com.