In June this year, young Boaz Roberts celebrated his 25th birthday by releasing his first single, a musical move that has been in the making all his life.
Boaz, known by his fans as “Prince B”, has been involved in music since he was a child and the young school teacher decided that this is the year, he wanted to up the ante and record his music. On June 2, he released his first album, a reggae compilation titled “Fulfilling My Purpose”.
Roberts told Guyana Times that he decided to release the recordings after some degree of doubt.
Boaz Roberts in studio. He said he has plans to release something special for his musical fans for Mashramani 2023
“I feel this is what I was called to do. I tried to ignore it many times before but wherever I go and perform I’ll always be encouraged to do it professionally. Before now I use to have lots of doubt about my voice and my lyrics,” he said.
Roberts said that he dedicated the album to his family, especially his father, who is well-known in the Pomeroon, at Moruca, and on the Essequibo Coast as Pastor Steve.
“Is one that means a lot to me. I can recall I had lots of emotion writing, even recording my songs,” he said about the album.
He said that he was experiencing a period of turbulence at the time and he noted that this was probably related to him being the son of a pastor. “I think society expects us to be right all the time. I’ve made many mistakes in my life but making mistakes defines who you really are and how you learn from them,” Roberts said. “I was told I won’t make it and things like that but I took those same criticisms and made them lyrics that give me not only a song but an album,” Roberts said.
He said that while the album has many songs that he holds dear to his heart, one of his songs, entitled “Overcomer” is his favourite. “I trust that people be inspired by it,” he said. His songs are also on YouTube, he added.
Various genres of music
Roberts said that he aims to produce inspirational songs and he noted that they will span a variety of genres including, R&B, soul, reggae, and some patriotic songs. “Probably one and two Soca-style songs now and then,” he said.
He said he wishes to be involved in various genres of music to ensure that his audience is diverse. “I don’t just want to put my sound out there for only a group of people but for all those who are willing to listen to it,” he said. “So not because I came from a Christian background, I’ll only do music for the Christian group. That is why I said I’ll do inspirational songs so any religion of people can listen to my music,” he added.
In terms of the response to his music thus far, Roberts said that his friends and family have been very supportive and responsive to his songs and he noted that they are proud of his move to record professionally. He said too that he has built a fan base within the Christian community and his album has expanded the numbers. “I got lots of fans now which I’m grateful for,” he said.
Roberts hails from the Pomeroon. He attended the Friendship Nursery School at Friendship Canal and later, the Marlborough Primary, both located in the Lower Pomeroon.
He said he moved to the city with his family and attended the Clonbrook Primary School where he wrote the National Grade Six Examinations after which he relocated to Charity on the Essequibo Coast.
Roberts enrolled in the Cyril Potter College of Education this year and he is currently completing the trained teachers’ certificate programme at the college’s Turkeyen campus.
He said that he has been a member of the Heavenly Light Assembly of God Church in the Pomeroon where his father is the pastor. Now that he is living in Georgetown temporarily, Roberts said he is still contemplating which church to attend, noting that he has been approached by multiple friends to visit their church so that he can share his musical talent with the congregation.
Future plans
Roberts said that he intends to continue pursuing his musical aspirations and according to him, “hopefully someone hears me and extend my borders not only in Guyana but other countries. I also hope that one day I land a record deal.”
Roberts said that he plans to write patriotic songs to promote Guyana’s rich cultural heritage and he expressed optimism that he would perform across the country. “One of my dreams is to sing at a national event for a national audience,” he added.
As for his teaching career, Roberts said that he will continue studying hard and serve the nation’s education sector academically and also musically whenever the time arises. “Music is what I love so I’ll do everything I can to push myself to the top,” Roberts said.
“I would like to say to all the young people out there who have the desire to do music or who have a dream to follow your dreams not only to dream it but to make it a reality and to surround yourself amongst the right people who will push you to get there,” Roberts said.
