Violence through music?: Psychiatrist, artiste, youths, explore topic

Is the notion of “violence through music” valid, amid some restrictions and bans on certain dancehall artistes in Guyana and neighbouring countries for their music, which is deemed by authorities to be influencing the public to commit heinous acts?
Following a premature ending to the “Baderation” concert in Guyana, because patrons were firing shots and throwing bottles as Jamaican Dancehall artiste “Skeng” when he performed in May 2022, subject Minister Robeson Benn had said he has instructed the Home Affairs Ministry and the Guyana Police Force to withhold consent and approval for any future public performance featuring Skeng, or any artiste whose lyrical content promotes the type of behaviour that was displayed at the event. Describing the music as disgraceful, the minister made it clear that “such music does not have a place here in Guyana, due to its lack of positive influence and message.”

As of recent, authorities in neighbouring countries have taken positions similar to those taken by the authorities in Guyana: to prevent ‘violent’ musical artistes from performing on their shores. This has prompted the question of whether violence heard in this genre of music influences the commission of criminal acts.
In this regard, in order to cull a professional view on the topic, Guyana Times spoke with Mental Health Consultant Dr Janelle Chase Mayers, a renowned mental health consultant and CEO of the Reengineering Wellbeing Consultancy, who explained, “Music definitely impacts the mood, and is deeply attached to the triggering of the pendra centers that release dopamine within the body. For those who are not aware, dopamine is a neurotransmitter, and it helps us with the tension and focus. It’s really responsible for what stays in our short-term memory based on imaginary response.”
She added, “It definitely becomes something that we need to be concerned about, especially with our youth; as music can also act as a motivator, it can create familiarity. So, if you’re listening to music that asks you to kill, hurt, murder and rape, even though it may not cause you to do that, it creates that concept of familiarity.”
Dr Chase Mayers also explained that people who are prone to violence in their homes and communities may actually be more drawn to violent music, as it reflects their personal circumstances.
She said a study done in 2003 had shown that violent songs may lead to more hostility, and by extension, people in these areas want to listen to more violent music.
Asked what the Caribbean community should do with this information, Dr Chase Mayers said, “With this knowledge in the Caribbean community, we must really consider the fact that violent music is a precursor to behaviour; and it does impact the brain, decreases loving emotions, desensitizes thought, and… allows people to make decisions that may not be best for themselves, their community, or their country at large.”
And 21-year-old Kashif Sankar, also called “Kman 6ixx”, expressed his views, when interviewed on “The Narrative Show” hosted by Calister Farrier, about his recently being debarred from performing in an event carded for the eve of Grenada’s Independence: February 6 2024. Kashif’s lyrics, “Splitting head open, shooting and killing”, were referenced, and he was asked by the interviewer why he thinks the authorities deem such music violent.
Kashif explained, “It can only be summed up as jealousy, because it’s not me alone who sang about this. This is what I don’t understand; this has been going on before me, so I don’t understand how now this has become a big problem where people don’t want artistes to come in their country. Vybz Kartel and Movado sang the most vulgar music….”
Further, he expressed that he grew up in an area where crime is prevalent, and he himself was locked up at a young age for possession of a firearm. Asked for advice to give to the youths, he said, “To the youths: I want to tell y’all that y’all have a brain of your own, so do the right thing and stay in school.”
The interviewer then described two scenarios in Trinidad in which the artiste’s life had been in jeopardy, and he was asked whether he thought this had had any relation to his violent music. Sankar responded, “It has to be jealousy”.
As answers to this question flickers in many directions, youths have also found themselves giving their views on the discussion. Daniella Joseph a 21-year-old third year Psychology student at the University of The West Indies, expressed, “From my realisation, what I have seen is that most young persons clustered in areas where what they hear is what they see normally are the ones most susceptible to indulge in the activities which negative songs endorse. Whereas persons living in less crime afflicted neighbourhoods, who manage to stumble upon the music, aren’t likely to fall ransom to the music.”
Using ‘address’ as the base of her discussion, she furthered assumptions in scenarios of what she has noticed. “I know of friends who listen to this type of music and never revert to being violent. And normally, when you do your background research on those people who listen to the music, you find out that most of them are living in normal areas where crime isn’t rampant,” she explained.
Locally, the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) in 2019 increased its fines against broadcasters concomitantly with an increase in the broadcasting of graphic videos and lewd music.
The Broadcasting Act (Section 19) speaks to the promotion of discourteous content with evidence of profanity. Radio and television stations are constrained from broadcasting music that promotes violence, ‘rum culture’ or are expletive-laced. (Mishael Henry)