Winston Farrell, spoken word artist known as “iFarrell” recently released a brand new single entitled “I Cry” on July 1, 2020. The occasion was marked by an intimate listening party during his weekly online reading session at The Covid Corner on Facebook Live and on Instagram.
I Cry is a deep reflection on the cause and effect of violence, especially gun-related violence on our close-knit Caribbean communities. The piece acknowledges the cycle of the everyday pressures which leads to a breakdown in society and the subsequent call to arms, and paints a clear picture of how this impacts on our families.
iFarrell is known historically for compelling and stark imagery and continues in this tradition. He calls to mind the intense emotions of those left to grieve and expresses anger at the futility of laying blame, fear and apprehension at the violence promised by those who will bear arms, and a word of caution for those who would ignore the signs.
The piece, which uses the plain and simple language of the common man over compelling rhythm, was produced, composed and arranged at Mo’ Lava Studio. The clear and resonant tone of iFarrell’s voice and message, along with samples from the words of the late Dr Martin Luther King, rest on strong Reggae influences with an insistent Bajan swing, to form an impactful and appealing musical work for the ages.
A respected and award-winning playwright and poet, widely regarded as the godfather of rhythm poetry in Barbados, iFarrell releases I Cry as the first song in a series, the last of which will be released in September 2020 to coincide with his 45th anniversary as an artist. (PR)