Fans of Trinbagonian rock band, The Orange Sky will have new reason to celebrate this multi-talented ensemble as they gather for a special event on June 1 at the Lure in Chaguaramas and news of their latest international development reaches the mainstream.
The band has been offered and is due to accept, yet another recording contract, but this time from renowned producer, Chris Tsangrinades. Tsangarides is a British Grammy-nominated record producer, sound engineer and mixer. He is best known for his work with many heavy metal bands, including: Judas Priest, Anvil, Gary Moore, Thin Lizzy, Helloween, Angra and Yngwie Malmsteen. Tsangarides has worked with many pop and alternative artists as well, including: Depeche Mode, Tom Jones and Concrete Blonde.
Renowned Producer, Chris Tsangrinades is set to sign Orange Sky to a record deal which will include distribution of the new LP by Sony/ATV
Now in its sixteenth year of existence, The Orange Sky has produced six full-length albums, signed and experienced two separate recording contracts and even completed an 87-city tour of the USA in 2009. Since returning home after that epic tour, The Orange Sky changed a few musicians, even as lead singer, Nigel Rojas released a solo album entitled, Nigel Rojas and Blue Emperor and founded the ever-popular July/August vacation camp and training institution, dubbed Orange Sky’s School of Rock T&T.
“Of course, we’re all extremely happy with this development,” said Rojas. “In the music industry – and especially in these times its become harder and harder for acts to break. International success is quite different from local success and as much as we are well-known locally and regionally, I think we’ve done just about everything we can do on this circuit and its exciting to have a new playing field to explore. Trying to make it on an international level is a tremendous endeavor and what we’ve come to realize is that it’s not just about the product, but about the team as well. As such, we’re very happy to have Joey Sabeeny back as our local manager and to be in the hands of this new label that we know will promote and present Orange Sky in this new territory in the right way.
Rojas addresses students at NAPA during School of Rock 2011...
“For me, its kind of bitter-sweet because its come at a time when I would normally be preparing for School of Rock, but I think after two successful years of it, we’ve made the industry a little better and a little wealthier in terms of the tremendous young talents we’ve managed to groom and train and bear witness to… and I would have liked to have been able to have left it going on here still, but because its such a hands-on thing for me personally as the Headmaster and the Founder and the real force behind it, I decided its probably better to take some time off and focus on this new arrangement and we’ll look at School of Rock later down in the year and see how we can improve upon it and bring it back fresh and exciting, educational and of course, fun-fun-fun for the kids!”
With new guitarist, Dax Carter and drummer, Anthony Grant added to the line-up, Orange Sky will represent in the UK as a four-piece band inclusive of brothers, Nigel and Nicholas Rojas at the helm. The band has already begun preliminary work on a brand new album entitled, Halos and Horns and is looking forward to performing in the UK.
“We’re bringing twelve fresh tracks to the world,” Rojas enthused, “and we’ll be doing a few shows over there as well. One of the shows will be an appearance at a Festival in Germany and we’re really looking forward to the live element because that’s what we do best and that’s how we can really fly the flag of T&T high over there. Of course we’re still in pursuit of the ever-elusive dream of becoming a top 10 worldwide band, winning a Grammy Award and all the other accolades and we feel like rock is the Soca of America, England and Australia and all these places, so we’re just going to try and mash up de place as much as possible.”
Orange Sky 2012 is (L-R): Nigel Rojas, Anthony Grant, Dax Carter and Nicholas Rojas
Longtime Manager, Joey Sabeeny returned to work with the band last year, after taking some time away from the industry to be with his family and focus on personal growth. After working with Orange Sky for many years, he is confident in the band’s ability to make an impact upon the international scene.
“The Orange Sky is the best in the business as far as I’m concerned,” he declared. “There’s no other band that can produce the kind of sound that they have created – which is like a Caribbean rock/reggae /calypso hybrid – and as far as the live element, they have an energy that is fantastic, contagious, compelling and definitely unique as well. I think it speaks volumes that they are still attracting international attention and international producers are reaching out to work with them – even at this stage of their careers and it just goes to show that if you continue to work hard and do your best, all good things are possible and will come to you.
“Right now, we want to invite all past, present and future Orange Sky fans to The Lure on Friday: it will be their first performance of the new material, as well as their last performance here before they leave for London in June. So we want everyone to come out, bring your coolers and celebrate with us; give us blessings and energy and good vibes to take up to the UK, so the people there can get a taste of what T&T and Orange Sky has to offer.”
For more information on The Orange Sky, log on to www.theorangesky.com, check their Fan Page on Facebook and/or follow them on twitter @theorangesky.