Not so hot reception for Jah Kettle from popular radio station

by Eldonte Samuel

A Jamaican reggae artist’s expectations of Vincy media were scorched on Monday, January 27, 2024, when he claimed to have been charged by a popular radio station to do an interview, having paid for an advertisement.

“Canada I coming from anuh, left there to come to Vincy for a show. So now when I need an interview and you deny me, good for me because journalists build we and break we,” the artiste detailed, adding that he never got a price for the interview, “because from they say charge, is like I don’t even want to continue there.”

Peter Braimbridge, who goes by the stage name, Jah Kettle, explained that after paying for the ad, he sent songs he wished to be played on the radio station and was told by the station’s manager that they must play songs which people would listen to.

“When they see me- they never see a man like me before, so they were kind of excited. They called the manager and told him an artist from Jamaica was there. He told them ‘Yeah give him the opportunity’, So I liked that kind of energy.”

Braimbridge said that as musicians, their main source of exposure is through radio shows, newspapers, and Television.

He is scheduled to be part of a ‘Chateau Fest’, this weekend and has another gig in Georgetown days later.

The Trench Town born said this response he received from the radio station was a first for him as he is accustomed doing interviews without a charge wherever he tours. He related having done multiple pieces with international newspapers, as well as interviews with radio stations with larger listenerships across Canada, the United Kingdom, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, and Jamaica.

Jah Kettle said because he may not be as well known in SVG as in other countries he has toured in the past, was the reason he aimed to be interviewed by the country’s top radio station.

What makes Braimbridge unique is his stage attire. During performances, he wears a kettle hat on his head that also steams and whistles.

He got the name when he was younger and, along with his cousins, Dutchie and Pot, they were known as the ‘New Tensicle Crew’

It is now a challenge for Kettle to keep his stage name going as modern day kettles don’t whistle like the one he uses. He also added ‘Jah’ before Kettle, to avoid a possible law suit.

SEARCHLIGHT contacted Luke Boyea, the manager of the local radio station, Hot ‘97 for a response to Jah Kettle’s claims. Boyea admitted to refusing to play some of the songs in the interest of his listeners. He also said that up to Thursday, January 30, no ads were running in Jah Kettle’s name.