By Tiffny Rhodius
The last time The Scene spoke to Orlando ‘Bonesman’ Johashen, he was a contender for the Soca Monarch crown promising to do his best at the finals of the competition.
On Thursday when The Scene again spoke to the man who was critical of the judges and the very competition he took part in, he was the new Soca monarch.
Bonesman’s reaction: “It’s a great feeling! Awesome! It’s a great achievement for me! The time and dedication paid off and now I am reaping the reward!”
A one million dollar reward to be exact and a win that was four years in the making leave the new monarch with a lot to celebrate and celebrate he did as he led the Guyana Power and Light Inc band with pride along the parade route on Mashramani Day.
Speaking about his winning song and his performance in the competition, Bonesman said that “Is We Own” was not his first choice. But after his producer did not like his initial song choice, he said, he went back home and thought and like a lightning bolt, inspiration struck him.
“Is We Own” was composed by Bonesman himself and he said that the song pays homage to what Guyana has. Take a walk around the town and you will hear people boasting about Trinidad Carnival or Barbados Crop Over, Bonesman said.
Being patriotic, he added, he created “Is We Own” to showcase what Guyana has to offer. Added to the meaning of the song, his performance at the National Park on the finals night was to “showcase what Guyana is all about”.
Bonesman’s stage performance included dancers from the X-Factor dance troupe and a costume display on the grounds as he sang his song with the catchy line “Mashramani is we own whoa…”
Adding to the sweetness of his victory he said was having the Soca King Machel Montano telling him after he came off stage that his performance was excellent. “I was like, Oh My God!” Bonesman related. “If I didn’t have self control I would have fainted.”
Given the compliment from Machel on that important night of his life, Bonesman said it was his greatest pleasure opening for him at the ‘Machel for Mash’ concert on Mashramani night.
Meanwhile, commenting on the absence of previous soca monarch, Shelly G, Bonesman said that while he enjoyed the win, “It would have been great if the monarch was there.” He said he had been looking forward to challenging Shelly G.
Outside of his singing, the 29-year-old musician is a forest ranger with the Guyana Forestry Commission as well as a grading inspector. The husband and father of two admits that while it does get “hectic” he is prepared for the road ahead “by the strength and grace of God” because he is “going to put myself out there for the entertainment of the people”.
