When the One Billion Rising ‘Artistic Uprising’ takes to the stage of the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City at 7 pm today, Guyana and the Caribbean will be ably represented by local band Y3K.
The Cox siblings: Yurie, 27; Kwasi, 23; twins Keifa and Keiven, 22; and Taiesha, 19, who form Y3K Band have been singing together since childhood.
Y3K Band is listed on the ‘Artistic Uprising’ programme on its website as an unsigned artist from the Bronx, but the talented Cox siblings have made it clear that they will be proudly representing Guyana and the region.
They have written a special song for the event and will share the stage with artists such as Climbing Poetree, Thandie Newton, Emma Myles, Kathy Najimy, Rosie O’Donnell, Saidah Baba Talibah and One Billion Rising founder Eve Ensler among others.
Y3K Band emerged from a family of singers; there is a younger sister Taianna, 16, who could not accompany her siblings because of education commitments, but whom they hope will soon join the band.
Their talents were recognized from a very early age by their father Pastor Clive Cox, who told this newspaper that he presented his children with a keyboard and since then it remains one of the key instruments used within the band.
The proud father said that having recognized his children’s talents, he prayed to God to nurture their gifts. The nurturer was sent in the form of a family friend, Lorraine Chan, who was responsible for his children’s early grooming and had taught them how to harmonize and use their voices professionally.
The family is one steeped in religion and their talents are showcased each week in church.
According to Pastor Andre Archer, the youngsters have lived up to the testimony of their faith, which is expressed in their ministry of music.
“As young people, they are representing; I am not saying that they are perfect but they have been doing really well.
They are also quite talented and use their talents to minister to others,” Archer said.
Though each of the band’s members has the ability to sing, each of the brothers is skilled in playing at least two musical instruments.
Keiven, for example, is not only a guitarist but also a self-taught saxophonist. His twin, Keifa, is also a guitarist and is zealous about the violin. However, he doesn’t own one yet but his father is convinced that he would master that instrument too when he gets his hands on one.
The group’s talents have been recognised, with prominent GT&T Jingle and Song Competition judge Gordon Moseley dubbing the group as one of Guyana’s most talented.
“The talent and art forms the young group possesses is refreshing,” Moseley stated. Moseley further noted the group’s promotion of clean, “positive vibes”, something he said truly sets them apart from the rest.
Y3K Band is already in NY, having left here on Sunday last.
The flight was sponsored by Fly Jamaica and Wesley Tucker, a representative of the company, told Stabroek News the airline was approached by Caribbean American Domestic Violence Awareness (CADVA) to offer sponsorship for the group to perform at the One Billion Rising event in New York.
Tucker, who had observed the group perform on numerous occasions, referred to its members as “talented and phenomenal”.
He further expressed confidence in their performance at the international event, while he opined that they will put Guyana on the map, since they are the only group from the Caribbean that will be performing at the event.
Throughout the years, Y3K Band has performed on a number of local stages including GuyExpo, Jamzone, and Carifesta.
Y3K has also captured the attention of the Ministry of Health and has produced a song titled “Share a Little Love”.
It is expected to hit the airwaves soon. It has also produced five other songs, all with strong messages against domestic violence.
However, band members are also hoping to take their talents outside of Guyana and make a name for themselves.
Yuri visualises the band frequenting the international stage in the future, while anticipating the increased production of their music.
