Travie Rozae, Verse Simmonds to Headline Awards Show

Travis Walters a.k.a "Travie Rozae."

Local star and rising international artiste Travie Rozae, will be sharing a stage with international act Verse Simmons and Rock City this March when Follow The Movement (FTM) puts on their 5th annual Top 7@7 Music Awards show in Tortola.

Rozae, whose real name is Travis Walters, will be arriving on March 1 for the March 3 show to be held at the Multipurpose Sports Complex, and will perform before music executives out of the United States; namely Shawn Tubby Holiday, Senior Vice President with Interscope; Aaron Bay Schuck, Director at Atlantic Records; Devyne Stephens, owner of UpFront Records and Kevin Hall, an Executive Vice President with Universal Music Group.
The announcement was made during a press conference on Wednesday February 8 at the Moorings Conference Room. According to President of FTM, Craig Lake, the international music producers will be assessing Rozae’s performance, along with that of other local acts during the Award Show.
“They picked up our invitation without hesitance and there were actually more than four wanting to come, but we couldn’t accept all of them, but let’s... ensure that we give them a show… and they go back to the States and spread the word to their friends and next year we can have more than four wanting to come at their own expense,” Lake said.
The Award Show will be a red carpet event with performances by other local artistes such Da-Jedi, whose real name is Aaron Parillon and Monea Richardson, among several others.
Tickets cost are $20 for regular and $35 for VIP. The FTM President said that this year they will be screening measures in place to ensure that the performances and presentations are of a very high calibre. He added that this is to avoid any possible bad reviews.
Lake said that, “The difference this year is that the show is a very serious show, with the labels that we are bringing; we want them to go back and spread the word.”
Acknowledging the Minister for Education and Culture, Hon. Myron Walwyn’s continuous support, Lake said that the Minister has supported the Award Show and FTM from its inception and still does so in his post as Minister with responsibility for the Arts.
Minister Walwyn, in delivering brief remarks, commended the high calibre of the show every year.
“This Award Show not only shines the light on the talent coming out of the Virgin Islands, but also poses the opportunity for those artistes to be reviewed by music producers.”
The Minister also observed that there has always been musical talent in the BVI. “Virgin Islanders have always been singing a song, strumming instruments and now mixing beats.”
Minister Walwyn stated that having had the chance to support Follow The Movement and the award ceremony from its birth, and seeing the growth of the organisation as well as the desire of the young people of the Virgin Islands to showcase and recognise what it has, this year presents a very welcome opportunity.
“This year with winning music executives… it would be an opportunity for Travis Walters to perhaps sign to a bigger record deal and for a new VI artiste to step up in the international spotlight.
“I want the young people of the Virgin Islands to know that under the leadership of the Premier Dr. D Orlando Smith, OBE, who hears the desire to be supported in the arts loud and clear… over the next four years we would be working to facilitate more opportunities like the Top 7@7 music awards where our local talent can be recognized and given a larger stage to perform.”
The Minister assured that Government recognises the importance of having education facilities to support the arts and as a result will continue to support Arts in public schools, as well as look at ways to improve access to the latest technology and training to assist performers.
Several awards will be distributed to local artistes in various categories. This year’s headliner recently released his first single ‘See Her In You’ and has performed on two previous occasions on the show. 
FTM has been committed to providing a forum for youths to contribute in a positive way to their community through their individual creativities, while equipping them with tools to promote growth and development. The organisation has also been instrumental in promoting local artistes through airwaves on ZROD 103.7FM.
The other headliner, Verse Simmonds, who will be the first act performing on the night of the awards, is well known for his hit song  'Boo Thang' which features the famous Kelly Rowland.