By ERIC MCKENZIE
Two Conestoga radio deejays were recognized this past year for heating up the international reggae scene.
DJ Vibe and Super V, deejays of two of CJIQ’s most hidden gems – Heat Radio and Vibes Radio – were given Caribbean Promoter Entertainer and Business Owner (PEABO) awards in November for contributions to local and worldwide radio programming.
Linval Livermore, a.k.a. Super Vibes or Super V, was honoured with a lifetime achievement award at the second annual PEABO awards for his over 30 years of work developing reggae music in the tri-cities.
Super V hosts the Vibes Radio show on CJIQ every Saturday from 3 to 6 p.m., which consists mostly of “old-school” international and Canadian ska and reggae music, comparable to Bob Marley or Peter Tosh.
“I listen to Super V for underground reggae artists other stations won’t play and try never to miss a show,” said Vinderpaul Singh, a third-year documentary and videography student.
DJ Vibe, a.k.a. Daryl Pooran, won a PEABO award as well for his influence in radio and leadership in the Caribbean community. When Super V’s relaxed music ends, DJ Vibe’s dancehall and reggaeton speeds up the beats on the Heat Radio show Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m.
Pooran has been hosting the Heat Radio show since 2007 and in that time has received numerous commendations from people and organizations, such as Universal Music in Toronto, who actively contacted the show.
“They said ‘wow, we can’t believe the way you are representing,’ and they were floored,” said Pooran.
Universal helped Heat Radio and DJ Vibe connect with big names such as Keshia Chante and Lil’ John, who recorded personalized liners for their broadcasts.
Through Heat DJ Vibe also got the chance to interview Lady Saw, a popular Jamaican artist who also worked with Gwen Stephani on the song Rich Girls.
Although there have been many good times, there has always been a risk of censorship for Heat Radio and DJ Vibe. Due to some highly sexual and underground gang content Heat Radio has been at risk of being shut down in the past by higher-ups that deemed the show too racy for some listeners.
“I thought a few times that they might yank it. There’s some stuff that’s pretty slack and pretty gully,” said Pooran.
Although he understands that some parents may not approve of the lyrics, DJ Vibe and Heat Radio continue to play controversial songs to provide an alternative avenue to listeners.
“This is a show that when I was a kid I would have killed for. That’s why we do the show the way it is,” said Pooran.
Although the show has received worldwide acclaim, with listeners in Miami, Fla., Trinidad, Guyanna and New York City, exposure on a local level has been difficult, said Pooran.
“It’s been a constant uphill battle trying to get promotion for a show of our calibre and to get publicized,” he said.
Although, through the Internet, Heat Radio and Vibes Radio have reached a global audience many people in the tri-cities are still unaware of the shows, including students at Conestoga College.
“I’m a huge fan of reggae music and had no idea these popular radio stations existed in my city,” said Rachel Shedletsky, a first-year early childhood education student.
For more information about where DJ Vibe will be playing live, go to facebook.com
/heatradio.djvibe.
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