Kingston, Jamaica:--- For the period 2020 – 2024, roughly 168 Jamaican children were murdered, while from 2019 – 2023, 619 women were killed. Statistics from 2023 show that over 80% of Jamaica’s murder victims were men.
For singer Aaron Silk, enough is enough, and his new song and video, "Painful Birth," signal his call to action for all Jamaicans to take a stand against violence.
“Painful Birth for me is more than just an ordinary song—it's a tribute, a protest, and a prayer. It struck a chord deep inside me, and I knew I had to liberate it to serve its purpose,” said Silk.
The just-released single was written by Michael Orrett and produced by Tru-Frequency Music based in Canada. A very poignant song, it gives a heartfelt lament echoing the grief, resilience, and hope of mothers who have lost their children to the harsh realities of life - especially in inner-city communities. Through vivid imagery, spiritual references, and emotional rawness, the lyrics convey a deep sense of sorrow, questioning, and ultimately, strength.
“I wrote the song, but Aaron owned it. He made it his and delivered an exceptional rendition with his captivating voice,” said Orrett, explaining that for him, it was a modern-day ballad of resistance and remembrance, giving voice to the voiceless and offering solace to grieving hearts.
The song has been released on all major platforms such as Apple Music, Deezer, Tidal, Pandora, Boomplay, Amazon Music, the iTunes Store, Spotify, etc. (Mike to add where else it is available). The accompanying music video, which was set in Jamaica, features noted Jamaican Actress Audrey Reid as the grieving mother and several other local talents. It was shot by Fareye Productions and is slated for release on X.
“This one hit deep. We want to call on everyone, men, women, boys, politicians, churches, all of us to come forward and take action to stop violence. In the video, the mother transformed her pain into purpose and made sure that her son’s death was not in vain. We want to ensure that other mothers don’t have to go through her experience, and our sons and daughters don’t die before fulfilling their dreams and mission,” said Silk.
French Quarter, St. Martin:--- Amuseum Naturalis at The Old House will host three free activities on the morning of Saturday, September 20th. The Les Fruits de Mer association will lead a guided tour of the Amuseum at 10 am. The Société d'Histoire de Saint-Martin will present exhibits about St. Martiners in World War I, World War II, and the Algerian War in two sessions, at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. The Soualiwomen Kultural Association (SKA) will give two demonstrations of traditional Johnny Cake baking at 9 am and 10:30 am.