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by pltm
(PLTM) - Christmas as it is today in the Virgin Islands, is a season many persons deem as a time to exchange gifts and have grand feasts, while some appearing to pay little or no attention to the true reason behind the season, Jesus Christ.
This has left one couple baffled as to the reasons behind such a drastic shift, and has motivated them to make joint efforts in resurrecting Christmas cheer and reminding persons of the true meaning of Christmas.
Equipped with a 12 track album, dubbed ‘The Reason of Christmas’, featuring nine traditional Christmas melodies and three original pieces, Lincoln Ward and his wife, Mrs. Chantal Flax-Ward, have set out to inspire a change of heart, mind and attitude in the people of the Virgin Islands.
The album was released a week ago on November 28th.
Through music, the couple hopes to deplete the amount of commercialization of the season in the Virgin Islands, and remind persons what Christmas means in its entirety.
“We did songs that depicted that message, in addition to showing love for humanity and each other. We want to put Christ back in Christmas,” Mr. Ward said.
He noted, it is important for persons to come together as a community to embrace and enjoy the season, with Christ at the centre of it all.
“We can only go off of what has been in the past. We are influenced greatly by the American market so our culture has changed a lot. Persons are trying their best to bring back what was there before, and I think we all have to be reminded of where we came from and for the community to embrace that. We are assisting to bring back not just the culture, but Christmas in the BVI," he related.
Notably, this is the couple’s first album together and Mrs. Ward’s first album over all. The couple shared that support from the community has been overwhelming.
The songstress who works as a Legal Advisor at the Telecommunication Regulation Commission (TRC), has expressed satisfaction in her first album, noting that it, in addition to feedback from the community, it serves as a major confident builder for her.
To young artists in the Virgin Islands who long to make a difference, she encourages persons to allow their purpose to lead them.
“Whatever you do, there should be a purpose. The point of this album for me is to inspire persons and remind them of the reason for the Christmas season. Believe in yourself and be determined in what you do. Sometimes in life when we don’t believe in ourselves, we end up not making it to our full potential. Believing in yourselves, you can reach far,” she expressed.
In the same breath, Mr. Ward, Teacher at the Elmore Stoutt High School and Music Producer for the last 16 years, encouraged persons to hone their craft and make it sellable.
“It’s discouraging at times when you don’t feel like you have people behind of you, but the love for your craft should trump anything else. Once you’re focus on where you want to go with it and you believe in it, it will be easy for you to sell it," he said.
"Anyone is able to catapult themselves further in life, once they themselves are 100% behind of it.”
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