These days, singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer Craig ‘Craigy T’ Thompson has a handful of tools in addition to his usual microphones and music recording gear. Behind a wall of privacy, he may be found pounding, bending, and shaping steel, carrying a torch that literally ignites a once-hidden passion.
“I’ve been praying for guidance and guidance. [have] For years I had heard the same words echoing from deep within. Words…weld, and every time I just kiss my teeth. ‘My yute, wah kinda welding yah talk bout, yah artiste’ was how I answered myself,” Craigy T shared Sunday Greener.
He made a name for himself fusing words and melodies and became part of TOK, one of the most influential all-male dancehall groups, billboard Hot 100 chart. It’s no coincidence that Craigy T sang and deejayed as part of a quartet. “Fire hafi bang, no matter how they try to put it out, we keep it burning.”It’s a perfect depiction of his latest handiwork.
The story unfolds with the popular singer, who is also the host of a Jamaican TV show, in full armor. Liv at noon“Establishing a label is one thing and building a music career is one thing, but building a business that can operate independently of oneself and that one can leave to one’s children takes a whole different level. I need a forgery.”
Craigy T is a HEART/NSTA Trust certified welder.he said Sunday Greener On that free Wednesday, he got in touch with the agency. “I called HEART to enroll in a class and get things started the right way, but the answer I received was not immediately apparent. I had a backlog so I couldn’t get in. In the meantime I was very interested and really looking forward to the opportunity to be a student in the Welding Level II course.This was during the pandemic.”
The stars lined up in his favor as just a few days later (on a Friday of the same week) he received a call that school started on Monday and he had to attend class.
Bard knew he was on the right track, and he went through it.
“I always welcome new challenges and always welcome new experiences. I’ve been known to throw myself into difficult situations, but I think it’s a sink or swim situation. It wasn’t just that I wanted to learn how to place it, I wanted to learn the art of metalworking, so I wanted to do a full 100 or as much as I could. I dabbled in renovating some apartments and shops, but that’s what got me here and led me to the art of doing metalworking as well as woodworking,” he said. I had an idea in my head to solve, and one of the first things I did after learning how to make my first T-joint was to find something to weld. I found integrity in making steel, but it wasn’t a deal with people it was reasonable, when you put this much heat in here this is what happens, this always happens Not so with humans.”
With this new skill came the Signature Series by Craigy T. A brand that reflects his whimsical creative roots and his passion and commitment through intricately welded steel and wood intertwining. Upon completing his course, he of course rewarded himself with a worktable of his own making. The second was a “conversation fodder” in his parents’ house, a table he named “Cascade.” Later, using a rusty anchor found buried in his mother’s garden, he created another anchor as a gift for his mother. He also has works such as ‘Steeletto’, a table shaped like a sexy shoe, and ‘Emancipation: A Woman Freed’, which is a flat piece of steel bent to a very intricately measured and shaped curve. We sell quite a few. of the fairer sex.
While reuniting with the TOK brothers for an upcoming project and working as a TV host, father/husband/martial artist Craigy T continues his vision of climbing ladders and scaffolds to complete big signatures. It is working. , socio-cultural themed metalworking at the National Stadium or the Jamaica Conference Center.He is currently a reggae artist baby blue The single was released in July last year.
Only Craigy T knows how to bring together all the aspects that make him unique.
“The ‘Liberation’ piece is the first piece in the collection I want to show next February, despite someone already claiming it. I’m working on it. TOK is recording again. So after that it’s music.I also have my family, my support system.Without them this wouldn’t be possible.It’s going to be a tough year next year so I have to figure out how to organize my schedule. Juggling, I know how to handle it, I don’t know how to – find a balance – I’m doing my best to use all the hours of the day.” He said.
stephanie.lyew@gleanerjm.com
