If you want to find fresh, young musical talent like Lenky Boy, Littles or Otis Baggins, sometimes you have to go to 'tha underground'.

'tha Underground' is a radio programme on Power 95 that is providing airtime for struggling new recording artists from Bermuda and around the world. It is a two hour show that airs on Sundays from 5 to 7 p.m.

"Our aim is to provide avenues for local artists and producers and all those who have an interest in the entertainment industry," said Jonathan (JT) Talbot, producer of the show.

"I have been in the music business for quite a long time," said Mr. Talbot. "There is no real industry here in Bermuda, and nobody really looks into creating one. Radio is a big part of creating a music industry."

Mr. Talbot is no stranger to radio. He produced a radio show in the late 1990s on Mix 106 called Street Level. tha Underground is part of his company J Rock Communications.

tha Underground actually started on a Bermuda-based website, www.thaunderground.net . If listeners miss the radio programme they can still hear it on the website.

"The website provides an online service to any artist or persons in the music business," said Mr. Talbot. "They are asked to showcase and submit their work."

The website features downloads, and bios of artists and producers such as Twanee Butterfield, Nhoj Trebor Steede, Force Prop, Jordon and Musson.

Some of them you may have heard of, and some of them you probably haven't. While some of the artists are getting themselves well established on the music scene others are as young as 15 years old.

Local Artist #685 Bento's bio reads: "My names matthew brian bento. I was born in 89 and i was proly born wit musical talent my stage name is bento or captial B, B most de time bento.

"I roll wit hitman records its a record label i started almost a year ago wen i was little i copyed my dad singin and ever since den i been singin or what not... me to be sum wannabe white gee boy tryin to rap but u all gotta understand that aint my plan."

"tha Underground radio show was something we did to help promote local artists on our website," said Mr. Talbot. "It took off after we approached Power 95 last year about putting on an awards show for the local artists that support our website."

The first annual tha Underground music awards show was held at the Ruth Seaton James Auditorium last year.

"It was a red carpet event available on pay per view," said Mr. Talbot. "The event was so successful that Mr. John Godina, marketing manager at the Bermuda Broadcasting Company, offered us a radio show.

"He thought it would be good to help promote it. At that time it was just me and Kevin-Eugene (KevyD) Dill."

When the show started last October Power95 was in the midst of change.

"They were going from the old studio to the new studio so we were called in to train under a new system board, because the old studio was not big enough," said Mr. Talbot. "One of the things about our show is that it is interactive with a live audience. Sometimes it gets a little crowded in the studio."

tha Underground co-host Vittoria Canale said the most important thing is to get the public to know that Bermuda's young talent is important.

"What these kids are doing is a very positive thing no matter what their lyrics are," Miss Canale said. "Them making music is their feat not being in the street. I don't think they get the proper recognition for it."

Mr. Talbot said Miss Canale and her co-host Earl Basden were on board to add a different element to the show.

"Earl will go down to all the bike races and telephone us and tell us what is going on down there," said Miss Canale. "We follow the events that happen on a Sunday."

Mr. Basden said he often goes out on the street and catches up with the artists they are featuring on the show.

"Sometimes I catch the artists off guard because they don't expect to see me out," said Mr. Basden. "I try to look for people who are up on the website, what they are doing now, or what they have coming up in the fall so we can promote that more on the show."

In addition to cohosting tha Underground, Miss Canale also handles marketing for J Rock Communications.

"I like to do a lot of the interviews on the radio show and prep people and get into the minds of the artists that come on there, and get into that in-depth," said Miss Canale.

"We promote them in the most positive and honest way that we can. Believe it or not a lot of people are tuned into our radio show."

Tha Underground hosts artists from Bermuda, but they also play artists from overseas.

For example, the artist Littles is from Halifax. "He has been part of the site from day one and won artist of the last year," said Miss Canale. "We also play music by people like 4treign, Tropics, artists from Miami, Barbados and a guy from France.

"He sent us his song in French. We also have Kmnite from the Cayman Islands."

The crew doesn't just play music that hasn't yet made it to the mainstream, they also provide feedback and encouragement.

"We are very honest with them," said Miss Canale. "How can someone improve if you aren't honest with them?"

Kevin-Eugene (Kevy-D) Dill has been working with Mr. Talbot for more than 15 years. He handles mostly the finances for J Rock Communications, but he also gets on the radio.

"I was the one who did the show on the website," said Mr. Dill. "The show originated on the website. On the web you have more freedom because we can play the songs uncut.

"On the radio nowadays you have to watch what you say, watch what you do. Censorship is really hard, especially when there is something you want to say. On the web, most of our clientele was foreign. We had a lot of international listeners and artists."

Mr. Talbot has tried to pass on his technical knowledge to his crew, particularly the younger members.

"I am trying to train these guys to run the board so that everyone should have a technical knowledge," he said.

Mr. Talbot is planning another red carpet award show which he hopes will be even bigger and better than last year. It is planned for October 14 at the Ruth Seaton James Auditorium.

"We had a lot of successes last year and people are coming back and can't wait for the show," he said. "The most important thing with the awards show and the radio show, is I really want to show people it is not about making money, it is about providing young people with an alternative to all the violence in the community.

"Our ultimate goal is to become a resource centre is for people who are interested in becoming involved in web design, audio technical, radio technicians or video production."

For more information about J Rock Communications or the award show contact Mr. Talbot at 735-7625.