It is indeed shocking news for the Papua New Guinean Music Industry and especially for the family, friends, and fans; waking up to news of the untimely passing of a young and promising singer, song writer and producer B-Rad.
Only 30 years old, Bradley Isaac Ralewa, or better known as “B-Rad” passed away at the Pacific International Hospital on Wednesday this week.
Turner Arifeae aka “Kasty” of 93 YUMI FM said many are still coming to terms with this shocking news and this is a loss to the industry.
“It was shocking to all of us and especially all the artists here in the country and all the fans, recording artists who B-Rad has helped in producing their tracks and those artists he has played and travelled along with.”
Well known for hit songs, ‘Husait Lewa’, ‘Buka Meri’, ‘Mt Lemina’ and ‘Peren Oh’, the late B-Rad has collaborated and played alongside a number of well-known PNG artists like Wame Blood, Kronos, DPJ, Jokema, Anslom and Saii Kay to name a few.
B-Rad helped a lot of young and upcoming musicians, guiding them through in recording and producing their songs under his studio name ‘Block Music’ and some of the singers who are well known today all recorded under B-Rads studio.
“The late B-Rad has been nominated ‘Producer of the Year’ four (4) times and he even took out the award in the 2019 YUMI FM PNG MUSIK AWARDS – recognizing his work from 2018.”
Kasty added that B-Rad has come a long way in the PNG Music Industry through his hard work.
“I remember one of the events that he performed which I witnessed, did not have a lot of crowd and there were people screaming and shouting ‘Rausim Em! Rausim Em!’.”
Kasty also recalled a moment backstage when the late Moses Tau was called up to go perform, there was a lot of noise and cheering from fans of the late Moses Tau.
Upon hearing this, the late B-Rad told Kasty that one fine day, he would have a lot of listeners and fans screaming and cheering for him like the late Moses Tau.
“I encouraged him and told him that he has a long way to go in the music industry and would always tell him to never give up as the sky is the limit.”
PNGFM was the first Radio Station to play on air the late B-Rads first single ‘Touch the Sky’.
Kasty also stated that B-Rad was one producer that could really balance life’s situations through his music on all walks of life and he could relate his music based on our provinces and its cultures.
“And this is one very thing that I found unique about the late B-Rad and he is a very talented musician in the new era and when he stepped into the scene, PNG Music has changed.”
The Late B-Rad has left his mark and legacy for all the young and upcoming artists and he left some big shoes to fill in the industry with his untimely passing.
“Lo markim maus blong PNGFM, ol radio stations, NauFM, YumiFm na LegendFm, bikpla tok sori blong mipla igo long ol mama papa na ol femli blong leit B-Rad na mipla stap wantaim upla long displa taim bilong sore, Rest In Peace B-Rad inap yumi bung ken.”