Local musician hosts online praise parties to uplift homebound residents
By Esther Durand, BVI News Staff
Since the territory went into a full lockdown that has restricted the social movement of residents, local musician Brent Hoyte has turned challenge into opportunity by using social media as a tool to not only inspire but entertain.
The 26-year-old husband and father from Windy Hill Estate has been hosting live online ‘praise parties’ that have attracted audiences of a few thousand viewers.
During the first praise party that streamed live on Facebook on Sunday, March 29, more than 2,500 viewers tuned in. By the following Sunday, April 5, those numbers soared to 3,500 persons.
“I just wanted to encourage people. It can be depressing during this time – people losing their jobs, people are scared and they don’t know what’s going on,” Hoyte told BVI News on Wednesday.
“I know music alone brings people together and uplift people, and to me, music with Jesus in it is like the best of both worlds. So, in a sense, everybody feels peace. They could feel motivated to push on and hold on,” added Hoyte, who describes his brand of gospel music as ‘unconventional’.
Gospel with a VI soca flavour
He told BVI News his gospel has a Virgin Islands soca and zouk flavour, which he believes accounts for why he was able to reach so many persons.
Hoyte, a ‘preacher’s kid’, used his live stream to also pray and offer words of encouragement to his audiences. He even did a virtual altar call.
“Some people got saved too as well, so that’s a really cool factor. So for me, it’s getting the message across about Jesus. I do gospel music, but slightly different,” he said.
Who is Hoyte?
Hoyte is a full-time music teacher employed at Home Grown Studio for the past three years. He is the owner of Home Grown Musical Academy and the director of the High-Frequency Band.
Hoyte said he’s had a strong musical upbringing because his parents are musicians. The musical arranger attends the First Assembly of God Church in Lower Estate, Tortola.
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Great job.
Cool!
Jesus is dead weight.stop contributing to the demise of black people with this religious nonsense.people get up and do for yourselves and stop waiting on whiteman SARAPIS to do for you.the bible teachings is fake and should no longer be promoted.
Eagle eye stop knocking at what other believe. It’s quite obvious you don’t have a leg to stand on so you’re ridiculing those whose foundation is secured in Christ Jesus. I challenge you tell us what you believe? Is the god you believe in just a myth, a figment of your imagination or a living reality? Come out into the light.
Somebody will just come from a foreign land to tell you that a person died for you 2000+ years ago and you will believe it. Idiocy have no limits.
Stupid comment,
I watched Brent from a young boy at the ESHS band concerts tuning up and playing nearly every instrument before the performances. I said then that this little man is blessed with a musical talent that will grow into something great. Brent Hoyte is The Most Talented musician of any genre that the BVI has today. Let us continue to support his God given talent and most importantly his ministry. Much blessings cuz!
Good luck, but a mind brainwashed with unproven dogma, that have fostered strong beliefs not based on evidentiary facts will not be easily convinced or erased.
Keep up the encouragement Mr. Hoyte.
Some are pass delusional.
Not sure, but if he doesn’t do it, he needs to do alter calls during the programme and at the end