The project started some years ago when founder of The Cadushy Distillery Eric Gietman, record producer Michiel “DJ Shrek” van Bokhorst, and singer-songwriter Harry Schoffelen (better known as TAFKAH-The Artist) had the idea to create a dedicated pop song for Bonaire. “We wanted a song that would express our love for the island and the special feeling that we have about life on Bonaire,” Van Bokhorst said, “and that’s how we came up with “The Spirit of Bonaire”.”
Blue Island Collective is an international band with solid Bonairean roots
Through the four years the final product took shape, a lot of local and international musicians joined this creative and bonding project. They all gave the best of their talents to this energetic salsa-track with uplifting lyrics. Bonairean drummer Gaby Mercera played the Bonairean ‘wiri’ and young but multi-talented Robert Felida took care of diverse instruments like bass guitar, pianos and timbales. Local rapper Gerald Martines wrote and performed an awesome signature Papiamentu rap-break. With this The Blue Island Collective has grown into an international band with solid Bonairean roots.