DJ Trauma donates $1.59m in studio equipment to Herbert Morrison Technical
Published:Friday | June 6, 2025 | 12:10 AMChristopher Thomas/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Herbert Morrison Technical High School in Montego Bay, St James, was filled with joy and gratitude on Thursday as internationally acclaimed disc jockey Tayari ‘DJ Trauma’ McIntosh donated recording studio and production suite equipment to the school.
The handover ceremony was a musical celebration, with the school’s band showcasing their talent through energetic performances of Bob Marley’s Could You Be Loved, Jamming, and Iron Lion Zion, as well as Ne-Yo’s So Sick. The donated equipment – valued at approximately US$10,000 (J$1.59 million) – includes recording software, headphones, keyboards, a microphone, and two computers.
McIntosh, who founded the Trauma Unit Retreat in 2020 and is known for touring with comedian Dave Chappelle, said the donation was inspired by the students’ impressive talent and his desire to support their artistic development.
“I am a DJ, and I have lived my whole life in the arts. That is how I pay the bills and that is how I created a life for myself. I wanted to inspire some kids to be able to do the same thing, and I want them to be able to take their ideas and record them and create great art,” said McIntosh.
“I really want to be able to leave wherever we go better than when we arrived. This year, when we got to Jamaica, I just knew we had to try to do something to give back to Jamaica,” explained McIntosh. “When I came by this school, I was like, ‘Oh, yeah. I have to do something here,’ and I am so glad I did. The band is amazing, and I am 100 per cent happy that I am giving these gifts to them, because I know they are going to be used to the fullest since there is so much talent here.”
GRATITUDE
Sixteen-year-old Hannah Lyons, a member of the school’s band and an aspiring songwriter, expressed heartfelt thanks.
“I am overjoyed, and I am very thankful to all the persons who came together to make this possible. It is really and truly a joy when you can have young talent like this, a lot of young talent in one space, and you can actually equip them to further their talent and become creatives and move on in their industry,” said Lyons. “Equipping us at Herbert Morrison with those tools that we need, I feel like that would be a big help to us.”
Herbert Morrison High’s music band previously gained fame performing as an opening act at the 2022 staging of Reggae Sumfest, the first school to perform at the event. The school also placed second in the 2025 Jamaica Best Band Competition, where Lyons, a mechanical engineering student at the school, copped the Best Performer Award.
Nicola Morris, head of the Music and Arts Department, said the school plans to use the new equipment for student showcases and envisions building a professional rehearsal space.
“We are invited to a lot of programmes and prestigious events such as award ceremonies. And here, we have our own production setup, where we use our musical equipment to showcase the talents of the students. We are planning to use the equipment to set up our own studio here, and I am looking at a very big picture, where when we have international artistes and even our local artistes coming in to Sumfest, we can have a space where they can use our studio for rehearsals,” said Morris.