A Ripple Effect is a term used to describe a reaction caused from an initial effect, followed by a continuous outward motion.
The Ripple 3ffect Band was established through the leading of the Holy Spirit in April 2011 after Mervin Budram & Brian Lopez started to meet as friends discussing the state of Music & band culture in Belize. The desire to make an impact grew and in time they reached out to Brian Almendarez, a drummer & worship leader who was formerly on rock band. Brian invited his good friends Josiah Lemus who also played bass on the same rock band. The four guys continued to meet and in time, God placed a love for music and an insatiable desire to leave a continuous positive world impact in their hearts.
It was a late evening at Hodes restaurant in Cayo; the four guys met together & agreed to start the journey of what is now R1pple 3ffect Band.
Prior to this calling, the four young talented men shared three things in common – friendship, musical art, and worship leaders in their home church and are practicing Christians. They served as a backing band at one of Belize’s biggest Positive artist productions – YC Belize 2011 which fueled the initial spark to continue as UNIT.
After a period of diligent prayer along with Godly advice from Spiritual leaders, the Ripple 3ffect Band decided to take full force.
The band consists of Lead Vocalist, Song Writer, Public Relations Director, Co-Band leader – Mervin Budram aka Merv Douglas, Back up Harmonic Vocalist, Keys, Stage Appearance Director Co-Band leader – Brian Lopez, Drummer and Media Productions Specialist – Brian Almendarez and Bookings, Transportation & Bass Guitarist – Josiah Lemus.
The Ripple 3ffect Band seeks to bring a message of TRUTH, HOPE & ENCOURAGEMENT to a young/ older generation. With that in mind, they produces a unique blend of Belize’s cross culture & popular world music & sound such as pop, hip hop, dancehall, smooth lover’s rock, reggae, alternative rock, Soca, indigenous know as (Punta), Rap worship incorporating classical, jazzy and Latin arrangements as they go along.
As ‘self-taught’ musicians, each member actively serves in their various capacities as Worship Leaders and Youth Ministers in their respective churches. After Ripple 3ffect’s exposure to the public face, it has been engaged in opening acts for various Belizean top Christian recording artists such as Mikal from New Beginnings Productions at his nation-wide “Keep the Fire Blazing” tour concert in Belmopan City in August 2011. The band was then invited to form a part of the night entertainment at the United Evangelical Churches Independence celebration in the Falcon field stadium, San Ignacio, Cayo. These events, among many others, have given the band great recognition. The most recent appearance included the band’s Official Debut Ripple 3ffect Live in Concert at the Ontario Christian Community Church, with 400+ attendees rocking to the electrifying rhythmic beat of the so-called hit single “Time to Fight” amongst many other songs performed by the group that night. It truly proved to be an epic movement.
The band is scheduled to once again perform on stage at the upcoming YC event in March 2012 amongst international artists such as Emrand Henry of St. Lucia and Monty G of the Bahamas. We are truly grateful for the God-given opportunity that has allowed us to minister thru music. We aim to keep the standards high because excellence glorifies God and people are encouraged. We aim to establish a clear set of footprints for 3 generations to follow in impacting diverse Cultures for JESUS.
