Roderick “Hotta Flames” Hurley is dedicated to sharing his energy and philosophy with the world. This humble messenger sees music as the ultimate medium for spreading a message of upliftment, education, love for oneself, love for others, and love for the earth. He aims to nurture a spirit of oneness and justness that transcends tangible interactions and leads to a deeper appreciation for humanity, and for life and the lessons it teaches.
Rod began his musical journey, at an early age, in school and church recitals in his native Barbados, and took his talent to the larger stage, when, at age 10, he placed third in the Barbados Junior Calypso Competition. His love for music grew with him and he went beyond these seasonal performances to become the singer, songwriter, disc jockey, performer, and music producer that is Hotta Flames – Half man, Half Music.
Flames has performed at concerts across the Caribbean, and in several cities in Canada and the US, sharing the stage with renowned artists such as Sizzla Kalonji, the late Gregory Issacs, Norris Man, Luciano, Anthony B, Daville, Taurus Riley, 2face Idibia of Nigeria and others. He worked as a disc jockey for several years and used this skill to take Bajan music to the world, hosting several internet radio shows.
Rod opened Bigg Rock Studio in 2000 and has since written and produced two albums and several singles for Hotta Flames, as well as tracks for a number of local and regional artists.
He has been involved in the music industry on many levels. He is a former Director at Barbados’ Copyright Society for Composers Authors and Publishers, is an advocate for intellectual property rights for independent artists, and continues to make an invaluable contribution to the development of the music industry in Barbados.
After relocating to the US, Rod completed a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology Summa Cum Laude at Medgar Evers College, where he also played a leading role in student government and advocacy. He earned a Ph.D. Fellowship at The Graduate Center, CUNY, and is currently in his 4th year as a doctoral student in Critical Social/Personality Psychology. His research investigates the role of music in social movements, community building, and identity development. Rod is also an adjunct lecturer at the College of Staten Island and enjoys his role as a teacher and mentor.