WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.800 --> 00:00:07.960 Every generation produces artists, but only a few emerge as 2 00:00:08.080 --> 00:00:16.120 interpreters of identity, memory and resistance. Artists whose voices don't 3 00:00:16.160 --> 00:00:21.760 just ride the ridden but reclaim history. Artist who don't 4 00:00:21.839 --> 00:00:27.519 simply perform, but translate the soul of the people. This week, 5 00:00:28.120 --> 00:00:31.960 we are talking the things with one of those artists. 6 00:00:32.560 --> 00:00:37.600 Alex Cuffee, more popularly known as Muddy, born and raised 7 00:00:37.759 --> 00:00:42.000 in Grenada, is more than a Soca artist. He is 8 00:00:42.039 --> 00:00:47.679 an artist full stop. He is a storyteller, a cultural 9 00:00:47.759 --> 00:00:52.439 ambassador of the jab Jab tradition, a son of Grenadian 10 00:00:52.600 --> 00:00:57.079 soil and spirit, and what I'd like to call an 11 00:00:57.079 --> 00:01:03.039 engineer of ancestral sound, acting music that feels both rooted 12 00:01:03.399 --> 00:01:08.959 and revolutionary. Over the years, Muddy has moved through stages 13 00:01:09.200 --> 00:01:14.159 and seasons, earning second place at Grenada's National Soca monarch 14 00:01:14.239 --> 00:01:19.280 in twenty fifteen, third place in twenty eighteen, and once 15 00:01:19.359 --> 00:01:24.799 again second place in twenty twenty four. However, his music 16 00:01:24.840 --> 00:01:28.560 has never been about the accolades or about the trophies. 17 00:01:29.359 --> 00:01:35.280 It's about testimony. In twenty twenty four, he released The Moment, 18 00:01:36.200 --> 00:01:40.879 a song that opens not with bravado, but with clarity. 19 00:01:41.840 --> 00:01:46.560 I told them I will be back someday to come. 20 00:01:47.439 --> 00:01:51.719 It's not just a verse, it's a vowl, a reckoning, 21 00:01:52.400 --> 00:01:58.040 an arrival, and a promise. And while Payroll may be 22 00:01:58.200 --> 00:02:02.920 the song gaining international no acclaim right now, it's Muddy's 23 00:02:03.000 --> 00:02:07.359 full body of work that carries the weight of a movement. 24 00:02:08.319 --> 00:02:11.439 This is not the sound of a man chasing success. 25 00:02:12.520 --> 00:02:19.000 It's the sound of a man answering his calling. Plus 26 00:02:19.080 --> 00:02:40.240 some respector listener respector if you're listening to the podcast 27 00:02:40.360 --> 00:02:44.759 on Apple Podcast, please remember to rate and leave a 28 00:02:44.800 --> 00:02:49.120 comment below. Also, don't forget to follow us on Instagram 29 00:02:49.479 --> 00:02:53.639 at Let's Talk the Things Now, Grab your tea, coffee, 30 00:02:54.039 --> 00:02:56.800 or a glass of wine and let's talk the tings. 31 00:03:03.280 --> 00:03:08.240 Hello everyone, Welcome back to Let's Talk to Things, where 32 00:03:08.240 --> 00:03:14.599 we discuss personal growth, travel, music, beauty and wellness while 33 00:03:14.719 --> 00:03:19.560 encouraging you to live fearlessly and fabulously. I'm your host, 34 00:03:19.919 --> 00:03:24.280 Ash and this week we are talking to things with 35 00:03:24.400 --> 00:03:29.280 a trailblazer and trendsetter, not just in Grenadian Soca, but 36 00:03:29.439 --> 00:03:34.199 in Soca in general. One of my favorite Soca artists Muddy. 37 00:03:34.639 --> 00:03:36.759 Hi Muddy, how are you hello? 38 00:03:36.800 --> 00:03:40.240 Hello? Hello? I am great love the introyway. 39 00:03:40.599 --> 00:03:42.719 Thank you, thank you, very much. You know they're calling 40 00:03:42.759 --> 00:03:45.240 me the jemaic on Oprah, you know, so, thank you 41 00:03:45.360 --> 00:03:45.960 very much. 42 00:03:48.120 --> 00:03:52.280 Onto something, on to something. 43 00:03:51.560 --> 00:03:54.599 Thank you, no, thank you so much for coming to 44 00:03:54.639 --> 00:03:56.840 talk to things with me. As a little bit of 45 00:03:56.879 --> 00:04:00.080 an icebreaker for our first time guest and for per 46 00:04:00.080 --> 00:04:03.520 since listening for the first time, we begin each episode 47 00:04:03.639 --> 00:04:08.000 with our listener's favorite segment, and it's called that no 48 00:04:08.159 --> 00:04:13.800 sound safe. So basically, what I'm going to do is 49 00:04:13.879 --> 00:04:17.600 read messages or social media posts that listeners sent in, 50 00:04:18.199 --> 00:04:20.759 and if you think it sounds crazy or a little 51 00:04:20.759 --> 00:04:25.040 bit concerning, you'd say that sounds safe and explain why. 52 00:04:25.480 --> 00:04:28.560 And if you agree, you say you agree and explain why. 53 00:04:28.680 --> 00:04:34.720 Nothing scary? All right, cool, all right? The first person said, 54 00:04:35.439 --> 00:04:39.439 the only time West Indian parents let you lie is 55 00:04:39.480 --> 00:04:42.800 to tell someone that they're not home or not around. 56 00:04:43.480 --> 00:04:45.000 That's super, super accurate. 57 00:04:46.000 --> 00:04:56.240 Yes, I don't know why they're like that, right, They'll 58 00:04:56.279 --> 00:04:58.000 be telling you to lie about that, but in the 59 00:04:58.040 --> 00:05:01.120 same breath telling you not to lie. It's so confusing. 60 00:05:03.560 --> 00:05:06.360 So yeah, so that sounds safe because it's true, but 61 00:05:06.439 --> 00:05:09.279 it's not safe because it's very confusing for a child 62 00:05:09.399 --> 00:05:12.439 trying to differentiate what is an okay lie versus what 63 00:05:12.600 --> 00:05:15.959 is not an okay lie. 64 00:05:16.560 --> 00:05:18.399 It's like you have to turn to a parent to 65 00:05:19.000 --> 00:05:21.120 know if you have to lie. I know, I have 66 00:05:21.199 --> 00:05:21.639 to tell the. 67 00:05:21.639 --> 00:05:28.120 Truth exactly right. So typical Caribbean parents, very contradicting. Yeah, 68 00:05:30.279 --> 00:05:34.759 all right. The next person said, my patience is basically 69 00:05:34.920 --> 00:05:37.839 like a gift card. Not sure how much is left 70 00:05:37.879 --> 00:05:40.240 on it, but we can give it a try. 71 00:05:40.759 --> 00:05:41.439 That's safe. 72 00:05:41.759 --> 00:05:44.000 That's safe. So are you an impatient person? 73 00:05:44.920 --> 00:05:47.959 I would say, I've been patient for the most part 74 00:05:48.000 --> 00:05:53.000 of my life. Okay, at this point, I just kind 75 00:05:53.000 --> 00:05:53.759 of want what I want. 76 00:05:54.480 --> 00:05:59.040 Yes, I agree. As somebody that's very impatient, I can 77 00:05:59.120 --> 00:06:01.319 really resonate with this one. I feel like this one 78 00:06:01.439 --> 00:06:05.399 sounds safe to me. However, I will say being an 79 00:06:05.439 --> 00:06:13.959 impatient person there is a downside in that. Sometimes sometimes 80 00:06:14.000 --> 00:06:16.839 you can reflect and think, Okay, maybe I should have waited, 81 00:06:17.120 --> 00:06:19.879 or maybe I should have allowed things to happen. But 82 00:06:20.000 --> 00:06:22.639 I also understand from that point of view where like 83 00:06:22.639 --> 00:06:25.560 you said, you've been patient for so long, yeah, and 84 00:06:25.759 --> 00:06:28.160 now it's like you just want what you want, like 85 00:06:28.240 --> 00:06:30.519 you don't have time. We can't bother with the waiting, 86 00:06:30.720 --> 00:06:30.920 you know. 87 00:06:31.160 --> 00:06:36.000 Yeah, But but patient patience is you know you have 88 00:06:36.040 --> 00:06:37.879 to have it. You have to have it at some 89 00:06:38.040 --> 00:06:40.920 point in your life. You know that's true. 90 00:06:41.040 --> 00:06:41.720 That's true. 91 00:06:41.920 --> 00:06:48.399 I think patience without without knowing like what direction it 92 00:06:48.439 --> 00:06:52.240 would take at the end, I think we have we 93 00:06:52.360 --> 00:06:56.120 have to know what we want and know. Let's say, 94 00:06:56.639 --> 00:07:00.879 if let's say we're in a relationship or something and 95 00:07:01.000 --> 00:07:05.279 you have been in this far some time and you're 96 00:07:05.279 --> 00:07:08.519 having problems and you speaking to your partner over and 97 00:07:08.560 --> 00:07:13.240 over and over and nothing is getting done. There comes 98 00:07:13.240 --> 00:07:15.560 a time when in a man's life or in a 99 00:07:15.600 --> 00:07:18.680 woman's life, where you have to understand that this person 100 00:07:18.720 --> 00:07:20.839 is not going to change. So patience is not going 101 00:07:20.879 --> 00:07:22.480 to fix this situation. 102 00:07:22.959 --> 00:07:27.079 Oh Maddy, You're come to tak the things today, you know. 103 00:07:27.319 --> 00:07:32.160 Come to Ta Alex by your real name, because that 104 00:07:32.360 --> 00:07:35.399 is so true. And I'm sure a lot of people 105 00:07:35.480 --> 00:07:40.079 listening are really resonating with it, because you know, I 106 00:07:40.120 --> 00:07:43.920 think it's okay to be patient with somebody, but like 107 00:07:43.959 --> 00:07:46.120 you said, if you know that they're going in the 108 00:07:46.199 --> 00:07:50.079 direction that you need, whatever relationship you have to go in, 109 00:07:50.600 --> 00:07:53.439 that's different than being patient. And like you said, they're 110 00:07:53.480 --> 00:07:56.959 ignoring your wants and your needs and you're just wasting time, 111 00:07:57.040 --> 00:08:01.120 And I think to your point, people don't realiuys, time 112 00:08:01.319 --> 00:08:05.079 is very expensive. It's something that you cannot get back, 113 00:08:06.240 --> 00:08:09.360 you know. So I think that's really wow. I never 114 00:08:09.399 --> 00:08:11.920 thought of it like that, but yeah, that's really insightful 115 00:08:12.040 --> 00:08:15.399 for sure. Definitely. All right, Okay, I can agree with you. 116 00:08:15.439 --> 00:08:19.000 Then I can switch that song safe. That sounds safe, 117 00:08:19.600 --> 00:08:23.000 all right. The next person said, I stay away from 118 00:08:23.040 --> 00:08:27.639 people who avoid self reflection and accountability. If you can't 119 00:08:27.639 --> 00:08:30.439 be real with yourself, there's no way you can be 120 00:08:30.519 --> 00:08:34.440 real with me that song safe. 121 00:08:34.679 --> 00:08:36.639 Yeah, yeah, that sounds. 122 00:08:36.320 --> 00:08:43.480 Safe for sure. Accountability and self reflection is definitely important, 123 00:08:43.519 --> 00:08:46.000 and I feel like a lot of people don't practice it, 124 00:08:46.679 --> 00:08:50.399 which is concerning. Yeah, you know, I think it's easier 125 00:08:50.440 --> 00:08:52.759 for a lot of people to tell you where where 126 00:08:52.759 --> 00:08:55.720 you went wrong or what you did wrong. But it's 127 00:08:55.960 --> 00:08:59.360 very rare that you meet somebody at any level, whether 128 00:08:59.360 --> 00:09:01.960 it's in your work space or personal life, that can say, 129 00:09:02.000 --> 00:09:04.080 you know, what I did this and that wasn't right, 130 00:09:04.279 --> 00:09:06.360 or you know I could have done this better. 131 00:09:07.000 --> 00:09:10.360 Yeah, it's it's always a more difficult conversation speaking to 132 00:09:10.399 --> 00:09:14.799 the mirror, you know, because it's not like we don't 133 00:09:14.840 --> 00:09:16.799 know what we do wrong. We know what we do wrong. 134 00:09:17.039 --> 00:09:20.159 We know, yeah, when we go wrong or when we've 135 00:09:20.240 --> 00:09:24.720 hurt someone, when we've did a bad thing. But comfortability 136 00:09:25.000 --> 00:09:28.200 is a fight for most people. It's been a fight 137 00:09:28.279 --> 00:09:31.759 in my life as well, you know, really yeah, but 138 00:09:32.279 --> 00:09:37.000 growing up and mature and taking taking the time, taking 139 00:09:37.000 --> 00:09:41.960 the patience, you know, and mature and understanding that I'm 140 00:09:42.000 --> 00:09:46.399 not a perfect person. You know, I do make mistakes, 141 00:09:46.399 --> 00:09:49.279 and the only way to move past those mistakes is 142 00:09:49.320 --> 00:09:53.519 to to hold myself aurecomfortable for it, you know, and 143 00:09:53.679 --> 00:09:56.480 do the right work to be a better place. Because 144 00:09:56.559 --> 00:09:58.960 if you already think that you're in the best place, 145 00:09:59.240 --> 00:10:01.000 there's no grow. They're left. 146 00:10:03.039 --> 00:10:06.039 So true. And you're never not growing, I mean unless 147 00:10:06.080 --> 00:10:09.399 you're no longer on this earth. I feel like, you know, 148 00:10:09.480 --> 00:10:11.879 you're always learning. And that's something that I learned a 149 00:10:11.960 --> 00:10:14.799 lot from my dad. You know, at any age, he 150 00:10:14.960 --> 00:10:19.360 always instilled in us you are always learning, you know, Like, 151 00:10:19.480 --> 00:10:22.360 don't ever think you know everything about everything. 152 00:10:22.000 --> 00:10:26.879 Because you don't. You know, a little toddler on the 153 00:10:26.919 --> 00:10:29.200 street could teach you something about your life that you. 154 00:10:29.240 --> 00:10:33.440 Never Yes, yes, that's so true. And those that aren't 155 00:10:33.639 --> 00:10:36.120 interested in learning something new I feel like they stay 156 00:10:36.200 --> 00:10:39.879 stagnant too, Like they may get older in age, but 157 00:10:40.039 --> 00:10:43.159 mentally they're just at the same place because they don't 158 00:10:43.200 --> 00:10:45.679 feel like they can be taught, Like they don't feel 159 00:10:45.679 --> 00:10:47.039 like they're teachable. 160 00:10:47.480 --> 00:10:50.519 Because you put a ceiling on your brain, you know, 161 00:10:50.600 --> 00:10:53.639 you put a ceiling on your you already feel like 162 00:10:53.679 --> 00:10:57.600 you have at this level when you are on a 163 00:10:57.639 --> 00:11:01.480 way lower level. If you think you're the best, there's 164 00:11:01.519 --> 00:11:03.679 nothing better than the best. So you're just going to 165 00:11:03.720 --> 00:11:06.120 stay at this one one rate and the world is 166 00:11:06.200 --> 00:11:07.200 just going to leave you behind. 167 00:11:08.039 --> 00:11:16.480 Yeah, and that no sound safe? All right? Two more then, 168 00:11:16.679 --> 00:11:19.879 oh my gosh. The next person said, I know life 169 00:11:19.919 --> 00:11:23.320 can be tough, but you really have to start wearing 170 00:11:23.360 --> 00:11:23.960 the ordorant. 171 00:11:25.080 --> 00:11:31.519 Definitely, definitely, I can't manage. 172 00:11:31.840 --> 00:11:35.559 Yes, guys, you know, Carnival season is upon us, and 173 00:11:36.039 --> 00:11:39.799 I just feel like this is not the time to 174 00:11:39.879 --> 00:11:43.039 be trying out no anti perspriate thedoran. 175 00:11:43.279 --> 00:11:44.360 Yeah, I think. 176 00:11:45.679 --> 00:11:49.639 It's very important that you smell you know, nice and 177 00:11:49.799 --> 00:11:50.600 fresh and clean. 178 00:11:51.360 --> 00:11:55.519 Yeah, because especially around Kinnival season, around kindival season, yes, 179 00:11:56.159 --> 00:11:59.639 is the time when you see the most shirtless people's 180 00:12:00.080 --> 00:12:00.639 in the world. 181 00:12:01.639 --> 00:12:03.919 You know, true, that's true. 182 00:12:04.120 --> 00:12:07.279 Hygiene is is something that you need to you have 183 00:12:07.360 --> 00:12:13.320 to get right because it's uncomfortable for not just for 184 00:12:13.440 --> 00:12:15.960 the other, but for even your friends. Your friends have 185 00:12:16.039 --> 00:12:17.879 to tell you about it. It's uncomfortable. 186 00:12:18.080 --> 00:12:22.240 Yes, it's very uncomfortable. And we don't deserve that. Yeah, 187 00:12:22.440 --> 00:12:23.919 it's very. 188 00:12:23.919 --> 00:12:26.879 We We deserve to have a conversation where we could 189 00:12:26.960 --> 00:12:29.440 just talk and I don't have to think about about 190 00:12:30.080 --> 00:12:34.120 about the scent. You know, let's have a conversation. It's 191 00:12:34.120 --> 00:12:36.639 me and you're talking, not me and you and your perspiration. 192 00:12:42.679 --> 00:12:46.080 I can't manage. Oh my gosh, I literally have tears 193 00:12:46.080 --> 00:12:53.960 in my No, that is one hundred percent true. I 194 00:12:54.080 --> 00:12:57.399 just wasn't ready. 195 00:12:57.639 --> 00:12:59.360 Sorry for being so sorry. 196 00:12:59.159 --> 00:13:02.480 For being so oh No, I love it. I love it. 197 00:13:02.559 --> 00:13:05.240 I just you'll notice I really love to laugh. So 198 00:13:05.320 --> 00:13:07.399 you're gonna hear me fight from my life a lot. 199 00:13:07.799 --> 00:13:13.360 But it's so true because my mom used to always 200 00:13:13.399 --> 00:13:15.919 tell me, like you know, as a little girl, I 201 00:13:16.000 --> 00:13:18.440 will always tell you things that you need to know, 202 00:13:18.519 --> 00:13:21.080 like your friends probably aren't even always going to tell you, because, 203 00:13:21.120 --> 00:13:23.559 like you said, your friends should tell you. But some 204 00:13:23.679 --> 00:13:27.960 friends don't say anything, you know, and that's concerning. Like 205 00:13:28.559 --> 00:13:32.320 some friends even when it comes to like as a woman, Okay, 206 00:13:32.399 --> 00:13:34.200 you go out with your friends and you see a 207 00:13:34.240 --> 00:13:36.919 group of women and you see, let's say there's three women, 208 00:13:37.039 --> 00:13:40.399 two women. They look beautiful, their makeup is intact, you know, 209 00:13:40.559 --> 00:13:43.360 even though we're outside, like everything is together. And then 210 00:13:43.399 --> 00:13:46.720 you see their friend and her makeup is dripping off 211 00:13:46.759 --> 00:13:49.120 her face, and you know, she just kind of looked 212 00:13:49.120 --> 00:13:51.840 popped down, and you're thinking, why would you let your 213 00:13:51.879 --> 00:13:54.240 friend come out like that? You know, like, why wouldn't 214 00:13:54.240 --> 00:13:57.559 you say something? So it's like, to your point, your 215 00:13:57.600 --> 00:14:00.000 friends shouldn't have to have that conversation, but you should 216 00:14:00.080 --> 00:14:02.080 do it for yourself because you don't know if you 217 00:14:02.200 --> 00:14:05.519 have a friend that wouldn't tell you that, that wouldn't 218 00:14:05.559 --> 00:14:07.919 tell you smell bad, you know what I mean. And 219 00:14:07.960 --> 00:14:10.440 then maybe you see some guy you like and you 220 00:14:10.480 --> 00:14:13.320 go up to him and he said, geez, no, it's 221 00:14:13.399 --> 00:14:23.360 not work. That say, oh my gosh, hilarious. All right, 222 00:14:23.519 --> 00:14:28.440 final one, the person said envy no one. For whatever 223 00:14:28.559 --> 00:14:30.600 you see, a price was paid. 224 00:14:31.720 --> 00:14:36.440 Yeap. Yeah. I strongly believe that same undercent. 225 00:14:36.639 --> 00:14:40.600 I think that people, especially like when you get to 226 00:14:41.720 --> 00:14:44.159 a level of success in your life. I find that 227 00:14:44.279 --> 00:14:47.480 people only see that even the people that have known 228 00:14:47.519 --> 00:14:49.320 you for a long period of time, it's like they 229 00:14:49.399 --> 00:14:52.080 forget all that you had to go through to come 230 00:14:52.080 --> 00:14:54.799 to that point, and they just have this perception like, Oh, 231 00:14:54.840 --> 00:14:57.639 you're so luckier, Oh you made this money, so sureley 232 00:14:57.679 --> 00:14:59.720 can give me a bly, surely can give me a thing? 233 00:15:00.200 --> 00:15:03.240 You can, you know, and they don't consider all of 234 00:15:03.279 --> 00:15:05.720 what you've had to sacrifice to get there. I think 235 00:15:05.759 --> 00:15:06.799 that's such a real thing. 236 00:15:07.080 --> 00:15:10.399 Yeah. Growing up, my mom would always tell me, do 237 00:15:10.519 --> 00:15:13.960 not envy. Do not envy people, you know, because you 238 00:15:14.039 --> 00:15:17.440 do not know what they've done, are the sacrifices they 239 00:15:17.440 --> 00:15:21.679 have to make to achieve what they have. Yes, and 240 00:15:21.799 --> 00:15:24.279 I've been a victim of it when it comes to 241 00:15:25.080 --> 00:15:29.039 even my musical career or even just my life. The 242 00:15:30.080 --> 00:15:34.039 things that that are accessible to me in my life 243 00:15:34.320 --> 00:15:37.320 is all things that was created by me. It wasn't 244 00:15:37.759 --> 00:15:40.480 a hand out that did. I didn't have it easy 245 00:15:41.759 --> 00:15:44.000 right to work for it. I had to work for it. 246 00:15:44.080 --> 00:15:48.480 So whatever whatever situation I am in right now, it's 247 00:15:49.080 --> 00:15:52.639 tanks to me and and my my feet and my 248 00:15:53.200 --> 00:15:59.120 Because I have a praying mom, right she does not play. 249 00:16:00.080 --> 00:16:02.240 Yes, Yes, thank God for them. 250 00:16:02.120 --> 00:16:07.000 Mate, Yeah, thank God for that. So I would never 251 00:16:07.320 --> 00:16:11.559 envy a man because I I personally see what I 252 00:16:11.679 --> 00:16:14.919 do the work, you know, and I like to see 253 00:16:15.720 --> 00:16:18.720 progress is something that I love seeing no matter where 254 00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:22.559 it's coming from. That is just motivating to me. So 255 00:16:22.919 --> 00:16:27.000 I agree, I will see the outcome or the results 256 00:16:27.080 --> 00:16:31.720 of what, of whatever, but I do however, I am 257 00:16:31.840 --> 00:16:34.960 very interested in the process. So even though I see 258 00:16:35.000 --> 00:16:37.759 the big blow up, I will ask questions to try 259 00:16:37.799 --> 00:16:41.279 to know how how did this happen? You know, how 260 00:16:41.360 --> 00:16:45.919 did you grow this business from from one single mod 261 00:16:46.200 --> 00:16:51.279 billing five blocks to to know you're producing five to 262 00:16:51.679 --> 00:16:54.840 blocks a week. I just want to know the process 263 00:16:54.919 --> 00:16:59.200 of that, how the work is done, so me envy. 264 00:16:59.360 --> 00:17:01.759 Envy is never in the cards from me. I like 265 00:17:01.799 --> 00:17:02.759 the work behind it. 266 00:17:03.320 --> 00:17:05.759 That's so beautifully said, and I think it's such a 267 00:17:06.279 --> 00:17:09.680 really important message to put out there, because again, we 268 00:17:09.720 --> 00:17:14.079 live in an area an era excuse me, of social 269 00:17:14.119 --> 00:17:18.079 media where everything is so instant, you know, and people 270 00:17:18.160 --> 00:17:20.920 think they can just go on Instagram or go on 271 00:17:20.960 --> 00:17:23.480 TikTok and make a video and then they're just going 272 00:17:23.559 --> 00:17:25.440 to be the next big thing. And you know, it 273 00:17:25.599 --> 00:17:29.519 just seems like people don't really especially within music. You know, 274 00:17:29.599 --> 00:17:31.880 I grew up in the music business. My dad is 275 00:17:31.920 --> 00:17:36.839 a drummer, and I just find that what I witnessed 276 00:17:36.880 --> 00:17:40.720 when I witnessed him creating music is so different than 277 00:17:40.759 --> 00:17:43.319 what I see now, you know, like the machines and 278 00:17:43.359 --> 00:17:45.519 the AI and all this. And it doesn't mean that 279 00:17:45.559 --> 00:17:48.759 it's all bad, because it's helpful in some ways. But 280 00:17:49.519 --> 00:17:53.440 I find that we've lost like that concept of hard 281 00:17:53.480 --> 00:17:56.400 work and wanting, like you said, to learn what it 282 00:17:56.440 --> 00:17:58.720 took to get there rather than just wanting the. 283 00:17:58.680 --> 00:17:59.559 Outcome, you know. 284 00:18:00.039 --> 00:18:06.920 Yep, all right, So now we're gonna talk the real things. 285 00:18:07.480 --> 00:18:10.559 So I would love it if you could tell me 286 00:18:10.799 --> 00:18:15.240 about your earliest memories of sound. And the reason I 287 00:18:15.279 --> 00:18:18.839 asked that is because I had the CEO of Jahm 288 00:18:18.920 --> 00:18:21.680 Balassi Grenada on here and he explained to me a 289 00:18:21.720 --> 00:18:24.480 lot about jab and you know the sound of the drums. 290 00:18:24.480 --> 00:18:26.759 So anytime I think of Grenada now, I just think 291 00:18:26.799 --> 00:18:31.240 of sound and music and particularly drums, right, yeah, So 292 00:18:31.559 --> 00:18:34.759 if you could tell me your earliest memory not just 293 00:18:35.000 --> 00:18:38.960 of music, but literal sound, like what did Grenada sound 294 00:18:39.079 --> 00:18:40.400 like to you as a child. 295 00:18:41.519 --> 00:18:47.920 As a child, I would say, like my upbringing was 296 00:18:48.039 --> 00:18:51.960 I grew up in church. You know, my mom was 297 00:18:52.400 --> 00:18:56.319 a regular church goer, so I've always I've always been 298 00:18:56.319 --> 00:18:59.680 fascinated with the music, fascinated with the music in church. 299 00:19:00.160 --> 00:19:04.519 So I've always had love for that song, right, yeah, 300 00:19:03.839 --> 00:19:08.519 but you know, growing up, and I didn't used to 301 00:19:08.519 --> 00:19:10.119 take but I think kind of a I would admit 302 00:19:10.240 --> 00:19:14.519 I was not kind of a baby because I am, yeah, 303 00:19:14.720 --> 00:19:17.680 my mother's last child, so I was I was well protected. 304 00:19:18.440 --> 00:19:21.640 I couldn't do a lot of stuff. So when I 305 00:19:21.720 --> 00:19:27.960 did pick up the singing that, yeah, it was it 306 00:19:28.079 --> 00:19:32.119 was different. But I would say kind of our song 307 00:19:32.400 --> 00:19:41.000 like mmm, I would give flowers to the elders, that's 308 00:19:41.079 --> 00:19:46.880 the Tangla and the Jamo and the Inspector, even the 309 00:19:46.920 --> 00:19:49.880 younger elders like Lava Man and mister Killer and them, 310 00:19:50.240 --> 00:19:53.240 I would I would love to give them the floors 311 00:19:53.240 --> 00:19:56.279 because this is what I knew about what music was 312 00:19:56.319 --> 00:19:59.799 supposed to come come from. I supposed to song like 313 00:20:00.480 --> 00:20:02.640 coming from my and my culture. 314 00:20:03.400 --> 00:20:06.920 I love that. I love that beautiful. And did you 315 00:20:07.200 --> 00:20:09.759 know that, I know you grew up in church and 316 00:20:09.880 --> 00:20:12.759 our own music, but did you know that you always 317 00:20:13.119 --> 00:20:14.640 wanted to be an artist? 318 00:20:14.720 --> 00:20:20.839 Particularly I did not. I always loved singing. No, I 319 00:20:20.880 --> 00:20:23.200 always loved singing. I would sing with my friends, I 320 00:20:23.319 --> 00:20:27.559 was singing with my family. And I remember the first 321 00:20:27.759 --> 00:20:32.119 time I recorded myself. Hated my voice, you know, I 322 00:20:32.160 --> 00:20:34.119 told my brothers, I hated my voice. 323 00:20:34.799 --> 00:20:38.039 Yeah, Oh my gosh, I cannot believe that. 324 00:20:39.440 --> 00:20:41.640 Yeah, I mean it was my first time doing it, 325 00:20:41.680 --> 00:20:46.119 and it was uncomfortable hearing my voice or the song 326 00:20:46.200 --> 00:20:49.839 of what I'm saying coming from a different device, you know. 327 00:20:50.359 --> 00:20:56.720 Really, yes, so crazy, wow, wow, wow, that's so crazy 328 00:20:56.759 --> 00:21:00.000 to hear, just because obviously I know your voice as yeah, 329 00:21:00.279 --> 00:21:02.519 the superstar that you are now, so that's hard for 330 00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:05.640 me to conceptualize, but I get it for sure. 331 00:21:06.200 --> 00:21:08.079 And I had to go. I had to go to 332 00:21:08.200 --> 00:21:11.759 the whole long process of learning my voice and stuff 333 00:21:11.799 --> 00:21:15.640 because ever since I started, I've always been producing myself, 334 00:21:15.759 --> 00:21:18.799 always been mixing my own vocal. Has always been doing 335 00:21:18.839 --> 00:21:23.240 the mixing by myself. So it's by yourself. Yeah, it 336 00:21:23.279 --> 00:21:26.400 was a learning experience, up and up and up. So 337 00:21:26.920 --> 00:21:29.200 now I found my voice. You know, I like it. 338 00:21:29.319 --> 00:21:32.759 I'm comfortable with it. I'm guessing the world it's comfortable with. 339 00:21:32.720 --> 00:21:39.599 It, because guessing, hello, that's okay. Be humble, be humble, 340 00:21:39.720 --> 00:21:46.079 that's fine. No, But speaking of your voice, right, your 341 00:21:46.160 --> 00:21:51.359 music plays with a little bit of dance hall, Soca afrofusion, 342 00:21:51.480 --> 00:21:53.920 and it even touches on a little bit of hip hop. 343 00:21:54.440 --> 00:21:58.559 So how intentional is that cross pollination for you? Like, 344 00:21:58.720 --> 00:22:01.319 is it a strategy or is it more of an 345 00:22:01.319 --> 00:22:04.359 intuitive reflection of who you are as a person. 346 00:22:05.079 --> 00:22:10.359 I would say the second one because I wouldn't say 347 00:22:10.359 --> 00:22:15.799 if is cross pollinated because it's actually rooted. I soka 348 00:22:16.119 --> 00:22:19.440 is actually the last genre I started doing. 349 00:22:19.920 --> 00:22:21.960 Okay, Okay. 350 00:22:22.440 --> 00:22:27.480 I started singing in high school and I was singing 351 00:22:27.680 --> 00:22:31.279 hip hop music and dance all music, reggae music for years. 352 00:22:31.440 --> 00:22:35.839 Really, so internally, you're really a Jamaican, is what you're taking. 353 00:22:39.599 --> 00:22:42.279 I don't want to say that now, but I would not. 354 00:22:43.640 --> 00:22:46.440 No, no, I'm just joking, guys. Don't don't kid me. 355 00:22:46.480 --> 00:22:48.640 I'm just joking through and through. 356 00:22:48.960 --> 00:22:52.160 I will say that I am deeply influenced by the 357 00:22:52.240 --> 00:22:55.799 Jamaican culture when it comes to music because what I 358 00:22:55.880 --> 00:23:00.160 do believe that it's music is my thing and I 359 00:23:00.480 --> 00:23:03.640 don't consider myself like a Soca artist. I just consider 360 00:23:03.680 --> 00:23:08.640 myself like an artist because it doesn't matter the success 361 00:23:08.640 --> 00:23:11.200 of what happens to me in SOCA, I will sing 362 00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:14.799 dance all music. I still want to be in rooms 363 00:23:14.839 --> 00:23:16.960 with the big dance all names and the big hip 364 00:23:16.960 --> 00:23:17.519 hop names. 365 00:23:17.839 --> 00:23:22.519 Yes, okay, So and would you say your would you 366 00:23:22.599 --> 00:23:27.920 say your style leans more towards dancehall than soca or 367 00:23:28.000 --> 00:23:30.000 is it? Is it really like in the middle, because 368 00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:33.400 to me it seems like such a like a well 369 00:23:33.480 --> 00:23:36.960 placed mix, like I can hear the dancehall influence, but 370 00:23:37.000 --> 00:23:39.400 then I can kind of hear the Soca the job 371 00:23:39.519 --> 00:23:42.240 in there as well. But how do you perceive it? 372 00:23:42.680 --> 00:23:45.039 I would say it's in the middle. I would say 373 00:23:45.039 --> 00:23:45.839 it's because. 374 00:23:45.519 --> 00:23:46.319 In the middle. Okay. 375 00:23:46.839 --> 00:23:51.400 Even in my SOCA music, I do tend to draw 376 00:23:51.480 --> 00:23:54.519 out a reference and references to dance all lyrics as well, 377 00:23:56.000 --> 00:23:59.279 because to me, Soca is fun. Soca is real fun. 378 00:23:59.599 --> 00:24:04.319 But the dance all side of me wants to express 379 00:24:04.480 --> 00:24:11.119 different stories than just what's fun. So you would get 380 00:24:11.160 --> 00:24:14.640 me to sing some fun stuff, but is really the 381 00:24:14.799 --> 00:24:17.680 side of dance all that would make me say something 382 00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:20.920 like when stars aligned, greatness outshines all het it in 383 00:24:20.960 --> 00:24:24.279 space on time, because that is my song. 384 00:24:24.359 --> 00:24:26.960 You know you got it? But yeah, that is my song. 385 00:24:29.559 --> 00:24:31.960 I would say that I know what you mean though. 386 00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:34.359 Yeah, that's true. We were talking about I forgot what 387 00:24:34.480 --> 00:24:37.400 episode we were talking about it, but saying that Soca 388 00:24:37.480 --> 00:24:40.640 is so fun and so happy. But to your point, like, 389 00:24:40.720 --> 00:24:44.200 when I think of songs with like a message and 390 00:24:44.839 --> 00:24:48.319 wanting to empower you, I truly do think of dancehall 391 00:24:48.440 --> 00:24:52.160 or reggae. However, there are some Soka songs I can't 392 00:24:52.160 --> 00:24:54.119 think of the top of my head, but there are 393 00:24:54.200 --> 00:24:56.599 some that are very empowering as well. So I see, 394 00:24:56.759 --> 00:24:58.359 I definitely see what you're saying. 395 00:24:58.440 --> 00:24:59.440 Yeah, sure, yep. 396 00:25:00.400 --> 00:25:05.279 And speaking of that, you also write your lyrics, and 397 00:25:05.839 --> 00:25:09.599 there's this kind of rawness I would say in your lyrics, 398 00:25:09.599 --> 00:25:13.839 a kind of emotional honesty that comes through. So where 399 00:25:14.240 --> 00:25:17.319 does that come from? And do you write from personal 400 00:25:17.440 --> 00:25:21.880 experience or are you also channeling like a collective story 401 00:25:21.960 --> 00:25:24.720