INTERVIEW

Interview by : Benoit Georges Pictures by : Alexandre Tonus on Tuesday, March 23rd 2004 - 10 692 views  Print        Reactions  (0)    It was with great pleasure that the Reggaefrance team was able to attend Wayne Wonder's concert on 23 March 2004 in Paris. Headlining for the first time in France (after appearing several times as a guest of Buju Banton), this outstanding singer richly deserved the honour, after 15 years of career and many classics recorded notably for Donovan Germain (Penthouse label) and Dave Kelly (Mad House label). Very professional, Wayne Wonder puts interviews before his many female admirers, who crowd outside his dressing room as soon as the concert ends. Owing to technical problems, we unfortunately cannot offer you an audio version. You will still be able to listen to the jingle by Showki Ru, a young DJ who was on stage with Wayne Wonder. Reggaefrance / How did you start singing? Wayne Wonder / I've been singing since I was very young. In fact I used to sing with my mother in church. But I started recording in the late 80s, notably with Tubby's, for whom I made my first recording. At that time I sang at the dances of Tubby's Hifi and Metromedia. What were your influences? I don't have just one influence! First of all, lots of gospel and soul thanks to my mother. Then the artists who marked me when I was young were Peter Tosh, Bob Marley but also Al Green, Michael Jackson... and many others. It's the first time you've headlined a concert in France. What do you think of that, given that it's mostly thanks to a single (No letting go on the Diwali)? You've been at the top for quite a while already. I see what you mean. Actually, I think music is a mission and it takes time to make it happen. You can't get recognition from a wide audience straight away: you have to know how to be patient. It's true that it's a shame if that recognition comes through a single tune... But if it has to come through one tune and it touches people, I say that's already good... How did you get into writing and singing love songs? Actually, I've always sung love songs... From a spiritual point of view first! After that, there's one thing, which is that I love women! You could say I have a “lover rock” side. And there's one thing I'd like to say to women: Wayne Wonder will always sing love songs for you. I'm a lover "always and forever". Precisely, some people, in France in particular, are a bit quick to class you as an R&B artist... No, they're wrong: I'm “jamaican dancehall, straight”. I only do Jamaican dancehall! Does it offend you to hear that? No, not at all. It's just that I make Jamaican music, in several forms. For example, I have lover lyrics and I can lay them over any instrumental: digital, classic lovers rock... Given that and given the subjects I deal with, I am a Jamaican dancehall artist. Speaking of varied styles, will Surprise (the name Wayne Wonder took when he does DJ styles) finally come out of the shadows? Will you make DJ-only tunes? Surprise has already come out of the shadows, as you saw tonight! It's been 7 years now since I tried out this voice and I must say that Surprise has really become my alter ego! I have tunes that are already ready and that I'll soon record under the name Surprise, solo! So what are your projects? Going back to the studio, that's for sure. Otherwise I've set up a project called “EP-Entourage Project”. It's to showcase young people, I produced this album to push forward young artists, like Showki Ru who was here tonight. The album is called EP and comes out this month.  Print       Reactions (0)

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