INTERVIEW
Interview & pictures : Filip Flatau
on Tuesday, January 15th 2002 - 17 362 views
While the recent release of Sael's album "Sael & Friends" has been a smash, Don Miguel, recently in Paris, is about to release the second episode of 2 Hardcore. We met the producer of Dons Music last week for a still-fresh interview.
Reggaefrance / Can you tell me about your beginnings?
Don Miguel / I started like everybody else, listening to records at home. Then, to cut a long story short, I met Daddy Harry (who had long been active in the sound systems of the French Caribbean). Later he did a combination with a singer I knew, so I did the intro of the tune.
In 1992 and 1993 we made two albums that did very well: "Daddy Harry / Don Miguel". In 1993 I made an album, "Martinique Dancehall", then in 1994 I set up my label Dancehall Party, on which the combination with Kossity, "Vanessa", appeared.
In 1995 I produced Daddy Pleen's "Docteur Charly", which was a smash. In 1996 it was the Ruff Negg. In 1997 I started the Dons Party compilations with Jamaican and French-language tunes. In 1997 Ruff Negg (Volume 2) came out, then Ruff Negg Maron. Among the broader compilations I made Socca Fever, Dj Jeff, and the best of "Dons Collector".
In 1998 "Dancehall News" came out, which wasn't really financially interesting, but was a real turning point, bringing a new style of reggae to the French Caribbean: spiritual reggae. It was led at the outset by Typical Féfé with the tune "Il Sauve", which won wide agreement, reinforced by Sael's tune "Ils s'eternisent".
This new launch got everybody agreeing on reggae; people in the Caribbean are very pure, and they found themselves facing the Genesis of the Bible.
The music brought people together around Christianity, and it allowed Sael to be exposed with his video. Sael was a good discovery for the label; he made everybody feel good and took off very quickly.
While at the time we were more focused on Féfé Typical, Sael made his mark even though he was the challenger. We were looking for an artist for our label who was "not a pain" and talented. "There are lots of pains, there are lots of talented ones (laughs), but not a pain and talented, there aren't many. He's a versatile artist, who can talk about spiritual things and about everyday life.
For example the tune "Le producteur", which Sael wrote when I told him one day that he wasn't writing enough.
How did the move from singer to producer come about for you?
When I was singing, I was more drawn to the relationship and business side, so naturally I moved towards that aspect. Dealing with the radio stations for the label. I've always liked looking at the back of record sleeves.
In your opinion, what are the qualities of a good producer?
Well, I'd love to know them all (laughs!). In my view, it's first of all paying the artists well, but also having a nose for the right tunes.
Surrounding yourself with the right people, competent people: from the graphic designer to the assistants, the musicians and the programmers.
Is Sael an artist you're betting heavily on?
In terms of artist development, he'll be the only one (apart from the dancehall compilations).
My aim is to create a big buzz, so that the whole community knows about it, in order to get a deal with a major company. That way he can be played on the big radio stations, as the majors invest in advertising (radio, TV and magazines). A lot of people are interested in Sael.
How did you approach Sael's new album and its impact on a somewhat new audience, despite a very present Caribbean community?
The community is more ragga, and the French audience is more roots. Sael, for his part, is a reggae artist and I didn't expect such repercussions in the Caribbean community. It was rather the repercussions of his success, already known in the Caribbean. We had banked more on the French audience. Yet it did very well in the Caribbean community... because it's another style of Caribbean reggae. Sael is in very high demand at the moment. After success in all the overseas territories, the shockwave is now being felt in mainland France. It's a great turning point in Caribbean music.
Do you yourself have any influence on what Sael is going to say?
None, other than telling him to work and write; he's totally free. He's well inspired and well surrounded by his programmer Levy.
It's not my role, I don't want to interfere too much in the artistic side; what I can do, though, is tell him about a riddim, tell him his voice would sound good on it...
Can you tell me about your new compilation "2 Hardcore: Episode 2"? Did you ride the wave of Mr Lucas with Episode 2 of Star Wars, which is coming out soon?
We also made a very inspired spot, with a Darth Vader-style voice.
The difference from the first compilation is that this time there are 3 series (instead of two): 8 Ball, Dolly House Rmx and Liquid. We have a quasi-unreleased tune on the Liquid: the Innocent Crew, which came out in very few copies.
Each series ends with a megamix: Dj Jeff, Kaprisson and Smiling D.
How did you choose the series on the compilation?
For this album, I was nevertheless helped a great deal by Smiling D, who played me a mix with the 8 Ball. People had been able to hear the Dolly House on the radio but didn't own it. The aim was to bring together on one CD records that had come out on 7-inch and that few people could get hold of.
Yes, I produced Captain Barkey's first video on the Uppark Camp riddim: "ManYard", in 1997. The first medley was on the Undawatta riddim, then there was the Latino medley. In turn, I decided to produce the Lightning riddim.
It's essentially for economic reasons.
I also made this medley to replace the artists' presence.
The video brings together Sean Paul, Christopher, Delly Ranks, Hawckeye, Elephant Man / Wayne Marshall, so I was very happy and the public appreciated it too.
I'm also planning the upcoming release of the Dolly House riddim medley video, on which I hope to have Red Rat, Capleton, Elephant Man, Hawckeye and Danny English.
What are your other projects?
I have several projects. The first would be a ragga compilation with all the dancehall anthems (bringing together the tunes that are smashing it in clubs) without taking the easy way out, and without giving myself a sell-out or commercial image, so that my label's image is respected.
I want the sensibility of the label to come across well in the album we're going to release.
I find it very positive for dancehall that compilations such as DJ Xela's sell so well, because it opens doors for the others. Jamaican music is poorly represented on the radio to this day. The innovation of our next compilation is that it will include a DVD with around fifteen videos.
For Sael, I plan to do a DVD of a private concert and a live CD with unreleased material.
You also have a TV show in Martinique?
Dancehall News, which is a 26-minute magazine-style format, including 6 videos (5 Jamaican videos and 1 local video). We increase the frequency of local videos during the summer (when it is quite low the rest of the year).
The show also carries the latest news from the Jamaican, American, European and Caribbean scenes.
Can you give me the list of the 5 Jamaican artists you like most (at the moment)?
1) Elephant Man
2) Bounty Killer
3) Capleton
4) Wayne Marshall
5) Delly Ranks
And producers?
1) Jeremy Harding
2) Pot Of gold
3) Germaine / Penthouse
4) Kings of Kings
5) Shams
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