INTERVIEW : STRAIKA D
Interview by : Benoit Georges
Pictures by : Benoit COLLIN
on Monday, September 27th 2004 - 18 587 views
Met last April, Straïka announced to us the imminent release of his first album. Awaited by all, the album "Free DOM" came out this summer but is for the moment available only in the Antilles. No matter: this week Reggaefrance puts the spotlight on this young singer who nonetheless has nothing left to prove.
Reggaefrance / Can you tell us about your beginnings in music and in reggae in particular?
Straika D / You could say that from the age of eight, I entered the world of music as a radio host. Little by little, around the age of 11 and from hearing so many good riddims, I started to lay down vocals over them. In 1993, I had my first experience on record, which was "Ragga Sun Hit n° 1". It was Guy'al Mc from the group Métal Sound who had spotted me. I was working a bit at his place and he invited me to lay down vocals on the compilation. It's from there, from those first tracks, that I started to keep going right up to now.
What was your first track?
Actually it was two tracks on that same compilation. The first, in combination with Guy'al Mc, was called Dj matinik, the second is Fanm sé bagay ki ruff. And I also did the backing vocals on the compilation for a track called Trop de maquerelles which was a real hit in Martinique.
At that time, what were your influences on the Jamaican side, and on the French side?
On the Jamaican side, of course, it was Shabba, Sanchez, Wayne Wonder and Buju Banton. In fact, that was all I could listen to, all that was accessible to me. When I started out, I was more ragga than reggae. Of course, I listened to a lot of Marley, Peter Tosh, Jacob Miller... But I wasn't really oriented that way, I was more into really hardcore riddims at the start. What led me to reggae was all the New Roots series, which made me want to see what came before and which calmed me down a bit. Now, I'm more reggae than hardcore.
You're not only a singer, you're also involved in sound systems…
Since I was a radio host to begin with, from when I was very small, I love playing records and hosting dances. At the start, it certainly wasn't reggae. But little by little, as I began to toast, I started playing only that. I love playing music, I was part of a sound system in Martinique called Indika, which was founded by Guy'al Mc and Skanky of Métal Sound. Then I set up my own sound system called Killing Zone. We then moved to Bordeaux where we played several dates. We toured full time for two years; right now, we're taking a little break.
I've always moved in sound system circles. For me, when a reggae album comes out, the first place for promotion should be the sound system. Originally, that's how it was in Jamaica. If I put out a new record, I take it to the sound that very night, the selecta can play it. That's the relationship I have with the sound system. It's the place where all the deejays can express themselves. We play reggae dancehall in a different spirit from the dancehall nights you find nowadays: you'll hear far more foundations, reggae sound, roots, whereas when you go to a dancehall, it'll be the same music but played in a different spirit. That's why I'm particularly fond of sound systems.
Regarding dubplates, is it important for you to make them?
Yes, because it's a means of promotion. Because 45 production isn't yet established in France. It's only now that we're starting to get French series regularly. Dubplates are a springboard for young artists to get themselves known. If you don't have a 45 for the selectas to play in the sounds, there's still the dubplate to get yourself known. Then of course the dubplate is used wisely or unwisely, that's another matter. But I think it's good, for deejays, for selectas, dubplates move the scene forward.
Can you tell us about your album?
My album is finished. Next week it's going to be dealt with. It should come out by the end of May. It's an album with a rather reggae leaning. For the hardcore, you'll have to wait a little longer. I chose reggae because of the message I wanted to present on the first album. I talk a lot about love, I think that for people to hear the message, there's nothing like a bit of sweet music like reggae... Anyway, reggae music lib! C'est nou sa qu'on travaille matin, midi et soir en studio. Dancehall comes out of reggae and roots, so we're going to start at the beginning.
Apart from this album, what's your news?
I've made several appearances on various compilations. As I'm quite productive, I try to lay down vocals on as many riddims as possible, because I think that little by little, in France as in the French West Indies, there are lots of new programmers who make good riddims, it's progressing and I like giving strength to young programmers, laying down vocals on the riddim, to try to do a good job. On the compilations, there's the Axxia riddim, Grovin Attitude. DJ Wilson is about to release a compilation on which I laid down a combination with Supa Lee. Recently, I also did a combination with Sugar Minott, I can't tell you when it'll come out but at least it's already in the can. You see, I record quite often. But I can't tell you what's coming out and what's already out! Sometimes I've laid down vocals on compilations and they haven't even given me a CD. For me it's about making sounds, producing as many good sounds as possible, good vibes for everybody and getting reggae music played on the radio…
Thank you Straïka…
Yes I, you are the one I thank, and big up to everybody. I'll pass on a message, a closing word for everybody:
"Without love our lives have no meaning.
Seeing people love each other is our only reward.
Pass the message on, laugh at what people think.
Too busy shuffling money and stuffing their bellies"
Straika D di yo sa!
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