INTERVIEW
Interview by : Charlyman
Pictures by : Benoit Collin
on Friday, December 03rd 2004 - 22 772 views
At 27, Sir Samuel has already tasted success with his partners in Saian Supa Crew, but his drive has given him the desire to go even further... From rap to reggae, Sir Samuel has taken the step. But don't ask him to claim allegiance to one scene more than another.
We met him at his record company, Virgin, on the occasion of the forthcoming release of his first solo album in March... Calm and relaxed, the singjay seemed very serene... For him, one single goal: Vizé pli o!
Reggaefrance / We actually know little of you outside the Saian; can you introduce yourself briefly?
Sir Samuel / I'm Sir Samuel, I'm part of Saian Supa Crew and this is my first solo album.
I'm of Guadeloupean and Martinican origin but I grew up in Sarcelles and Bagneux in the Paris region. My start in music dates from 1988, when I was at boarding school: I began by rapping in the schoolyard, then I put together a little reggae group called Enfants des Iles. That group gave birth to some good vibes and allowed me to progress...
You also had a short stint with the Mafia Trece?
Yes, well, that stint was more hours of practice in the studio, it wasn't a full integration into the crew. I had no ties with them apart from those small contributions, often featurings.
Even back then, you were juggling between rap and reggae, and I get the impression it's much the same today... In the end, you never wanted to devote yourself to just one of these two genres?
No, because I love both too much. I listen to rap just as much as reggae. So on the album, everything mixes together, just as everything already mixed together in the Saian... And even before that, I was playing with this mix!
Basically, I love reggae but I'm not a Rasta. I think you shouldn't confuse everything: reggae isn't the music of the guy who smokes his joint and meditates while the world turns. Like rap, reggae has an urban and militant side. Me, I live here, in Paris, not under the palm trees! So hip hop, like reggae and dancehall, also works within that framework of activism. That's my thing!
Why did you choose the name Sir Samuel?
Simply to stand out! Because I wanted to keep a simple name at first. And then even though I'm not a Rasta, I've read the Bible and so there are also biblical reasons: Samuel is a preacher in the Bible! But I don't parade spirituality too much in my songs; I want to say that deliberately!
Your path then quickly led you to found the Saian with Leeroy Keziah among others... How did that period go?
There was a neighbourhood party in our town at the time... I hadn't seen Leeroy for three years! We bumped into each other in the street by chance; he told me he had recorded four tracks. I listened to them standing in the street. It was killer! We went straight to Studio Nomad where Dj Fun introduced us to OFX and Explicit Samourai! We all thought of putting together the strongest crew in the world...
After the huge success you had with the Saian, how did you decide to go solo?
In fact, when we signed the Saian, that was the aim of the crew. We wanted to arrive together with a style, a sound of our own as a group, so as to then bring out the different entities. We're all happier to see each of us progressing on our own side because that was the crew's first aim!
We've always agreed. Even in the making of the first Saian albums, each part of the songs was personal. Everyone could perform it with the style and writing they wanted! We don't rub off on each other. In the end, people can listen to a Saian song without liking the first verse because it's rapped, and prefer the second because it's sung... That's the spirit in which we worked with the Saian!
I believe, by the way, that you also keep working and keep good relations with the other members of the crew?
Yes! Well, Specta has moved away from the Saian but he's still with Leeroy in Explicit Samourai. They're releasing an album called “Rap” at the moment, by the way... But the Saian remains active as five, with Feniski, Sly, Vicelow and Leeroy! Since I finished recording my album, we've made four demos for the next Saian opus! We're moving along calmly... And then, if my album does well, I'll surely start on the second at the same time. I like having a good mass of work ahead of me!
Even though it has always been present on the reggae scene, the Saian has an audience more turned towards hip hop... Who is the solo album aimed at?
Through the Saian, I was already aiming at the reggae and sound system scene. I like the place I occupy. I don't like to say that I belong to the reggae movement or to the rap one: it lets me move towards both scenes without any prejudice. When I go to the sound systems, people know what I've done and it lets me lay my rap track in the sound. The venues always big up my work. And besides, at least I can afford to! Whereas if a reggae artist tries his hand at rap on a track, most of the time people will say he isn't genuine, that he's not in his vibe! I want to keep up my hybrid mode between hip hop and reggae, I feel at ease in the sounds too.
What is the message of the album?
In “Vize pli o'”, every single song is an anthem to positivity. Of course, I tackle difficult subjects, like in Bamboula, where I talk about my condition as a Black man in France. There's also Ce Pays, where I talk about the relations between the French government and the African governments: about what we're shown on television compared to what Africans endure! But whatever happens, all the messages are positive! It will allow you to “vize pli o”... “Vize pli o” is the theme of the album, every song could have been called that! And then, I wanted to show that I still had plenty in me, that I'm aiming higher! Now, I've moved on to something else, to another level: before, I only did eight-bar verses. Now, I had to write and lay down whole songs. I really gained confidence by making this album.
Have you kept the same record company?
Yes, it's Virgin, and BMG for publishing. I'm staying with them because they really let me spread my own wings. They let me do everything: from the artwork to the track-listing, right down to the actual content of my album!
So you were completely free in your choices?
As long as your messages are strong and well put, everything goes through without forcing! It's then up to you to get them across!
You are lucky to be one of the few artists on the scene in France to release a first album with the backing of a major...
Yes, I realise that, but then it's people who demonise the thing, when there's nothing to demonise... I mean that on my side, Virgin put me at ease: I made my music!
Admiral T, for example, went and re-signed with Universal and nobody reproached him for it...
It's different again for Admiral T: for him, the fight has changed! When he was bought by Universal, he did his track with Pearl, and there, he changed his guard! Me, my record is genuine from A to Z! At the start, I made the demos all by myself. It was when Virgin told me they'd loved it that everything began and they invested in the recording. Because they really loved it! On my side, I wanted to get into the studio, Virgin had the facilities, so it's only natural that I used them to develop. I only signed for one album: everything will then depend on its success. I remain free and at the same time, I can do serious work, with quality sound. In France, reggae lacks rigour, sound quality and comfort for the people who listen to our music... Virgin allowed me to move towards that comfort. People will be able to hear lyrics, a one-drop, a boggle... not “rubbish” polished up a bit so that it goes down easily!
Can you tell us what we'll find on the album?
The album is true to my singjay style: I sing and I toast, that's my thing! There are seven reggae tracks, six tracks with hip hop beats, and two dancehall, contrary to the wave of the moment. In fact, I've been in this scene for a long time and even though dancehall is performing well, hot... I think that on an album, you need to develop other sides. You have to go further than simply trying to entertain and dazzle the crowd. I think you have to find other feelings in the artist and in those who will listen. Dancehall is hard: the guys have crazy styles, flows that are way too fast... but in terms of messages, it's more hit and miss! For example, on my side, I prefer to showcase the image of women and worship them, rather than always talking about homosexuals. Even if I don't condone it, of course. The track Tout le monde rêve d'une femme is my way of saying it! That's how you can get your messages across.
Today, in dancehall, they all have the same way of saying things and I find that a bit reductive for a scene that has strong messages to pass on. That's also what rap gave me: rap, I live it before I sing it! That's why I make clear that I'm not a Rasta, because I don't want the reggae audience to have a bad impression of me. I'm a sincere man, who comes to offer his songs to his audience! There's no affiliation or anything of the sort!
On the album, there is also a song in tribute to my three-year-old daughter, on which my father came in on jazz guitar. It's close to my heart... Like Love, the track with Sugar Minott. Black a dit is a bit lighter, but it's one of my favourites too... It's a big up to the game “Simon says”... Anyway, the whole album is close to my heart! They are only songs that have a reason to exist in my view! They speak of love, respect, integrity, of good guys...
Can you tell us about your meeting with Sugar Minott?
It really happened on the vibe! He was in France and I was offered the chance to meet him. I went to the studio and we laid down a tune straight away. The next day, we did another one, and the day after that we recorded three tracks: one for his album, another for a compilation, and a last one that's on my album. He's a bit the trigger of my project. He explained things to me simply. In fact, it's the first track we recorded, and he showed me that working on an album could be simple! He reassured me a lot...
You also do a combination with Jocelyne Bérouard, of Kassav...
For this track, I had the chorus, “Vize pli o”, in my head, and I wondered how she would have written the rest of the song because I listened to a lot of Kassav when I was little. Then I wrote, but originally, it had nothing to do with this project: it was just an inspiration to get myself in the mood. Then I played the sound to Gyver, my producer, and he encouraged me to ask Jocelyne to come and lay down her voice. Me, I didn't believe in it at the time, but she came! She listened to the track... she liked it straight away! She told me she even found it hard to step away from my part... And that, personally, is magic... Jocelyne is the one who impressed me most. I watched her concerts when I was little, I went to see her at the Zénith, my mum also sings her songs... It was monstrous! Even if it's not really the same scene, she's a lady who has played concerts in New York, in China, in Japan, in Australia, in front of thousands of people! And what's remarkable is that despite all that, she was worried about whether her part was really good! She wanted us to call her back if we didn't like it! After so many years of career... respect: a great deal of professionalism.
And the others?
Straika, I'd done a tour of a few dates with him, Nuttea and Difanga. We became friends at that time... He is very well known in the roots and spiritual reggae world and I wanted to take him out of that a little by suggesting he lay down a hip hop beat, in Creole! At first, he was a bit reluctant, but in the end, he did a memorable sixteen bars on the track “Vampire” with Dadoo too! Djon is an effective rapper! He's Gyver's little brother: I wanted to big up him out of affection...
Perhaps you'd like to add something?
Vise pli o, gade pli loin, Sir Samuel o mic, Saian Supa Crew!!
Out in March 2005! Big up to everybody, I love you all... Big up!
Remerciements : Nadia
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