LMS, Laza Myriam and Shy Poo, proved themselves on stage not long ago, alongside their big brothers Morgan Heritage. Their performance went down better than that of their elders, who literally made the boards of La Cigale shake. Although their album "Reality Check" has often been criticised for its lack of originality compared with Morgan Heritage's earlier albums, LMS will surely find their own voices before long, and prove that they are as good as the rest of the family, if not better.
Could you tell us about your first steps in music?
LMS Shy-Poo - We started when we were small children, but it was only from 1992 that we really committed ourselves professionally to music. We were signed by MCA Records as we came off stage at Reggae Sunsplash 92, with Morgan Heritage. We had already made an album for MCA Records beforehand, which never saw the light of day, for reasons I don't know. After that, we honed our musical skills, Miriam developed her singing, because in 1992 she was only a dancer for the Dreads (the former name of LMS). The Dreads were made up of just Laza and me. The LMS group really emerged in 1997, when our father Denroy Morgan realised that we had potential singing all three together.
The name LMS was coined by our brother Lucks, who is Morgan Heritage's guitarist, and it matches the initials of our respective first names: L for Laza, M for Miriam and S for Shy-Poo.
The name LMS was coined by our brother Lucks, who is Morgan Heritage's guitarist, and it matches the initials of our respective first names: L for Laza, M for Miriam and S for Shy-Poo.
What were your influences?
LMS Shy-Poo - There were many influences because we listened to R 'n' B, pop, rock, hip-hop and reggae. Personally, I listened to Stevie Wonder and the Jackson Five.
Miriam - Me, I listened mainly to Whitney Houston, I liked Lauryn Hill or Mary J Blige, but my first influence came from my father, because when we were little we watched him rehearse with his band, The Black Eagles, until he started a solo career under the name Denroy Morgan.
Miriam - Me, I listened mainly to Whitney Houston, I liked Lauryn Hill or Mary J Blige, but my first influence came from my father, because when we were little we watched him rehearse with his band, The Black Eagles, until he started a solo career under the name Denroy Morgan.
Morgan Heritage are now giving LMS a bit more room, aren't they?
LMS Morgan Heritage are the foundation, they are the "big ship", we have just made our entrance.
Can you tell us more about your latest album "Reality Check"?
LMS Shy-Poo - We put forward all the harsh realities of this world. Having lived in Brooklyn, we saw many of our loved ones die because of violent and stupid acts, such as guns or drugs, and that is what we wanted to express in "Wicked Man Slaughter". Our more spiritual tunes such as "roddin" are dedicated to the Rasta community.
Why isn't your album 100% reggae and dancehall?
LMS Shy-Poo - The sound you hear on "Reality Check" is what comes out naturally from LMS. Morgan Heritage represent roots reggae. We are a bit of a new wave with other influences. Lasa: what we give in our music is a part of us.