Gyptian

Gyptian (He exclaims.) Yes man! It's like my second home. I always feel welcome here. The environment is pleasant, it's beautiful.

Gyptian Hold You is a song for the girls to enjoy themselves, to dance, party, have a good time. Just to not take the head too seriously, and relax the body.

Gyptian Not really a turning point, more a step forward.

Gyptian No. It just proves that Gyptian is very versatile, and that he uses that versatility.

Gyptian No, it goes further than that. Gyptian's shows are very energetic, they're for everyone, boys and girls alike. You hear the girls more, but there's no harm in that, is there? (He smiles) No, not at all!

Gyptian Because they like my voice, my style, my "swagg". That's how it is.

Gyptian It's a roots-rock-reggae style album. Everybody can dance to it, make love to it, relax their mind listening to it, go on a journey listening to it. It's a universal album. Like a fruit punch: a bit of this, a bit of that, a bit of spice.

Gyptian To put reggae back in the place it used to occupy. Bob Marley took it to a high dimension and nobody has done it since. Sean Paul and Shaggy are the only ones who have. That's my goal, in a way.

Gyptian A bit of every style: hip-hop, R&B, blues, jazz… I listened to every style, because I found meaning in each of them. Music in itself has no hold on me, it doesn't control me. I just have to accept it for what it is and turn towards its vibrations.

Gyptian I felt that singing was relaxing. I was lucky to do something different from the others, it was the right path.

Gyptian (He smiles, and starts to sing). "Happy way-ay-ay." I didn't even know how to sing it… My first song on stage was Old Anna. Then there was this one (He sings again): "From the very first time, that I saw you girl…" Those were the songs I sang all the time. Then I started writing my own songs. I listened to Bob Marley, and I sang really easy songs to write. You have to sing things that people hope for, or look forward to.

Gyptian First, my father got me into the dance. He had a sound system in Barbican. Several artists come from there: Cutty Ranks is from there, Burro Banton… Others come from that place, but I don't remember their names.

Gyptian No! I am Jamaica. Wherever I go, it's Jamaica, because I'm there.

Gyptian Actually I didn't choose it. It comes from those moments sitting around, talking about things. They were trying to find names for me. They saw my head like that and said to me: "you look like an Egyptian." We went to the studio, we played straight away. And the name spread, even in my family. That's how it started.

Gyptian Yes, because it's known by everyone.

Gyptian It's beyond you and me, because it's a federal investigation. But I hope he'll be able to get back to music very soon, because people need it. He's "my" artist, but for me, he's a musician, that's all. I have nothing else to say about what's happening to him, because it's not my business. He's my artist and he should be out soon.

Gyptian Yes man!! Usain Bolt is the fastest man in the world. I wonder how many more races he's going to win!

Gyptian (Serious). If I hadn't sung, I would have protected people… Or I'd surely have robbed them! (He laughs.) But anyway today I sing, so all is well. I thank life.

Gyptian Auto-tune is just making the music prettier. It's a new technology they're trying to improvise into music. But when a singer comes on stage, that's generally where the problems arise… You have to know how to use it.

Gyptian No, not really. During recording, they put a bit on to embellish. On stage, it's more or less the same.

Gyptian Serious Times, because it's the first one that blew up. I had to write it, so much was going on in Jamaica at the time.

Gyptian Afraid? No, I'm not afraid: I'm fearless. Of course I have faith in my country, because I'm from there, I represent that country, I was born there. I love everything about Jamaica: the freedom, the way of life… Sometimes it can be very hostile, but there are plenty of loving people to meet. It's a wonderful place, people just want to have fun.

Gyptian It wasn't like that in their day. But everyone has to face their own Judgement. I have to protect mine. I'm just sad that they deserve better and aren't getting it. I know what I'm worth and I'm "priceless". So I don't even think money can buy me. Nobody can judge me or tell me what I deserve. I know what I'm due. Almost everyone in life goes through different stages or different paths and makes their own decisions. I know that what was going on back then wasn't right, but it served as an example to us. That's what we're trying to do now: follow those examples.