Here is an exclusive interview with Sedale from St. Lucia, courtesy of the squad over at islandtempo.com. According to Sedale, "I think there's a lot of talent in the other countries besides Trinidad and Tobago; however, they don’t get as much exposure. I think the industry will be a little more balanced in the years to come." A free download of Roll Deep by Sedale is at the end of the article.
ISLAND TEMPO: Have you always been into music?SEDALE: Yes, definitely!!! From the age of 12 I began playing the piano, which lasted for roughly 5 years. In addition to that, my friends and I would record songs on my computer for fun; however, it wasn't until 2003 when I really started to take the whole music thing seriously. I began to DJ in Brooklyn with 2 of my friends; we formed a sound system named, “Infrared Sounds.” During that time I would write songs, but I wasn't too serious about it until late 2006 when I wrote “Roll deep.”
ISLAND TEMPO: What does “Roll deep” mean?
SEDALE: Well the term ‘roll deep’ is a phrase my friends and I would use in St. Lucia. It has different meanings depending on how you use it. In the hip hop culture it means that you are moving together in a large crowd.
The equivalent to the "roll deep, don't sleep" phrase in American slang would be saying, "don't slip." For instance, if a girl was to walk by, one person would say "roll deep, doh sleep on that girl."
(Laughing)
I ‘dunno’ if that makes sense to you.
ISLAND TEMPO: (Laughing)
It makes sense to me.
Let’s take a minute to talk about St. Lucia. What was it like for you growing up there?
SEDALE: St Lucia is a paradise. My life was good down there. All of my friends as well as my parents still live there. Although I live in New York, I go back to St. Lucia every year; whether it is for carnival or Christmas vacation.
ISLAND TEMPO: Do you currently live on your own?
SEDALE: Mommy said to never tell people when you’re home alone. (Laughing)
No I don’t live on my own.
ISLAND TEMPO: (Laughing)
How long have you been away from your home St. Lucia, and what prompted you to leave your ‘paradise?’
SEDALE: Well I’ve been living in America for 4 years. I left St. Lucia to pursue a degree in business administration, which is what I am currently doing.
ISLAND TEMPO: Was it a hard transition for you, adjusting to a new culture?
SEDALE: Well yes and no. Yes because I had to leave St. Lucia, the place where I was born and raised. I missed my family, my friends and the laid back lifestyle of the island. No because, throughout the years I would always travel to America; I was familiar with the lifestyle even before I moved there.
ISLAND TEMPO: Do you have any siblings?
SEDALE: Yes, an older sister who is 26.
ISLAND TEMPO: How close are you with your family?
SEDALE: (Laughing)
But what does this have to do with soca?
(Laughing)
Nah I'm just playing. We're a pretty close family.
ISLAND TEMPO: (Laughing)
Ok, back to soca. You previously mentioned being part of a sound system.
Is that still in existence today?
SEDALE: Yes it is. We have members in New York, Atlanta, and St. Lucia
ISLAND TEMPO: Care to share who the members are, and how you guys came together?
SEDALE: Well, it started out in St. Lucia my final year of secondary school. We began djing at our school parties, but things really started picking up when 3 of us moved to New York.
The members are: Mighty Papa, Patsa, Dj Anwar, Conroy, Rudy Pooh and I.
ISLAND TEMPO: How has your role in this affected your soca career?
SEDALE: Well honestly the whole djing thing has taken the back seat ever since the emergence of my soca career, but I am still a dj at heart, I love doing it.
ISLAND TEMPO: Being St. Lucian living in Brooklyn, it's no secret that the soca scene is heavily one sided. How do you plan on getting your music heard throughout New York?
SEDALE: I plan on utilizing the internet, radio, parties, stage shows, even singing for people on the street if I have to. (Laughs)
ISLAND TEMPO: Is there anything you would like to see change in soca?
SEDALE: Well like you said earlier about the industry being one side; I think there's a lot of talent in the other countries besides Trinidad and Tobago; however, they don’t get as much exposure. I think the industry will be a little more balanced in the years to come.
ISLAND TEMPO: What would you change about Lucian soca?
SEDALE: The international appeal of our songs; I think a lot of our songs are written in a way on St. Lucians can understand. Our artistes need to write songs that anyone from any island can understand and relate to. I think this year St .Lucian soca took a major step forward in that field.
ISLAND TEMPO: I would have to agree with you. St. Lucia has been moving in the right direction. For two consecutive years, St. Lucia has produced the most popular soca rhythms for that year.
SEDALE: Yup, you are right.
ISLAND TEMPO: Do you believe you deserve a spot in soca? If yes, please specify why.
SEDALE: Yes I think I do. I say that because I have a deep love and passion for the music. I want to use soca music as a way to spread a positive message while at the same time giving people something that they can be entertained by. To me it’s all about bringing people together to have fun.
ISLAND TEMPO: Now we've talked on several occasions, and each time you appear as a very humble individual... laid back, open and friendly. How would you describe your personality?
SEDALE: You pretty much covered it; I’m everything you just said. I’m very easy to talk to and I enjoy making people laugh. I was the clown of my class in secondary school; I got in a lot of trouble for that. (Lauging). Big up St.Mary's College.
ISLAND TEMPO: You ever get ‘lix’ in school?
SEDALE: (Laughing) Of course.
ISLAND TEMPO: Just a few more questions... 2007, roll deep. Who worked with you on this track?
SEDALE: The track was produced by Shawn "Mastamind" Noel of Mastamind productions.
ISLAND TEMPO: How did you team up with Shawn? He is fantastic producer. He’s the one who produced Shurwayne's mega hit, “Don't stop.”
SEDALE: A friend of mine knew his wife who is the manager of the production company, he gave me her number and I called her to arrange a meeting with her. At the meeting I sang the song for them and from there things took off.
ISLAND TEMPO: Who and what influences you?
SEDALE: I was influenced by all genres of music, from country and western to hip hop to dancehall. I listen to everything and everybody; I believe everyone has something to say. But my main influences would have to be Machel Montano, Bunji Garlin, The Mighty Sparrow, Herb black, The Mighty Pelay.
(D laughs at the country comment)
SEDALE: The country singers are very good story tellers. I actually tell a story in one of my songs "Doh tie me up" which you are familiar with…
ISLAND TEMPO: Yes, it’s a great track. When do you plan on releasing this track?
SEDALE: I plan on releasing it soon for the St. Lucia carnival season.
ISLAND TEMPO: Have you heard yourself on the radio?
SEDALE: Yeah I did, the first time I heard myself was on a ‘bashment radio’ in New York; it was a great feeling.
ISLAND TEMPO: Are you ready for success, and will being in the spot light change you as a person?
SEDALE: Well with god's blessings I hope to be successful. As far as changing I doubt that. A lot of people expected me to change because I live in New York but they were surprised that I didn't. I still drink my milo and tea.
(We both laugh and joke)
ISLAND TEMPO: Two more questions... where do you see yourself in 3 yrs, not 5... 3?
SEDALE: St. Lucia’s Soca Monarch winner and Road March winner; as of right now those are my goals. I would also like to be regionally known, performing in America and the Caribbean.
ISLAND TEMPO: One last question... 15 people you can thank. Who would they be and why?
SEDALE: God first of all, Kristelle, Claude, Shawn and Natasha Noel, Migeul Joseph, Jennifer, Dylan, Joseph, Irvin Springer, Nathan, my Aunt Gifta, Rhia and Shane. All these people encouraged me to try the whole soca thing, I wasn't sure about doing it but they all believed in me and here I am now.
ISLAND TEMPO: Well I know you're going to do big things, it's only a matter of time. You have not only the backing of me, but the whole of islandtempo.com as well.
The interview ends with Sedale bigging up his people:
Big up to La Clery, Gros Islet, Reduit Park, Rodney Heights, the whole Lucian and Antiguan Massive, Islandlyme.com, Ronnie Blaze the president, Infrared sounds and the whole West Indian Massive.
Download Roll Deep by Sedale for St. Lucia Carnival 2007.
