Interviewed by Maya Trotz for jouvay.com.
October, 2006.
Shurwayne Winchester
Miami, 2006
Crafting jewelry is a
delicate, but rewarding job--turning a lump of raw metal into
a refined, work of coveted, wearable art. But, gold jeweller Shurwayne
Winchester found that crafting another delicacy brought him greater
pleasure and international fame. His new craft? Crafting songs.
Soca songs, to be exact. Shurwayne, who calims to "work, sleep,
eat, and dream the artform" was the Trinidad roadmarch king
for two successive years (2004 and 2005). His songs, "Look de Band
Coming" and "Dead or Alive", were anthems at every West Indian
carnival. Earlier this year he won the Groovy Soca Monarch and
the Soca Monarch and recently copped the COTT Song of the Year,
Songwriter of the Year, and Groovy Soca song of the year
awards. He spoke to Jouvay.com about his music and his plans for
carnival, music videos and Caribbean collaborations.
Jouvay.com:We are here with Shurwayne
Winchester. You know how long jouvay.com's been trying to do
this interview. Where do we start?
Shurwayne Winchester: We
are just relaxing here in Miami. Today is the carnival. Giving
you all of the information that you need so any question you have
in mind just ask.
JC: And you are going to Broward
today.
SW:
Yep. We have the carnival and Caribbean Traffik Jam will be there.
Yours truly Shurwayne Winchester will be there. And we'll start
the Hey hey hey hey.
JC: Actually, in NY you all really
mashed up the place with Sesame Flyers this year.
SW: It's been a great
carnival from Trindad this year. On the road, wow, marvelous.
Congrats to Sesame Flyers. Nine years now winning straight.
JC: That's like you and the roadmarch.
SW: Just giving thanks. Just ask
anything you want to know.
JC: How did you start singing.
SW:
OK. I told so many people this in interviews. (Very true,
we asked in 2004 at the Toronto Fall Fete.. Listen to that interview
now
).
JC: Ok, let's start somewhere else.
SW: No,
No. I started as a result of poverty. Nuclear family, mom dad,
brothers Derrick and Linden. I am the last one and my dad lost
his job. And singing was a means of getting an income and getting
myself through my education. Since it did so much for me then,
I decided why don't I give it my all. I was a jeweller. I decided
to give that up and put my eggs into this. If I did not do well
with the composing and my peformance then there would be no income
and with God's blessings and your support it has worked out. This
is all that I do. I work, sleep, eat, and dream the artform. Hopefully
I can repay you guys by giving making a meaningful contribution
and taking the music more international.
JC: You are making a meaningful
contribution already. When you say an international scene do you
mean changing your music style or just doing what you are doing
now?
SW:
The music will change. It has to evolve. Now you are seeing albums
not selling as before. People are downloading. That's a change
so you have to go with the market. On that side I am talking about
experimenting. Making the music more flexible. As we all know,
dub came from reggae. Soca, emerged from calypso and we don't
say that all the time. I don't want to change all of the elements.
I just want to make some changes to make it more easy for them
to catch. Then you give them 100% of what it is: calypso, steelband,
soca, limbo.
JC: You actually did the tune with
Calpyso Rose this year (Tempo).
SW:
Marvelous and I must big up Mr. Bernard and Calypso Rose. I also
have to big up King Austin. I did not get a chance to give all
respects. I had a chance to work with Calypso Rose and Sparrow.
See I am wearing his T-shirt.
JC: I know. Who is your main producer
this year?
SW:
Alot of changes. I am working all over. I worked with Shawn Noel,
blessings to you big man. Peter Coppin out of Barbados....
JC: Peter Coppinnnnnn. He was the
last person I interviewed.
SW:
I am now doing some stuff with Diva, KC from Trinidad and Mark
of Trendsetters. Some changes with me. I am experimenting because
I want the sound of my album to change to a certain extent.
JC: You write your stuff and I know
you are very involved with the production side.
SW: Most
of my fast songs were done with Neil Bernard.
JC: My heart.
SW: Exactly and I did
some songs with Mark from Trendsetters.
JC: This year you teamed up with Edwin Yearwood.
SW: Oh yes, Edwin Yearwood and from
Grenada, Sheldon Douglas. As I said you are spreading your wings.
Working with Edwin...that guy is different.
JC: That's a Peter Coppin production.
SW: The vibe is nice. They work totally
different to us and the vibe is nice. That vibe was done after the
show. Went to the studio with my laptop and recorded it. Sheldon
Douglas from Grenada also, keep up the good work. He has a song
called Wine and he is doing good also. It's going to be a very interesting
year.
JC: Who are you thinking of teaming up with this
year?
SW: Some of the names I just called.
I have some surprises sooo. Don't think that I am going to go all
international. They have some artistes right here. Look out for
some new stuff. Thank you guys for all of the support.
JC: Always, we're not done. You can find everything
on your site which is shurwaynewinchester.com.
SW: See why I love her. www.shurwaynewinchester.com.
Ah, Evolution. The concept evolution featuring yours truly. My little
idea and it is doing well. It was held first in Grenada last year
and then St. Lucia. This December we will be taking it to.........Think
of all of the songs from "wine down low ", "I dream
I am the hickey on your neck, I dream I am the T-shirt on your chest,
I dream I am the gold keeper of your goal, I dream I wet your garden
with my hose. I make you ball, I make you scream. I wish you would
get outta my dreams. " All of the songs and all of the hits.
Some of my friends will be on the concert.
JC: You don't sing alot of those songs at the
shows.
SW: In the band they give you some
time restraints. As much as you want to do most of your songs, you
have to do the hits the people want to hear. Traffik migt be one
of the last bands doing that. I see no problem with the other bands
wanting to just do their repertoire because if you go to an international
concert, you won't hear Sting singing someone else's stuff. That
change has not come as yet in this market.
JC: Not on the road in NY though. That was all
your stuff. You were one of the only (Trini) bands on the road.
SW: It's a hard job. Check the industry,
there is no other artform with an artist doing that. The thought
of not having a live band on the road is scary. When I was not as
knowledgeable, I thought, a live band, dem kill de vibe. I wanted
a DJ. But, when you experience a live band nothing can touch that
interaction between the band and the masquerader. I am hoping that
even though they are making changes, they retain the live bands
with a DJ playing somewhat in between.
JC: And you always do a live band in Trinidad right?
SW: Yes, with Legacy. If you have not
done so go and get your costume.
JC: We want to thank you because when they had the floods in Guyana
last January you did a nice drop.
SW: Yes. I have to big up Neil Bernard
for spearheading that. I have to big up jouvay. I hope it helped.
SW: Let me make my endorsement right
now. For all the facts, all the hits, all that you need to know
reagarding Shurwayne Winchester, stay on jouvay.com.
JC: Thank you so much.
SW: Nuff love and respect to you guys.
Oh no no no, don't stop giving it to me.
Jouvay.com they are so irie
It's time to go, bye bye baby!!!
