BY TYRONE S REID Observer staff writer reidt@jamaicaobserver.com Sunday, March 23, 2008
With scorching new music blazing the airwaves and several projects in the pipeline, the dancehall star sits down for a Sunday Entertainment exclusive to talk about staying relevant in the biz, his forthcoming album and why Tami is the only one for him.
What Wayne Marshall wants, he gets. A hot new music video ready for release. Check. A smart, healthy son. Check. A gorgeous woman by his side. Check. And when it comes to having a bigger, more successful career in the music industry, he's determined to make room for that too.
Wayne Marshall wants to be perceived as an artiste who's breaking new ground
For sure, Wayne Marshall is no stranger to hard work. Consider the breakneck pace at which he's been working lately, putting the finishing touches to his upcoming compilation album, True Story (set for an April release), and shooting new music videos. And don't even get me started on the numerous performances he's been doing during his recent tour of the Caribbean and at shows islandwide.
Ever the humble one, the 27-year-old father of one acknowledges that he's become a workaholic. But, of course, the results and the success are well worth it.
And he's not afraid to be himself despite persistent rumours about the romantic life he's leading with one of the hottest chicks in the dancehall game. Understandably, he's very private and protective of that side of his life. But, he will unabashedly tell you this: he's happy and crazy in love. And that's what matters.
In his most personal interview to date, Sunday Entertainment chatted with the artiste about making new music for the fans, love and relationships and why he's okay with fans dubbing him a sex symbol.
Sunday Entertainment (SE): Now that you're hard at work in the studio crafting new music for the fans. What are you most excited about? Wayne Marshall (WM): Right now for me, it's all about reinventing myself and discovering a new sound. I'm exploring my voice, getting to try new techniques, understanding these techniques and experimenting with new styles of delivery. So I'm excited about finding new ways of delivering my material and new styles of poetic expression.
SE: So what can fans expect as the year progresses? WM: Fans can expect a lot because we are planning to infiltrate the biz and looking forward to doing a lot more videos. We are trying to create a big bang for the summer. We have the Alliance album coming which we are currently working on, hopefully for a release in the last third of this year. Fans have a lot to look out for. There's so much going on. We really stepping up the game with a whole lot of Wayne Marshall vibes so people are going to feel the impact.
SE: Your debut album, Marshall Law, was released in 2003 and now you're gearing up to drop True Story, a compilation release featuring guest artistes. How much would you say you've grown as an artiste since your debut five years ago?
WM: I am a totally different person physically, emotionally, spiritually. I believe in being a different person this week from last week. And I think my experiences during the five years have helped to make me a better person and build my character.
SE: Having gone through numerous relationships in the past, do you pull from those experiences in crafting your music?
WM: Everything is thrown into the boiling pot. All my experiences: whether it's waking up in the morning or going through a bad relationship. All things in my life serve as inspiration. They give me a vibe whether I'm on the stage or in the studio. My experiences always influence how I express myself through music.
SE: What topics (and issues) appeal to you most to sing or deejay about?
WM: My music is about reality, real-life experiences: struggles, love, lust. Those issues. Mi a conscious yute from long time but dancehall is a hardcore business so you have to keep up that side of your career. My fans that have been supporting me are mostly hardcore and without having that hardcore element, it wouldn't be the same for me. You just have to try and do your best, always, to succeed.
SEt: That's understandable, Let's switch gears a bit and talk a bit about your romantic life. I hear you're in love and in a committed relationship at the moment.
WM: (Laughs) Yes, it's a committed relationship. It's under firm commitment. For now, it's a long distance kind of thing but you just have to take life in stages. There's a time for everything. A time to be together and a time to be apart. But there's no bigger love than this one.
SE: So, what makes her special in your eyes? WM: That would take up the whole Observer (Laughs). But she is special in every way; special talent, special personality. Everything is just great about her. She's the most beautiful girl in the world.
SE: I see. So, have you ever had your heart broken in past relationships? WM: Not broken, maybe cracked or chipped. In high school it was puppy love, so that happened quite often.
SE: Do you think your past emotional setbacks have impacted in any way on your subsequent romantic relationships? WM: I think they have only made me grow as a person and make me understand women more. The past has made me work harder to have better relationships in the future. It's all about the give and take.
SE: Will we ever hear another collaboration with you and Tami Chynn? WM: We have nuff collaborations with me and Miss Chynn coming up whether through music or otherwise. There's no ending. The world needs to look out for Tami because she is going to take it to them this year.
SE: We can't wait for all that. By the way, how has fatherhood been treating you? WM: It has definitely made me a more positive man, more focussed and more reliable because I am a direct role model for my son. He looks to me to be that influence and I want to be the best for him and that's what I've been doing. I love my son (Giomar, turns three in September). I adore him. When people see us together, they always tell me that I'm hooked.
SE: Speaking of being a role model, what do you hope fans will appreciate most about Wayne Marshall, the artiste, in the years to come? WM: I would say my humility because I am not one to let my experiences get the better of me. I want to keep grounded and I want people to see that. Money don't change us, we are money-changers.
SE: What do you think of fans dubbing you a sex symbol? WM: The way I see it is that the girls love my thing and I love the girls. And I am glad that they can appreciate the image that I bring across. My female fans always tell me that they admire my style and that I have that kind of appeal so, in that case, I guess I am (Laughs).
SE: Very interesting, indeed. I just have one final question: When all is said and done, how do you want to be truly perceived as an artiste? How do you want others to see you as you look to the future? WM: I want to be perceived as an artiste who breaks new ground. Someone who does new things in dancehall. I want to bring my thing globally. At the end of the day, I just want people to look at Wayne Marshall and see someone who is well-respected and who is respectful. I want to be a corner-post in the history books.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
With scorching new music blazing the airwaves and several projects in the pipeline, the dancehall star sits down for a Sunday Entertainment exclusive to talk about staying relevant in the biz, his forthcoming album and why Tami is the only one for him.
What Wayne Marshall wants, he gets. A hot new music video ready for release. Check. A smart, healthy son. Check. A gorgeous woman by his side. Check. And when it comes to having a bigger, more successful career in the music industry, he's determined to make room for that too.
For sure, Wayne Marshall is no stranger to hard work. Consider the breakneck pace at which he's been working lately, putting the finishing touches to his upcoming compilation album, True Story (set for an April release), and shooting new music videos. And don't even get me started on the numerous performances he's been doing during his recent tour of the Caribbean and at shows islandwide.
Ever the humble one, the 27-year-old father of one acknowledges that he's become a workaholic. But, of course, the results and the success are well worth it.
And he's not afraid to be himself despite persistent rumours about the romantic life he's leading with one of the hottest chicks in the dancehall game. Understandably, he's very private and protective of that side of his life. But, he will unabashedly tell you this: he's happy and crazy in love. And that's what matters.
In his most personal interview to date, Sunday Entertainment chatted with the artiste about making new music for the fans, love and relationships and why he's okay with fans dubbing him a sex symbol.
Sunday Entertainment (SE): Now that you're hard at work in the studio crafting new music for the fans. What are you most excited about?
Wayne Marshall (WM): Right now for me, it's all about reinventing myself and discovering a new sound. I'm exploring my voice, getting to try new techniques, understanding these techniques and experimenting with new styles of delivery. So I'm excited about finding new ways of delivering my material and new styles of poetic expression.
SE: So what can fans expect as the year progresses?
WM: Fans can expect a lot because we are planning to infiltrate the biz and looking forward to doing a lot more videos. We are trying to create a big bang for the summer. We have the Alliance album coming which we are currently working on, hopefully for a release in the last third of this year. Fans have a lot to look out for. There's so much going on. We really stepping up the game with a whole lot of Wayne Marshall vibes so people are going to feel the impact.
SE: Your debut album, Marshall Law, was released in 2003 and now you're gearing up to drop True Story, a compilation release featuring guest artistes. How much would you say you've grown as an artiste since your debut five years ago?
WM: I am a totally different person physically, emotionally, spiritually. I believe in being a different person this week from last week. And I think my experiences during the five years have helped to make me a better person and build my character.
SE: Having gone through numerous relationships in the past, do you pull from those experiences in crafting your music?
WM: Everything is thrown into the boiling pot. All my experiences: whether it's waking up in the morning or going through a bad relationship. All things in my life serve as inspiration. They give me a vibe whether I'm on the stage or in the studio. My experiences always influence how I express myself through music.
SE: What topics (and issues) appeal to you most to sing or deejay about?
WM: My music is about reality, real-life experiences: struggles, love, lust. Those issues. Mi a conscious yute from long time but dancehall is a hardcore business so you have to keep up that side of your career. My fans that have been supporting me are mostly hardcore and without having that hardcore element, it wouldn't be the same for me. You just have to try and do your best, always, to succeed.
SEt: That's understandable, Let's switch gears a bit and talk a bit about your romantic life. I hear you're in love and in a committed relationship at the moment.
WM: (Laughs) Yes, it's a committed relationship. It's under firm commitment. For now, it's a long distance kind of thing but you just have to take life in stages. There's a time for everything. A time to be together and a time to be apart. But there's no bigger love than this one.
SE: So, what makes her special in your eyes?
WM: That would take up the whole Observer (Laughs). But she is special in every way; special talent, special personality. Everything is just great about her. She's the most beautiful girl in the world.
SE: I see. So, have you ever had your heart broken in past relationships?
WM: Not broken, maybe cracked or chipped. In high school it was puppy love, so that happened quite often.
SE: Do you think your past emotional setbacks have impacted in any way on your subsequent romantic relationships?
WM: I think they have only made me grow as a person and make me understand women more. The past has made me work harder to have better relationships in the future. It's all about the give and take.
SE: Will we ever hear another collaboration with you and Tami Chynn?
WM: We have nuff collaborations with me and Miss Chynn coming up whether through music or otherwise. There's no ending. The world needs to look out for Tami because she is going to take it to them this year.
SE: We can't wait for all that. By the way, how has fatherhood been treating you?
WM: It has definitely made me a more positive man, more focussed and more reliable because I am a direct role model for my son. He looks to me to be that influence and I want to be the best for him and that's what I've been doing. I love my son (Giomar, turns three in September). I adore him. When people see us together, they always tell me that I'm hooked.
SE: Speaking of being a role model, what do you hope fans will appreciate most about Wayne Marshall, the artiste, in the years to come?
WM: I would say my humility because I am not one to let my experiences get the better of me. I want to keep grounded and I want people to see that. Money don't change us, we are money-changers.
SE: What do you think of fans dubbing you a sex symbol?
WM: The way I see it is that the girls love my thing and I love the girls. And I am glad that they can appreciate the image that I bring across. My female fans always tell me that they admire my style and that I have that kind of appeal so, in that case, I guess I am (Laughs).
SE: Very interesting, indeed. I just have one final question: When all is said and done, how do you want to be truly perceived as an artiste? How do you want others to see you as you look to the future?
WM: I want to be perceived as an artiste who breaks new ground. Someone who does new things in dancehall. I want to bring my thing globally. At the end of the day, I just want people to look at Wayne Marshall and see someone who is well-respected and who is respectful. I want to be a corner-post in the history books.