Ma$tamind Speaks:
Mastermind: a person who supplies the directing or creative intelligence for a project. Maybe that definition is not enough. Well!,go back in your CD collection. Shurwayne, Machel, Bunji,and Lyrikal all stopped by to see him for the hits. Chances are you have wined, got wet, and jumped up to one of his songs.
The Ma$tamind of Soca speaks!
How did the idea for Mastamind music production come about?
I started producing towards the end of 2004. Natasha was the brains behind putting the company together. She managed a lot of artist so the natural progression was to start the production company. The company was formed in 2005.
How did you get started in music and what are some of the instruments that you play?Well, my father started a guitar class. After much fussing and begging on my part he allowed me to play. From there, I learned to play other instruments like the keyboard. I played in school and church.
What is the difference between playing instruments and producing a song?
It is like being able to paint a picture or cooking a meal. When producing, I have to bring everything together. The entire picture is made up of different parts. By bringing it together you have a unique piece of art.
What is the vibes like in the studio when Ma$tamind is doing his thing?
I am alone most of the time. I sometimes go down a road and just get in the zone.
What helps you to get into this process?
I just do music and it comes out naturally. Sometimes the type of occasion may help. For example, around Christmas we play parang.
Could you describe for readers what Parang music is?
It is Spanish lyrics with Christmas twist. Started in Venezuela.
Are you an artist as well?
I did one song for fun. I am not sure if I will pursue that. I like to have fun with it though.
I heard the song you recorded called “I produce this”. It sounds good. You might have to go down that lane. (Laughs) What is it like working with Bunji and Tallpree and the slew of other artist that you worked with?
It was cool because I was a part of Bunji’s band Asylum. I started working with him on “warrior cry.” I worked with Tallpree a couple times. It was very good.
The missing files project is out now. Tell us about this CD.
16 Tracks. Tallpree, Squeely Dan, Fyre Kamikaze, Nadia Batson, De Postman, Ms Alysha and few others.
Where can people get the album?
It can be downloaded on Napster, Itunes, and emusic.
How do you feel about the way technology is changing the way music is distributed?
We can reach a wider audience. Natasha can send out a track to people all over the world. In some cases, it is used for piracy but still the benefits are great.
Piracy is a problem for Caribbean music. Do you think that going digital and selling one song at a time may cut down on that?
It helps when a person can purchase the song they like. When people look for an album that they cannot find they will go to the bootleggers to get it.
Do you think that Soca music has crossover appeal?
I guess there is some stuff that could make it over to the US market. We don’t want to loose the essence of our music. We have to push our music with a lot more know how and professionalism.
Do you want to bring people over to Soca music instead?
I would like to strike a balance between the two extremes.
Do you encourage artist to do music that will last beyond Carnival?
We encourage all our artist to do songs that will last. For way too long we have been putting our music on the shelf after Carnival. It is ridiculous! I wish we would not do that. The creative juices of the artist and producers also get drained. It is harder to keep coming out with music that will live a full life.
What do you think is lacking right now or maybe artist can be better at?
More knowledge of the business, recording, and touring.
How does it feel to be taking your destiny in your own hands?
It is a dream comes true. It is great to be able to do what I love and meet some really great people doing it.
Anything else for DancehallSoca.com land?
Link with us
www.myspace.com/mastamindproductionmusic