Why Skarpyon?

The name came in the early 90’s.  I was about to enter junior Calypso competition, when my teacher asked me what name I wanted to use.  I was fascinated by the movie Red Scorpion so I called myself Red Scorpion.  I later change it to a different spelling and drop the Red when I started doing music professionally.

You are from St. Vincent and the Grenadines. What part of St.Vincent are you from?

I am from the food basket of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.  The reason they call it the food basket it is because it is the land where Farming is prevalent.  A lot of yam, vegetables, any vegetables you can think about. 

They Farm everything!

MarcoValley, I am from Riley.  They call it Little London.

How has music influenced your life growing up?

Any youngster may sing when they are young, most of them do not know what will happen in the future. For me, I started off writing poems.  I did not know exactly where I was heading with that.  My teachers were the ones who encouraged me.  I have a song last year called the journey, talking about my music from I was young.

How did you develop your writing and singing skills?

I try not to think about my songs.  When I was young, songs just came to me but I never recorded anything.  Later on it became something natural.  Someone bought a recorder for me and still have it from 1990. 

What was your first recording?

A song called “Loosen Up”; I did a video as well.  I went into National Youth Band and started to work for money.  I joined the biggest band in St. Vincent.

What is the name of the Band?

Black Sand.  It is now called Hot Sand.

Where are some of the places you performed outside of St. Vincent?

I performed through out the Caribbean and Europe.

What songs do you think people will most likely know you by?

In St. Vincent, Looking fine, leave me alone, turn the lights down low.  There is a lot of song people know and love.  That is a good thing.

You do a variety of music!

Yes, I listen to a wide range of music.  I try to keep it Caribbean.  My Ragga Soca has influence from R & B.  My music is evolving to create a sound that represents the Caribbean internationally.

It terms of the content of the music.  Do you find that the music is lasting longer?

There is a lot of short term music. In one way, it creates hype.  I don’t think I am an artist like that.  When I am gone, I want my songs to continue to be popular.

Where will Skarpyon be in 10 years?

I am working towards pushing myself as a person who lives up to the vision of what I set up to be.  I want to be an example for upcoming artist.

Thank you Skarpyon for chatting with DancehallSoca.com

Thank you, Bless.