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| Welcome to Antiguan Musicians |
Interview with El-A-Kru
Answered by Mr. Rohan Hector
Date: October 14, 2002
A.M: What are the band member names, nicknames, and which instrument do they play, or who does vocals? Glenroy "BYKE" Joseph (lead vocals)
Tanzania "TIZZY" Sebastian (lead vocals)
Junior "JUNIOR G" Stanislaus (lead vocals)
Glenroy "ZAMBA" Richards (Guitar, vocals)
Samuel "RAM" Kirby (Drums)
Everton "OSSIE" Benjamin (Bass)
Rohan "SYLKY" Hector (Keyboards)
A.M: How did El A Kru start, and were your efforts supported? The Band began back when I returned home from living in the USA for a couple of years. We got good support from a number of persons the business community, as well as our parents.
A.M: What are El A Kru's goals for the future? (will you be a long term basis band also)? We intend to make good music for a long time. To reach out and touch as many people as the music can touch. To take Soca Music to all corners of the earth. We have already been together for over ten years, so there is no reason to stop now. We've come too far.
A.M: What does everybody do outside of being just El A Kru? (if you have other jobs or other projects) All of the members are dedicated musicians. We are committed to being professionals in our industry.
A.M: What is the Ball to Ball tour for El A Kru from this point to next year? We just returned from St. Kitts last week. We go on to St. Vincent the weekend of the 19th then we perform in Trinidad at Mas Camp Pub on the 11th of November. To Barbados at the After Dark on the 19th of November. We then go to St. Thomas, Tortola, Nevis and St. Maarten to end the year. Then its Trinidad carnival from the end of January till March. Thats all that we have for now. Oh, St. Kitts Music Festival in June next Year.
A.M: What are some of the funniest moments of being El A Kru? I will tell you of one. In 2000 we were performing in Dominica for their Carnival when Byke accidentally fell off the stage. He missed the edge of the stage due to the lighting that was placed at the foot of the stage, and walked straight off it. Luckily he was caught by the fans right below him. That was funny.
A.M: What are some of the most disappointing moments? Most disappointing would have to be not winning the road-march title with Lethal Batty. We knew we had won it and the public knew we won it too. So much so that when the winner was announced there was a loud chorus of boos across the Antigua Recreation Grounds. It was incredible. (Note: I believe "Sweet Song" by Burning Flames won that year - 1998)
A.M: Speaking of it, how did the song "Lethal Batty" expand El A Kru's career other than hitting international status as a soca band? It expanded our focus and our view of just how far this music can take us. The song was a major hit is all of the biggest soca markets. Trinidad, Barbados, New York , Miami, London, Canada you name it. We had dreamed about it before that, but Lethal Batty realized all of our dreams for us. Suddenly we were a household name in the Caribbean.
A.M: This year's album entitled "Soca Paramedics To The Rescue" features two very popular songs among Antiguans (Six & Half A Dozen and Man Fi Get Horn). The themes of both songs are a little similar. What was the inspirational theme behind both? Both songs were written by Zamba, the guitarist. The two songs are just extremely honest. Man Fi Get Horn speaks to the man that ignores his mates needs, and Six & Half A Dozen speaks to both sexes about placing blame. "Man Bad Woman Bad- Six & Half A Dozen ah the same thing."
A.M: Speaking of music, how do you think soca music has changed over the years? Do you think it was for the better or for the worse? I think change is always good. Some change is bad, but necessary in defining what is the way forward and the way backward. Soca has now become a truly diverse music. You see the current influence of Dance-hall and Hip-Hop as well as R&B in the music. The traditional form of Calypso and Social Commentaries are still a fixture, but it has been replaced as the most popular form of the genre. To me the diversity is essential as we move forward to make this beautiful expression part of the world stage.
A.M: How do you feel El A Kru has contributed to soca music in whole? Our contribution can truly be measured here at home where we have re-defined performance and commitment to being professional entertainers. We have also paved a way for bands to understand the importance of staying together as a group and as a family.
A.M: Who or what do you see as the biggest challenge to El A Kru? Our biggest challenge will be the keeping up with the ever-changing and fast changing new Soca Music. Living in such a small market like Antigua and keeping pace with the bigger territories is a huge hurdle. The bigger markets have wider and more defined structures in place to market and distribute their music, and more importantly their culture. Unfortunately, bands like us and others are left to handle all aspescts of marketing, management, promotions, manufacturing, recording, production. Perhaps more credit should be given to bands from the smaller territories for this huge task.
A.M: What do you love most about being together as El A Kru the band? What about El A Kru the people? The fact that we allow each other to be ourselves and not interfere with each others lives. We respect ourselves and therefore respect the next man and woman. I love our dedication to excellence. Our quest for knowledge. Anything we don't know we are not afraid to ask and certainly not afraid to fail. For true success comes with understanding how to fail as well as how to succeed. You must know failure to really appreciate success.
A.M: What problems has El A Kru faced recently? The most recent difficulty that we had to face was being stuck in Miami on and after 9/11 last year. We had to wait a couple of weeks before we could get out and back home. It was truly an adventure.
A.M: Also, on another note, I as well as many other visit El A Kru's website constantly, but it has been down for a while. Any idea on when it will be back up? We are doing a totally new page with more updates and much better links. It will also be more informative and up to date with Kru tours and performances.
A.M: And finally, is there anything you would like to say to your fans, critics, and fellow Antiguan bands as well as soca bands across the caribbean? To the fans I would like to say thanx, for all the years of support and confidence you have had in our product. To critics we say do your thing. When you criticize we listen and trust me, it makes us alot better, and that my friend is scary. To fellow Antiguan bands we would just say make sure we know which fight is the right fight. Lets be more aware of the need to network. Pass the knowledge on and take of generations that have to follow us. Nothing lasts forever and no man is an island. Believe that. To soca fans all across the Caribbean we say look out. The Kru is coming.
A.M: Thank you for your time and patience, your answers, music, and generosity is very greatly appreciated by myself and all your fans around the world.
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