Oh bacchanal… I ready for eeeeeet!!!
From this opening refrain to the emphatic chorus statement, “I’z ah bacchanalist”, audiences everywhere can’t help but to be captivated and energised by the unique voice, flow and delivery of Toronto-based producer, singer, songwriter, Kerwin DuBois. While his single “Bacchanalist” voiced on the Antilles Riddim has risen to the forefront, it’s his production and songwriting credits that are most enviable.
From Destra’s “Baddist” to Bunji’s “Runaway”, Patrice’s “I am Soca”, Kes’ “Wotless” and “Ah Ting” of 2011, along with Machel’s “Illegal”, Farmer Nappy’s “Pavement”, “Breathless” by Blaxx, all the way back to Shal’s “Gyal Farm” in 2008 and beyond, DuBois has infiltrated and infected the masses with his signature sound and bubby production values.
“Carnival 2012 so far has been a balanced, vibrant year for all who have been contributing to the art,” he opined. “Yet again, the Groovy songs have completely dominated the atmosphere so I expect a great season for myself and a great season of fun and good times for all the true lovers and supporters of soca music. The fetes and the mas will definitely be memorable for each and every one in 2012.”
With such a formidable repertoire, we had to ask him what inspires his creative process.
“The environment in general and my immediate surroundings inspire me,” he revealed. “Time and place is very important in the initial creative writing stages. Ideas are formulated through serenity and vision and then everything else falls into place. Sometimes one element comes before the next depending upon my mood at the time. Some days it will be the music first inspiring the lyrics or concept and others it will be vice versa.”
After more than a decade networking with the top acts in the industry, it was no surprise that DuBois was called to ride the ever popular, Antilles Riddim, but being a producer himself, it was somewhat unusual for him to record the song on another producer’s riddim.
“Kasey sent the riddim to me and at first I was a bit iffy about it,” said DuBois, “because I realise sometimes with riddims it’s a chance taken due to the number of songs/artistes featured on it – which could sometimes lead to preference by the mass public, which then leads to disappointment within yourself. So I took up the offer of going on it, which was actually my first ever Riddim outside of my own Productions. I started off recording another song on it – which I wasn’t happy with, so I never moved from behind the mic and within three hours ‘Bacchanalist’ was created. No pen, no paper. Just an enclosed vibe between myself, the headphones, the mic and my vision of what being a Bacchanalist is all about.”
For DuBois, the success of the song is a validation of his personal and professional vision for the industry and the music which fuels it, but perhaps more importantly, it’s a vision that has been embraced and is being shared by the general population.
“I never lose sight of my foundation and where I come from,” he enthused. “My roots are continuously buried in Trinidad. I always stay in line to the fad and the swag, the way of life, the changes, the lingo and everything that rotates in Trinidad and everywhere that Caribbean entities dwell. I try my best to tap into the systems and minds of people. I try to always slowly become a part of what they might like, what triggers off reactions within them to either wine or jump or wave or just feel good about themselves. So I observe a lot and take mental notes and that’s why I always have some form of emotion attached to the music I make.”
Born in the capital city Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, it seems DuBois was always destined for success in calypso and soca. He began singing in primary school and not only entered the nation’s first Junior Calypso Monarch competition, but also won the title in the second year. The young performer rose through the ranks of the calypso world, captured the Young Kings title and even reached the Big Yard for the National Calypso Monarch finals on several occasions.
Hailed as a rising star, he delighted all with his melodious voice and thought-provoking lyrics and was selected to represent Trinidad along with other young calypsonians for a Calypso Youth Exchange Programme hosted by the Association of British Calypsonians in the UK, where he settled for a number of years, eventually capturing the UK Calypso Monarch title.
In recent years, Du Bois has spread his wings and can no longer be considered simply a Calypsonian, having branched out into soca not only as a performer but also as a highly rated producer and songwriter. His efforts have been acknowledged by some of the top soca artistes, who have tapped into the talents of this accomplished hit maker.
“If I fail to succeed then let success be my failure, I was born a winner,” DuBois concluded, “This is the mantra that has kept me going over the years and continues to propel me to achieve greater things! I believe that perseverance and hard work definitely pay off in the end, so Carnival 2012 and beyond – I ready for eeeeeet!”
Trinidad Express
