April 1, 2024 • 23 mins
I sit down with the Soca sensation Kes, lead singer of Kes the Band. He takes us on a spirited journey from the early days of his namesake to the dynamic experience that has become Kes the Band, an evolution spurred on by passionate fans and the electric atmosphere of live shows. Kes's voice, imbued with the wisdom of his musical voyage, offers a treasure trove of advice to his younger self and paints a colorful panorama of his beginnings in Trinidad & Tobago, where the pulse of Calypso and Soca set the beat for a life in music. Our conversation spins through the tracks of his latest 16-track adventure, a fearless fusion album where Soca meets Afrobeats, Reggae and Dancehall all rooted in Kes's signature style.
Kes peels back the curtain to reveal the craft behind captivating music videos such as "Banga" and "Liki Tiki," showcasing how visual storytelling can be just as powerful as the music itself. Through playful characters and the warmth of Caribbean dance, he illustrates the importance of embracing one's culture and the collaborative spirit that fuels creativity. The mood turns contemplative as we honor the memory of lost comrades in the music world, feeling the weight of their absence while recognizing the imperative to live fully and make a mark. Join us for an uplifting session with Kes, filled with infectious laughter, cherished memories, and an unwavering love for the transformative power of music.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Hello everyone and welcome to another edition of
the Style and Vibes podcast withyours truly Makayla.
If you are new here, welcome tothe family.
If you are returning, welcomeback family.
Today we have our first Sokaartist on the podcast.
We have none other than Kes.
I don't think you need anintroduction, in my opinion,
(00:25):
because I know my followers aregoing to know exactly who you
are, but I need to startsomewhere and I need to start
with okay, break it down, please.
The name of the band is Kes.
The Band your name is Keys.
How did that transition?
Is it because we just keepmessing up your name in the in
(00:46):
the media?
Speaker 2 (00:46):
and that's how you adapted the name partly um, I
think it was a lifelong curse.
I mean, my actual name is kws,so it's a.
It's a dutch name, um, but it'spronounced case.
But in, you know, englishspeaking, trinidad, um you, they
call me Kes and I knew myselfas Kes since I was a kid.
(01:09):
How the name of the band reallycame about was kind of
roundabout.
We were part of another groupcalled Image Company me and my
brothers and we decided to sortof form our own vibe again and
my brother was like you know, wedidn't want to start a whole
new name, people know who youare, so let's just name the band
k.
(01:29):
Yes, yes, we're like fine, cool.
But you know, in our culture,you know, when we do shows, we
do parties, sometimes youperform with your dj, sometimes
you perform with your band.
So fans were like, well, who'splaying on the show?
Is it kes or kes and the band?
You know what I mean.
Is it kes?
Or on the show, is it Kes orKes and the band?
You know what I mean.
Is it Kes or Kes and the band?
And then it became Kes and theband, because the fans were
(01:50):
calling us Kes and the band allthe time.
It's like no Kes and the bandis playing oh, okay, cool, and
it's a different experience, Iguess, from doing tracks on a
solo show.
And then, as well, the band nowhas become such a big part of
the act you know like for us toplay live and spread that live
(02:10):
vibes.
So Kestivan was a result of allof that, all of that.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
It's kind of like the reverse of Sade, because I feel
like people just really realizethat the name of the band is
Sade.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
Yes, similar.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
Not just the front woman singing, so I see it on
social they're like nobody knew.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Similar, Not just the frontwoman singing, so I see it on
social.
They're like nobody knew.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
But that's super cool .
So you're gearing up to releasethis new project.
Tell me about the space thatyou were in to really create it,
and I want to talk about thename, but it's 16 tracks, some
of which the public has probablyheard.
We've been jamming to it for awhile now.
So tell me about going into thecreation of this project.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
Yeah, well, you know, going to this, I really wanted
to.
In this new phase, I feel, youknow, I felt like after
lockdowns, lockdowns kind ofclosed a chapter in my life
creatively and I felt like I wasstepping into the next realm
and I really wanted to create abody of work that sort.
I felt like I was stepping intothe next realm and I really
wanted to, um, create a body ofwork that sort of represented
where I was at, you know, um, soI mean I'll go into it.
(03:11):
My no, no door is a freecreative space.
You know, for me, um, it justrepresents not having boundaries
and, um, you know, actually meta guy with no door and and he,
you know he's always hadinteresting people coming into
his home and and he was alwaysfearless.
So I felt that way creativelyand so I decided to name it that
(03:32):
and explore, explore all therhythms and sounds that I feel
inspired by growing up and andin life.
You know so, of course you'regonna get that sweet, so, but
then even the soca that we haveon it has its own sort of twist.
Like songs, like Tack Back islike that I'll shine real kind
of capture.
A 90s Calypso feel Miracle is apower soca but yeah, it's like
(03:59):
a romantic song as well.
But other than the soca aspects, know, you're gonna get a touch
of dance, all that such an afrobeat.
There's some reggae in there,um, and then there's some other
other mixes there as well.
So it's really a free space andif you love all types of music,
um, especially music you candance to, then you're gonna love
this album, you know what wouldthe man with no door cast say
(04:24):
to the young teenage guests?
keep dreaming, because all yourdreams gonna come true.
Every single one that you dreamare gonna come true, so don't
have a limit.
As well, dream as big as youwant to dream and stay the
course.
You know, um, I feel like I'mproud of my younger self, um,
for taking leaps and boundswithout even having any
(04:46):
guarantee of success, and I feltlike that bravery led me to
this point.
A lot of things that I'vethought of, dreamt of, has come
to pass already, so I probablyneeded to dream a little more.
So keep dreaming.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
Yeah, yeah, I hear that.
So, in terms of being in a bandwith your brothers and close
like friends growing up, likehow did you guys initially
really come together and who'sthe younger?
Like, where do you fit in thein the order of of brothers?
Speaker 2 (05:17):
I'm the youngest um, we started off in south trinidad
and palmis um, in those days,you know, in Trinidad of course
Calypso is huge, calypso wasking, soca was king, but you
know you had in the 80sespecially dub and dance, so it
was now coming into the fray.
But rock music was huge, youknow.
(05:40):
So 80s rock in Trinidad washuge and my biggest brother
actually is the ringleader, isthe one who really got us into
music.
I mean, I always used to sing,but when it came to band life
and understanding band stuff,you know, it's really my brother
, hans the oldest, the drummer.
He used to go by his friend andwatch MTV, you know, and they
(06:03):
were the only ones with a dishand you know you'd see these
bands.
There was a particular bandcalled Van Halen and Van Halen
having a kind of German name,but they had brothers.
You know, he had this brightidea of like I'm going to take
my brothers and my friends andlike form this band, and he
called the band Lads L-A-D-S,lads L-A-D-S and it was like the
(06:25):
first letters of their lastnames.
You know, that summer Iremember my brother built a drum
kit out of buckets and PVC andyou know, my other brother had a
guitar with a, the pickup was anail and we tried to build a
stage and my dad eventually feltsorry for us but it was very
intrigued and bought asecond-hand kit and bought some
(06:47):
second-hand equipment and thengot somebody to help us build a
stage in our backyard and we dida concert for our friends, you
know, but it was rock music.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
It was like my first song was a punk rock song, you
know you know, and um, wait,walk me through the outfit that
you had on for that performanceyou know, I still remember I had
a shirt and I had like a littlesleeveless inside with like
three stripes.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
It's still red, gold and green.
You know still have vibes goingon, you know.
But we were young, you know, Iwas seven years old, my other
brother was 11.
We were kids, you know, and itwas.
I think it was just cool for usto feel what it was to rehearse
and have a concert, and I don'tthink we've ever left that
space.
I think from that, that kind ofsparked a fire that just
(07:30):
continued to grow all throughschool or you know, all until
now, you know.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
That's great.
It seems like you guys have agreat creative synergy amongst
all of you.
Because I saw you perform acouple years ago now because
this is pre-COVID I think it wasTuesday on the Rocks in
Manhattan I can't remember thename of the location.
I admitted to my followers likeI think I'm a sound snob when
(07:59):
it comes to like bands and whereand the location and how it
sounds, and you guys really puta lot into the show.
So when you talk about thatrock influence, I can hear it in
your live shows.
So I think, that that is superintentional, like what you guys
do, so naturally, and it reallyled into even some of your
(08:20):
catalog.
You guys have such a greatcatalog.
Talk to me about that.
Like being able to have thiscatalog of music that people
really resonate with.
It must make it really hard tochoose your song set.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
You're right.
I think at this time it isbecause, yeah, we do have a lot
and I give thanks for that,because there was a time when we
had to play a lot of covers.
You know we had to do that andstick our songs in between the
covers to try and promote it andstuff like that.
But now, you know, I really dohave to pick and choose.
There's some songs that arestaples and classics and some
people, you know, want to hearparticular songs that we can't
(08:57):
all fit into the set or elsewe'll be on stage for like hours
, you know.
But at the end of the day, it'sa problem to have.
You know, it's a great problemto have and I feel like, you
know, I try to stay true to theprocess and I feel staying true
to the process and finding mytruth in my creations every
single time, I think it neverfails.
You know, when I believe in it,when I love what it is, I think
(09:21):
feels, you know, when I believein it, when I love what it is,
I think it resonates withsomeone.
You know, that's my, that's mytake on it.
I don't know how big it will be, I don't know how.
You know, that's up to thepeople and up to people.
But if I know it tastes good,I'm gonna put it on a plate your
ability, yeah, you're gonnaleave it on the stage.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
I I think that that's truly amazing.
So the album man With no Doorhas a lot of collabs and a lot
of different sounds.
How did you guys, kind ofcollectively, decide who you
wanted to work with?
You have Michael Brunn, youhave Busy Signal, you have oh,
now I'm drawing a blank.
Hold on, let me.
I got to pull it up, but youknow all of the people that's on
(10:01):
there, it's not a lot, but it'sit's like a tight-knit group of
.
So how did you come to thatselection process?
Speaker 2 (10:07):
I mean it's all natural.
I mean I like to do collabsnaturally.
I like to, you know, reallylink with people and not just do
something out of convenience oropportunity or anything like
that.
So you know, every collab is acollab.
That was, you know, thoughtabout and people who just fit,
you know, and I felt, like youknow, with Shaggy, with Mood, I
(10:29):
was attracted, it was justamazing.
I felt like, you know, he calledme actually on the track and
had the idea and you know, Ifelt, like everyone that we've
worked with, we have a similar,I guess, goal and dream within
our own lanes and that was acommon thread and I feel like
that spoke with the music.
You know, like Busy Signal,he's just a natural bridging his
(10:53):
dance all with other music andI think he does it so well,
seamlessly and honestly.
And you know, queen Omega, youknow that was a great collab and
just an easy process.
Each process was pretty easy.
And, of course, michael Brune,hayati, jay Perry, otay, hayati,
and you know this is the reasonwhy I do it.
(11:14):
You know this is like the fire,you know, to really be the
bridge and expand the sound andreach of the music.
You know to really be thebridge and and and expand the
sound and reach of the music youknow.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
And talk to me about the videos.
Now, benga, I think it reallyportrays you in a completely
different light.
It's so funny You're playingmultiple characters, like tell
me about how that video cameabout.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
Yeah, I mean, I love doing visuals, like every, every
visual.
You see, I've definitely had apart in like, creating the
concept and, you know, reallywanting to put forward or
something, because I feel like,you know, um, the visuals is
just another aspect of likeexpression of the idea.
You know, and banga, the songcame about of us really talking
(12:02):
about the days when we wereawkward teens and we had, you
know, you have that crush andyou have that person.
I miss you from the time youwent away.
You know, not knowing what tosay, the awkwardness, and we
said, you know what, let's justdo something in ode to how we
grew up, you know.
So we had that kind of houseline that we were accustomed to
in the caribbean and you knowthat birthday party that just
(12:24):
spent a month trying to getready for and, um, and just had
an opportunity to play all theseroles.
I was like yo, I'm gonna playall these roles.
Actually, it was kind ofmimicking my dad in one of these
shots.
You know what I mean.
Um, I had a great time, I think.
I think visuals and doing allof those things just make it
worthwhile for me, and I was, Iwas up for the challenge of like
(12:46):
, becoming different charactersand like it was something
different.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
You know yeah, yeah, and even in licky tiki I think
the, the consensual movement isjust everybody's kind of like
just grooving in it and you knowyou have some nice cameos of
mika ben uh wrestling is inthere um, and and.
Tell me about even that one,because it just it seemed like a
nice fun.
(13:09):
But I feel like videos don't getthe credit that it like, the,
the attention that it I think sobecause mtv vet, all of you
know it's condensed to a screen,so the only time you really get
to enjoy it is if, like you'resitting down or you're watching
it through like YouTube.
It's one of those things I wishwould come back, but I'm also
(13:31):
part of the same era that youare.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
So I have a different connection to it.
Speaker 1 (13:36):
But you did have, you know, some really great energy
there, so tell me about thatvideo as well yeah, like it was
a great vibe.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
I mean, I think I think it just kind of like
stemmed off of the vibe that Ihad with michael broon and j
perry in the studio.
You know, and you know like itis uh, even the phrase like it
is just me kind of mimicking ouriron.
You know we have somethingwhere we beat a bottle and spoon
or we beat the iron, and it wasme trying to explain the
(14:06):
calypso beat to michael and hewas like yo, there's a hook, I
love that asherini song.
And I was like, oh for real,yeah, man, cool.
And so, you know, we wanted thevideo to feel in that way, that
that kind of again, that kindof sort of classic, you know,
the classic kind of dance orvibe to it.
But yet it was like oneCaribbean.
So all the flags and, you know,as I said, you know the cameos
(14:29):
from people from differentplaces.
You know, rest in peace.
Mika Ben that was actually thefirst time I met him and it was
a great experience.
The entire cast and big up tomaya.
She's a young, amazing directorup on coming.
She, she did a few videos forme actually, she did um mood,
(14:49):
she did licky ticky and she didjolene for me as well, and so,
um, I've had fun working withher and her crew because they're
open to my crazy ideas, youknow, I mean.
I mean they're open to when Isay, hey, I want to do this and
that, and they're like, yeah,let's do that Because you know,
and so it's always fun.
It's always fun, they're greatto work with.
Speaker 1 (15:10):
And in terms of we kind of touched on it slightly,
but you know Mika Bent, you knowhe was such a pillar in the
Haitian music community.
We recently lost Ricardo Drew.
What does that losing artistsand camaraderie they're almost
like family co-workers in a way,in the industry.
When that happens within theindustry, like what is your
(15:33):
thought process and how did howdoes that impact you as an
artist, as a person?
It's just like you know, theseare people you used to see on
shows and you know, and now you,there's like this empty space
there.
What does walk me through that,for you as an artist?
Speaker 2 (15:51):
well, I mean, I guess for me, simply put, I feel like
, um, you know you live each daylike it's your last.
You, you, you, you.
You move with intention,because you never know when is
your time and you know, I alwaysfeel like that this moment
right here is the sum of allyour moments, like everything
I've experienced is right here,right now with me, and I just
(16:13):
feel like, um, we need to holdthat into the forefront and live
like that, because I feel like,again, if it's one thing we all
have in common is that we willall walk in towards the same
thing, but it leaves.
What are we doing while we'rehere, you know, and I think we
just need to be impactful andmake sure that we are living
(16:34):
from our true self every time.
You know, it's surreal.
It's surreal sometimes, to behonest, to think about the
people that you know especially.
I've lost a few close peoplewithin the last few years and I
let them live with me.
You know, whatever piece ofthem they shared with me, they
live with me.
If something comes up and Iknow I would probably ask them
themselves and me comes up.
Speaker 1 (16:56):
You know what I mean and and I celebrate them in that
way, you know do you think alot about legacy and your legacy
as a contributing to soca musicand music as a whole?
Speaker 2 (17:07):
I think so.
I mean, I, I personally feellike I'm in motion, so I'd
already think about, like, well,what would be my legacy?
Because I don't know what wouldbe my legacy in the end of the
day.
All I know is that I feelsomething and I feel and I
follow that.
You know, I follow what that isand I've been following it,
that feather, that soul,whatever it is, for all this
(17:30):
time and it's led me here, soit's leading me to something.
So I'm just going, you know,I'm going with faith, you know
in terms of the creative process.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
Do you like performing, writing, being in
the studio?
What do you?
What is your preference?
Speaker 2 (17:45):
um, I love performing .
I have to say performing sortof stimulates the other things.
Um, doing that, that sort ofexchange between you and the
person loving the music, is whatit's about.
So, because you know, before wecould even record anything,
before we could even tapeanything, it was about that.
It was about that exchange andI think that's not changed.
(18:08):
You know, I feel like that'ssuch a powerful, much as we
could speak over the, you know,the internet and our devices,
that's just the idea of aconversation.
It's not really an exchange,like all the energy, all the
things that are exchanges unsaid, you know, and I feel like we,
(18:28):
I feel that energy when Iperform live.
So I have to give live thenumber one on that I like that.
Speaker 1 (18:36):
I like that.
What lessons have you learnedbeing in the music business as
long as you have?
Speaker 2 (18:43):
that's a.
That's a good question.
Um, a few things.
Uh, definitely, a dreamrequires commitment.
You know you have to choose itevery day.
You have to choose your pathevery single day, and if you
choose one path one day and onepath the next day, you're
putting two different thingsinto motion.
(19:04):
You know you need to choose.
If you want this to happen oryou really need this to happen,
you have to choose that everysingle day and go for it.
Two sometimes everything youneed is right there in front of
you.
I always loved the book theAlchemist.
I mean, for those who didn'tread it, it's really about going
on a full journey and a fullwalkabout to end up right back
(19:26):
where you're at and understandthat everything you had was
right there.
And I feel like I've done thata few times in my life where I
went walkabout and I came backand I'm like you know, and I
feel like, um, I've had donethat a few times in my life
where I went walk about and Icame back and I'm like you know
what I.
It's in me, you know it's, it'swithin me, you know, I mean,
and, and you need to believe andtrust what that is.
You know, um, and as well too,that that we all have so much in
(19:49):
common with each other.
You know, I feel like with music.
I've had the opportunity to oneday be in a penthouse somewhere
and the next day I in theghetto somewhere and I just see
people.
I don't see things, I seeenergy, you know, and I realized
that I mean, as thingsrightfully said, we are spirits
(20:09):
in a material world, like mostof of all, we are spirits
walking around, and that's yourriches, you know, and that's
what it is, and it doesn'tmatter what you have.
And music gave me thatopportunity to walk through
walls, you know, to not have adoor.
Speaker 1 (20:28):
I love it Okay, one fun question for you.
You're throwing a dinner partyfor your closest friends and
family.
What's on your playlist?
Speaker 2 (20:37):
Playlist Dinner?
Good question, I would love alittle classic, because we're in
a festive mood too.
You know Some classic Calypsodefinitely, and I don't mind
going deeper into the crates.
You know even 50s and 60s.
You know um definitely someclassic reggae.
I love my dennis brong and mylittle bob marley and stuff like
(21:01):
that.
Um as well, I would play pastthe chord.
You know what you want to hear,because I I definitely um like
to hear new music and thingsthat I want to be interested in.
You know what I mean.
So that's, in a nutshell, thefact that you would actually
share and let other people pick.
It says a lot about you.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
Yeah, a lot of people are like no, no, no, don't
touch my music, don't touch mymusic.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
I want to have a new favorite song.
Speaker 1 (21:29):
I hate those people.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
Yeah, I want to have a new favorite song.
Give me something like when Ihave a new favorite song I love
that, I love that all right, so,so what?
Speaker 1 (21:38):
what's for dinner?
What's for dinner?
Speaker 2 (21:40):
you know what.
That's a good question.
I want to know what's fordinner as well.
You understand, I actually havepilau, I've been talking about
tonight.
I'm hungry.
Speaker 1 (21:52):
It's left over by you know.
Thank you so much.
I know you have, you're doingyour runs, you're doing your
performances and I'm reallylooking forward to the response
that everyone is going to loveyour album and love what you
guys have put together for us.
But any last words what do youwant the people to know about
(22:13):
this album?
Speaker 2 (22:15):
No, you know, stay free everybody.
Do you want the people to knowabout this album?
Stay free everybody.
Open your mind, open yourhearts and continue to love each
other.
Continue to appreciate and loveeach other and that we are
really powerful as a human race,together In this world of
division.
Fight that, fight that withlove and enjoy this album.
May it connect wheels.
(22:35):
May it connect wheels for you,you know.
Speaker 1 (22:38):
May it make you explore some new, new spaces you
know, absolutely all right, mypeoples meds upon the new album
by kes man with no doors.
It is out on march 29th, somake sure you guys stream it,
download, download it, watch allthe videos, follow on social.
I'll be sure to link everything, kes.
Thank you so much.
(22:58):
Please also give my respects tothe band, the brothers, the
family as well, and have a greatevening.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
All right, thank you.
Speaker 1 (23:12):
Thanks for listening to the latest episode of the
style and vibes podcast.
If you like what you hear and Iknow you do share it with your
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At styling vibes until nexttime.
Hello everyone and welcome to another edition of
the Style and Vibes podcast withyours truly Makayla.
If you are new here, welcome tothe family.
If you are returning, welcomeback family.
Today we have our first Sokaartist on the podcast.
We have none other than Kes.
I don't think you need anintroduction, in my opinion,
(00:25):
because I know my followers aregoing to know exactly who you
are, but I need to startsomewhere and I need to start
with okay, break it down, please.
The name of the band is Kes.
The Band your name is Keys.
How did that transition?
Is it because we just keepmessing up your name in the in
(00:46):
the media?
Speaker 2 (00:46):
and that's how you adapted the name partly um, I
think it was a lifelong curse.
I mean, my actual name is kws,so it's a.
It's a dutch name, um, but it'spronounced case.
But in, you know, englishspeaking, trinidad, um you, they
call me Kes and I knew myselfas Kes since I was a kid.
(01:09):
How the name of the band reallycame about was kind of
roundabout.
We were part of another groupcalled Image Company me and my
brothers and we decided to sortof form our own vibe again and
my brother was like you know, wedidn't want to start a whole
new name, people know who youare, so let's just name the band
k.
(01:29):
Yes, yes, we're like fine, cool.
But you know, in our culture,you know, when we do shows, we
do parties, sometimes youperform with your dj, sometimes
you perform with your band.
So fans were like, well, who'splaying on the show?
Is it kes or kes and the band?
You know what I mean.
Is it kes?
Or on the show, is it Kes orKes and the band?
You know what I mean.
Is it Kes or Kes and the band?
And then it became Kes and theband, because the fans were
(01:50):
calling us Kes and the band allthe time.
It's like no Kes and the bandis playing oh, okay, cool, and
it's a different experience, Iguess, from doing tracks on a
solo show.
And then, as well, the band nowhas become such a big part of
the act you know like for us toplay live and spread that live
(02:10):
vibes.
So Kestivan was a result of allof that, all of that.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
It's kind of like the reverse of Sade, because I feel
like people just really realizethat the name of the band is
Sade.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
Yes, similar.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
Not just the front woman singing, so I see it on
social they're like nobody knew.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Similar, Not just the frontwoman singing, so I see it on
social.
They're like nobody knew.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
But that's super cool .
So you're gearing up to releasethis new project.
Tell me about the space thatyou were in to really create it,
and I want to talk about thename, but it's 16 tracks, some
of which the public has probablyheard.
We've been jamming to it for awhile now.
So tell me about going into thecreation of this project.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
Yeah, well, you know, going to this, I really wanted
to.
In this new phase, I feel, youknow, I felt like after
lockdowns, lockdowns kind ofclosed a chapter in my life
creatively and I felt like I wasstepping into the next realm
and I really wanted to create abody of work that sort.
I felt like I was stepping intothe next realm and I really
wanted to, um, create a body ofwork that sort of represented
where I was at, you know, um, soI mean I'll go into it.
(03:11):
My no, no door is a freecreative space.
You know, for me, um, it justrepresents not having boundaries
and, um, you know, actually meta guy with no door and and he,
you know he's always hadinteresting people coming into
his home and and he was alwaysfearless.
So I felt that way creativelyand so I decided to name it that
(03:32):
and explore, explore all therhythms and sounds that I feel
inspired by growing up and andin life.
You know so, of course you'regonna get that sweet, so, but
then even the soca that we haveon it has its own sort of twist.
Like songs, like Tack Back islike that I'll shine real kind
of capture.
A 90s Calypso feel Miracle is apower soca but yeah, it's like
(03:59):
a romantic song as well.
But other than the soca aspects, know, you're gonna get a touch
of dance, all that such an afrobeat.
There's some reggae in there,um, and then there's some other
other mixes there as well.
So it's really a free space andif you love all types of music,
um, especially music you candance to, then you're gonna love
this album, you know what wouldthe man with no door cast say
(04:24):
to the young teenage guests?
keep dreaming, because all yourdreams gonna come true.
Every single one that you dreamare gonna come true, so don't
have a limit.
As well, dream as big as youwant to dream and stay the
course.
You know, um, I feel like I'mproud of my younger self, um,
for taking leaps and boundswithout even having any
(04:46):
guarantee of success, and I feltlike that bravery led me to
this point.
A lot of things that I'vethought of, dreamt of, has come
to pass already, so I probablyneeded to dream a little more.
So keep dreaming.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
Yeah, yeah, I hear that.
So, in terms of being in a bandwith your brothers and close
like friends growing up, likehow did you guys initially
really come together and who'sthe younger?
Like, where do you fit in thein the order of of brothers?
Speaker 2 (05:17):
I'm the youngest um, we started off in south trinidad
and palmis um, in those days,you know, in Trinidad of course
Calypso is huge, calypso wasking, soca was king, but you
know you had in the 80sespecially dub and dance, so it
was now coming into the fray.
But rock music was huge, youknow.
(05:40):
So 80s rock in Trinidad washuge and my biggest brother
actually is the ringleader, isthe one who really got us into
music.
I mean, I always used to sing,but when it came to band life
and understanding band stuff,you know, it's really my brother
, hans the oldest, the drummer.
He used to go by his friend andwatch MTV, you know, and they
(06:03):
were the only ones with a dishand you know you'd see these
bands.
There was a particular bandcalled Van Halen and Van Halen
having a kind of German name,but they had brothers.
You know, he had this brightidea of like I'm going to take
my brothers and my friends andlike form this band, and he
called the band Lads L-A-D-S,lads L-A-D-S and it was like the
(06:25):
first letters of their lastnames.
You know, that summer Iremember my brother built a drum
kit out of buckets and PVC andyou know, my other brother had a
guitar with a, the pickup was anail and we tried to build a
stage and my dad eventually feltsorry for us but it was very
intrigued and bought asecond-hand kit and bought some
(06:47):
second-hand equipment and thengot somebody to help us build a
stage in our backyard and we dida concert for our friends, you
know, but it was rock music.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
It was like my first song was a punk rock song, you
know you know, and um, wait,walk me through the outfit that
you had on for that performanceyou know, I still remember I had
a shirt and I had like a littlesleeveless inside with like
three stripes.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
It's still red, gold and green.
You know still have vibes goingon, you know.
But we were young, you know, Iwas seven years old, my other
brother was 11.
We were kids, you know, and itwas.
I think it was just cool for usto feel what it was to rehearse
and have a concert, and I don'tthink we've ever left that
space.
I think from that, that kind ofsparked a fire that just
(07:30):
continued to grow all throughschool or you know, all until
now, you know.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
That's great.
It seems like you guys have agreat creative synergy amongst
all of you.
Because I saw you perform acouple years ago now because
this is pre-COVID I think it wasTuesday on the Rocks in
Manhattan I can't remember thename of the location.
I admitted to my followers likeI think I'm a sound snob when
(07:59):
it comes to like bands and whereand the location and how it
sounds, and you guys really puta lot into the show.
So when you talk about thatrock influence, I can hear it in
your live shows.
So I think, that that is superintentional, like what you guys
do, so naturally, and it reallyled into even some of your
(08:20):
catalog.
You guys have such a greatcatalog.
Talk to me about that.
Like being able to have thiscatalog of music that people
really resonate with.
It must make it really hard tochoose your song set.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
You're right.
I think at this time it isbecause, yeah, we do have a lot
and I give thanks for that,because there was a time when we
had to play a lot of covers.
You know we had to do that andstick our songs in between the
covers to try and promote it andstuff like that.
But now, you know, I really dohave to pick and choose.
There's some songs that arestaples and classics and some
people, you know, want to hearparticular songs that we can't
(08:57):
all fit into the set or elsewe'll be on stage for like hours
, you know.
But at the end of the day, it'sa problem to have.
You know, it's a great problemto have and I feel like, you
know, I try to stay true to theprocess and I feel staying true
to the process and finding mytruth in my creations every
single time, I think it neverfails.
You know, when I believe in it,when I love what it is, I think
(09:21):
feels, you know, when I believein it, when I love what it is,
I think it resonates withsomeone.
You know, that's my, that's mytake on it.
I don't know how big it will be, I don't know how.
You know, that's up to thepeople and up to people.
But if I know it tastes good,I'm gonna put it on a plate your
ability, yeah, you're gonnaleave it on the stage.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
I I think that that's truly amazing.
So the album man With no Doorhas a lot of collabs and a lot
of different sounds.
How did you guys, kind ofcollectively, decide who you
wanted to work with?
You have Michael Brunn, youhave Busy Signal, you have oh,
now I'm drawing a blank.
Hold on, let me.
I got to pull it up, but youknow all of the people that's on
(10:01):
there, it's not a lot, but it'sit's like a tight-knit group of
.
So how did you come to thatselection process?
Speaker 2 (10:07):
I mean it's all natural.
I mean I like to do collabsnaturally.
I like to, you know, reallylink with people and not just do
something out of convenience oropportunity or anything like
that.
So you know, every collab is acollab.
That was, you know, thoughtabout and people who just fit,
you know, and I felt, like youknow, with Shaggy, with Mood, I
(10:29):
was attracted, it was justamazing.
I felt like, you know, he calledme actually on the track and
had the idea and you know, Ifelt, like everyone that we've
worked with, we have a similar,I guess, goal and dream within
our own lanes and that was acommon thread and I feel like
that spoke with the music.
You know, like Busy Signal,he's just a natural bridging his
(10:53):
dance all with other music andI think he does it so well,
seamlessly and honestly.
And you know, queen Omega, youknow that was a great collab and
just an easy process.
Each process was pretty easy.
And, of course, michael Brune,hayati, jay Perry, otay, hayati,
and you know this is the reasonwhy I do it.
(11:14):
You know this is like the fire,you know, to really be the
bridge and expand the sound andreach of the music.
You know to really be thebridge and and and expand the
sound and reach of the music youknow.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
And talk to me about the videos.
Now, benga, I think it reallyportrays you in a completely
different light.
It's so funny You're playingmultiple characters, like tell
me about how that video cameabout.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
Yeah, I mean, I love doing visuals, like every, every
visual.
You see, I've definitely had apart in like, creating the
concept and, you know, reallywanting to put forward or
something, because I feel like,you know, um, the visuals is
just another aspect of likeexpression of the idea.
You know, and banga, the songcame about of us really talking
(12:02):
about the days when we wereawkward teens and we had, you
know, you have that crush andyou have that person.
I miss you from the time youwent away.
You know, not knowing what tosay, the awkwardness, and we
said, you know what, let's justdo something in ode to how we
grew up, you know.
So we had that kind of houseline that we were accustomed to
in the caribbean and you knowthat birthday party that just
(12:24):
spent a month trying to getready for and, um, and just had
an opportunity to play all theseroles.
I was like yo, I'm gonna playall these roles.
Actually, it was kind ofmimicking my dad in one of these
shots.
You know what I mean.
Um, I had a great time, I think.
I think visuals and doing allof those things just make it
worthwhile for me, and I was, Iwas up for the challenge of like
(12:46):
, becoming different charactersand like it was something
different.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
You know yeah, yeah, and even in licky tiki I think
the, the consensual movement isjust everybody's kind of like
just grooving in it and you knowyou have some nice cameos of
mika ben uh wrestling is inthere um, and and.
Tell me about even that one,because it just it seemed like a
nice fun.
(13:09):
But I feel like videos don't getthe credit that it like, the,
the attention that it I think sobecause mtv vet, all of you
know it's condensed to a screen,so the only time you really get
to enjoy it is if, like you'resitting down or you're watching
it through like YouTube.
It's one of those things I wishwould come back, but I'm also
(13:31):
part of the same era that youare.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
So I have a different connection to it.
Speaker 1 (13:36):
But you did have, you know, some really great energy
there, so tell me about thatvideo as well yeah, like it was
a great vibe.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
I mean, I think I think it just kind of like
stemmed off of the vibe that Ihad with michael broon and j
perry in the studio.
You know, and you know like itis uh, even the phrase like it
is just me kind of mimicking ouriron.
You know we have somethingwhere we beat a bottle and spoon
or we beat the iron, and it wasme trying to explain the
(14:06):
calypso beat to michael and hewas like yo, there's a hook, I
love that asherini song.
And I was like, oh for real,yeah, man, cool.
And so, you know, we wanted thevideo to feel in that way, that
that kind of again, that kindof sort of classic, you know,
the classic kind of dance orvibe to it.
But yet it was like oneCaribbean.
So all the flags and, you know,as I said, you know the cameos
(14:29):
from people from differentplaces.
You know, rest in peace.
Mika Ben that was actually thefirst time I met him and it was
a great experience.
The entire cast and big up tomaya.
She's a young, amazing directorup on coming.
She, she did a few videos forme actually, she did um mood,
(14:49):
she did licky ticky and she didjolene for me as well, and so,
um, I've had fun working withher and her crew because they're
open to my crazy ideas, youknow, I mean.
I mean they're open to when Isay, hey, I want to do this and
that, and they're like, yeah,let's do that Because you know,
and so it's always fun.
It's always fun, they're greatto work with.
Speaker 1 (15:10):
And in terms of we kind of touched on it slightly,
but you know Mika Bent, you knowhe was such a pillar in the
Haitian music community.
We recently lost Ricardo Drew.
What does that losing artistsand camaraderie they're almost
like family co-workers in a way,in the industry.
When that happens within theindustry, like what is your
(15:33):
thought process and how did howdoes that impact you as an
artist, as a person?
It's just like you know, theseare people you used to see on
shows and you know, and now you,there's like this empty space
there.
What does walk me through that,for you as an artist?
Speaker 2 (15:51):
well, I mean, I guess for me, simply put, I feel like
, um, you know you live each daylike it's your last.
You, you, you, you.
You move with intention,because you never know when is
your time and you know, I alwaysfeel like that this moment
right here is the sum of allyour moments, like everything
I've experienced is right here,right now with me, and I just
(16:13):
feel like, um, we need to holdthat into the forefront and live
like that, because I feel like,again, if it's one thing we all
have in common is that we willall walk in towards the same
thing, but it leaves.
What are we doing while we'rehere, you know, and I think we
just need to be impactful andmake sure that we are living
(16:34):
from our true self every time.
You know, it's surreal.
It's surreal sometimes, to behonest, to think about the
people that you know especially.
I've lost a few close peoplewithin the last few years and I
let them live with me.
You know, whatever piece ofthem they shared with me, they
live with me.
If something comes up and Iknow I would probably ask them
themselves and me comes up.
Speaker 1 (16:56):
You know what I mean and and I celebrate them in that
way, you know do you think alot about legacy and your legacy
as a contributing to soca musicand music as a whole?
Speaker 2 (17:07):
I think so.
I mean, I, I personally feellike I'm in motion, so I'd
already think about, like, well,what would be my legacy?
Because I don't know what wouldbe my legacy in the end of the
day.
All I know is that I feelsomething and I feel and I
follow that.
You know, I follow what that isand I've been following it,
that feather, that soul,whatever it is, for all this
(17:30):
time and it's led me here, soit's leading me to something.
So I'm just going, you know,I'm going with faith, you know
in terms of the creative process.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
Do you like performing, writing, being in
the studio?
What do you?
What is your preference?
Speaker 2 (17:45):
um, I love performing .
I have to say performing sortof stimulates the other things.
Um, doing that, that sort ofexchange between you and the
person loving the music, is whatit's about.
So, because you know, before wecould even record anything,
before we could even tapeanything, it was about that.
It was about that exchange andI think that's not changed.
(18:08):
You know, I feel like that'ssuch a powerful, much as we
could speak over the, you know,the internet and our devices,
that's just the idea of aconversation.
It's not really an exchange,like all the energy, all the
things that are exchanges unsaid, you know, and I feel like we,
(18:28):
I feel that energy when Iperform live.
So I have to give live thenumber one on that I like that.
Speaker 1 (18:36):
I like that.
What lessons have you learnedbeing in the music business as
long as you have?
Speaker 2 (18:43):
that's a.
That's a good question.
Um, a few things.
Uh, definitely, a dreamrequires commitment.
You know you have to choose itevery day.
You have to choose your pathevery single day, and if you
choose one path one day and onepath the next day, you're
putting two different thingsinto motion.
(19:04):
You know you need to choose.
If you want this to happen oryou really need this to happen,
you have to choose that everysingle day and go for it.
Two sometimes everything youneed is right there in front of
you.
I always loved the book theAlchemist.
I mean, for those who didn'tread it, it's really about going
on a full journey and a fullwalkabout to end up right back
(19:26):
where you're at and understandthat everything you had was
right there.
And I feel like I've done thata few times in my life where I
went walkabout and I came backand I'm like you know, and I
feel like, um, I've had donethat a few times in my life
where I went walk about and Icame back and I'm like you know
what I.
It's in me, you know it's, it'swithin me, you know, I mean,
and, and you need to believe andtrust what that is.
You know, um, and as well too,that that we all have so much in
(19:49):
common with each other.
You know, I feel like with music.
I've had the opportunity to oneday be in a penthouse somewhere
and the next day I in theghetto somewhere and I just see
people.
I don't see things, I seeenergy, you know, and I realized
that I mean, as thingsrightfully said, we are spirits
(20:09):
in a material world, like mostof of all, we are spirits
walking around, and that's yourriches, you know, and that's
what it is, and it doesn'tmatter what you have.
And music gave me thatopportunity to walk through
walls, you know, to not have adoor.
Speaker 1 (20:28):
I love it Okay, one fun question for you.
You're throwing a dinner partyfor your closest friends and
family.
What's on your playlist?
Speaker 2 (20:37):
Playlist Dinner?
Good question, I would love alittle classic, because we're in
a festive mood too.
You know Some classic Calypsodefinitely, and I don't mind
going deeper into the crates.
You know even 50s and 60s.
You know um definitely someclassic reggae.
I love my dennis brong and mylittle bob marley and stuff like
(21:01):
that.
Um as well, I would play pastthe chord.
You know what you want to hear,because I I definitely um like
to hear new music and thingsthat I want to be interested in.
You know what I mean.
So that's, in a nutshell, thefact that you would actually
share and let other people pick.
It says a lot about you.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
Yeah, a lot of people are like no, no, no, don't
touch my music, don't touch mymusic.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
I want to have a new favorite song.
Speaker 1 (21:29):
I hate those people.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
Yeah, I want to have a new favorite song.
Give me something like when Ihave a new favorite song I love
that, I love that all right, so,so what?
Speaker 1 (21:38):
what's for dinner?
What's for dinner?
Speaker 2 (21:40):
you know what.
That's a good question.
I want to know what's fordinner as well.
You understand, I actually havepilau, I've been talking about
tonight.
I'm hungry.
Speaker 1 (21:52):
It's left over by you know.
Thank you so much.
I know you have, you're doingyour runs, you're doing your
performances and I'm reallylooking forward to the response
that everyone is going to loveyour album and love what you
guys have put together for us.
But any last words what do youwant the people to know about
(22:13):
this album?
Speaker 2 (22:15):
No, you know, stay free everybody.
Do you want the people to knowabout this album?
Stay free everybody.
Open your mind, open yourhearts and continue to love each
other.
Continue to appreciate and loveeach other and that we are
really powerful as a human race,together In this world of
division.
Fight that, fight that withlove and enjoy this album.
May it connect wheels.
(22:35):
May it connect wheels for you,you know.
Speaker 1 (22:38):
May it make you explore some new, new spaces you
know, absolutely all right, mypeoples meds upon the new album
by kes man with no doors.
It is out on march 29th, somake sure you guys stream it,
download, download it, watch allthe videos, follow on social.
I'll be sure to link everything, kes.
Thank you so much.
(22:58):
Please also give my respects tothe band, the brothers, the
family as well, and have a greatevening.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
All right, thank you.
Speaker 1 (23:12):
Thanks for listening to the latest episode of the
style and vibes podcast.
If you like what you hear and Iknow you do share it with your
friends and family.
If you want more, make sure youvisit stylingvibescom and
follow us on our social channels, twitter and instagram.
At styling vibes until nexttime.
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