The Medicine of Melody | Ft. Lyrikal

This week we are talking di tings with multi-award winning international Soca artiste, Lyrikal. 

Before the world knew him as Lyrikal, the voice behind some of soca’s most affirming anthems, he was Devon Martin, a boy who first felt the power of music at just seven years old, singing in his Grandfather's church in Trinidad. Today, Lyrikal stands as one of the most recognized, respected, and joyful voices in Caribbean music. He has received multiple COTT nominations, a People’s Choice Award, and was recently named Campari Trinidad & Tobago’s official Carnival 2025 ambassador,

Lyrikal offers more than music to make you dance, he offers something deeper: music that heals. Music that reminds people that joy is still possible, even when life is heavy. In this powerful and enlightening conversation, ahead of his "Happy Place" concert on July 13th in Brooklyn, Lyrikal shares his earliest moments of joy and connection through music, the values that shape his lyrics and life, the unseen discipline behind the energy, reflections on fatherhood, faith, and the integral role his mother played in his life, how getting shot by a stray bullet changed his life, the possibility of a future collaboration with international Soca artiste, Muddy, and so much more!

This episode is not just about music or carnival. It’s a reminder that music can heal. That joy can be intentional. And that (as we say in Jamaica), what is fi yuh, cyan be un fi yuh. 

So grab your tea, coffee, or a glass of wine, and let's talk di tings!
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If you enjoyed the episode, leave us a 5-star rating, share this episode, and follow Let’s Talk Di Tings on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.   

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:02):
Devon Martin, known to the world as Lyrical, is a
man whose life has been shaped as much by intention
as it has by rhythm. With a voice that carries
both joy and precision, He's created a body of work
that moves people not just to dance, but to feel.

(00:25):
During our conversation, Lyrical spoke with a rare kind of honesty,
not stylized, not rehearsed, just his authentic self. He spoke
about a time in his young adulthood when his life
took a sharp turn after being shot by a stray bullet,
and although he was not the target, that unfortunate event

(00:49):
resulted in the stillness needed for him to realize that
God was telling him to focus on the gift bestowed
upon him since birth and in intentionally pursue his dream
to share his music with the world. Lyrical shares that
he always loved poetry as a child, translating experience into language,

(01:14):
and after hearing his story to me, that foundational practice
really shaped how he approaches everything. Lyrical moves through the
world with something rare, a groundedness that isn't self satisfied,
but community driven. And while the journey from Trinidad to

(01:37):
the world stage has been complex, his belief in self,
appreciation for his upbringing, and trust in God has never wavered.
This episode is about more than music, vets or carnival.
It reveals the man who chose depth over noise, purpose

(01:59):
over complacency. It's about becoming, about how an artist can
be both a loner and a leader, and how sometimes
the real happy place isn't a destination, it's a decision.
By the end of this episode, you will not only

(02:20):
gain a greater understanding of the manner responsible for some
of your favorite songs and life moments, you will likely
also feel a little more grounded in your own path.
So grab your tea, coffee, or a glass of wine
and let's talk the Things. Hello everyone, Welcome back to

(02:52):
Let's Talk the Things, where we discuss personal growth, travel, music,
beauty and wellness while encouraging you to live fearlessly and fabulously.
I'm your host, Ash and this week we are talking
the Things with one of soca's most consistent and positive voices,

(03:14):
a multi award winning artist whose music feels like sunlight, clear, affirming,
and deeply intentional. One of my favorite artists lyrical, high lyrical.

Speaker 2 (03:26):
How are you are you? Doing now I want that
was an amazing and true I love that, you know what.

Speaker 1 (03:37):
I thank you very much. I'm used to evoking emotion,
but never have I ever evoked a cough. So that's
a first.

Speaker 2 (03:44):
That is a first, you know.

Speaker 1 (03:49):
Yes, you are so welcome, and you know there's much
more to you that people will hear in the intro.
But you know, just a little just a little taste,
you know, can't make your head swell too big immediate.
So how are you doing.

Speaker 3 (04:06):
I'm good, I'm good. I'm in good spirits, you know,
just working, always.

Speaker 1 (04:11):
Working, always working, Yes.

Speaker 3 (04:13):
Gearing up from a concert in New York, so, you know,
just busy, prepends stuff like that.

Speaker 1 (04:19):
So we're going to talk about that. That's so exciting
for sure, for sure, for sure. Okay, well, thank you
so much for coming to talk things with me. I'm
so excited to have you.

Speaker 2 (04:29):
Yes, yes, yes, much love. Actually yes, yes.

Speaker 1 (04:36):
He's also one of my favorite artists and we had
a great time. So we definitely have to talk a
little bit about you know, that collaboration possible. Yes, I
put out there so that would make me so happy.
And listen, you guys don't even have to give me
my two percent. You know, you can just let me
be there while it happens.

Speaker 3 (04:56):
That would be finely is with more than two yes, exactly.

Speaker 1 (05:01):
I just want to hear the music that would bring
me enough joy.

Speaker 2 (05:04):
You can see the creation and creative part of.

Speaker 1 (05:06):
It, right exactly. That's my favorite part of music anyway.
So yes, yes, definitely, for sure, for sure. For our
first time guest and for persons listening for the first time,
we begin each episode with our listener's favorite segment, and
it's called that no sound safe. No, don't get frightened.

(05:34):
This is a this is a positive place, a happy place,
so nothing crazy. Yes, So what I'm going to do
is I'm going to read messages or social media posts
that listeners sent in, and if you think it sounds
crazy or a little concerning, you just say that sounds
safe and explain why. Yes, you can't practice, you know,

(05:57):
you can't do a little practice if you want to
sound or you want to sound a little you know,
Deepak Chopra up to you, yes, but say it yes,
and then if you agree, you just say you agree
or that sound safe, whatever you want to say, and
explain why I like it. Already Okay, perfect, all right,

(06:20):
the first person said. A father said to his daughter,
I wanted you to know that the right place values
you the right way. If you are not valued, do
not be angry. It means you are in the wrong place.
Those who know your value are those who appreciate you.
So never stay in a place where no one sees

(06:42):
your value.

Speaker 2 (06:43):
Totally agree, absolutely.

Speaker 1 (06:46):
Absolutely who That's very safe.

Speaker 2 (06:50):
That's very very safe. Sometimes you sometimes it's.

Speaker 3 (06:52):
Somewhere you know and you just act yourself like why
are you really doing here?

Speaker 2 (06:57):
Like why are really doing here? Like you know what
I'm saying, Yeah.

Speaker 1 (07:00):
It's true, it's true. And I think that we talk
about it all the time on this podcast that a
lot of times when you are, you know, a good
person or a caring person, you can project that onto people.
You know, that's a part of projection. Persons really don't
discuss a lot and because of that, you can stay
in that wrong place because you're thinking like, oh, you know,

(07:22):
if this person could just see my value, if this
person could just see like I'm the person for them.
And it's like while you're there doing that, you're harming
yourself because you don't know why they can't see your value. Yes,
so I think one, this is just important, like as
far as a thought or conversation. But also I love
the fact that this is a father talking to their

(07:43):
daughter because I think that's what's missing for a lot
of women is that they never had or don't have,
those type of father figures to remind them of their worth,
you know, so that they're less likely to tolerate certain things,
because I mean, you can still end up in situations
even if you have a father, you know, telling you
you're so special and you're this and you're that, because

(08:04):
we're all human. But I think it's just such an
important conversation and for boys too, for young men as well.
But you know, just in the context of this.

Speaker 3 (08:12):
Yes, absolutely, yeah, well said well said father, whoever father is?

Speaker 2 (08:17):
Well said?

Speaker 1 (08:18):
All right. The next person said, stop expecting honesty from
people who lie to themselves.

Speaker 2 (08:25):
That's song really good. That song really good. That's just
one point.

Speaker 3 (08:31):
Yeah, yeah, it comes like it's the same thing like
if you see, you can't love somebody else if you
love yourself, you can't. You can't be telling you true
to me while you're lying to yourself. Yes, yes, so
at the end of day, that is that is such
an on point statement, like factual statement, I should say,

(08:51):
this is very factuate.

Speaker 2 (08:53):
That's great.

Speaker 1 (08:54):
Yeah, and it's it's hard, right because because we live
in this era of social media, I find that and
people are probably tired of hearing me say that, but
I think it's true. We have to address it, right
because social media is great for a lot of things,
but a lot of times it can have people feel
like they need to present themselves in a certain type
of way, and maybe that's not them. So maybe if

(09:16):
you know those people in real life and you're saying, like, oh,
you know, you're trying to talk to that person, they
don't even know how to deal with you because they're
so busy spending most of their time performing for others
that you know, they kind of have this internal like
battle with themselves, you know, who they are versus who
they feel other people need them to be.

Speaker 3 (09:37):
Absolutely yeah, absolutely, yes, very true.

Speaker 1 (09:41):
Yeah, very safe. All right, So far, so far, so good,
so far, yes, all right, the next person, The next
person said, this is hilarious. The next person said, Jesus
loves you, but the rest of us are struggling.

Speaker 2 (09:59):
Wait, Jesus loves you, the.

Speaker 1 (10:01):
Rest of us are struggling that song.

Speaker 2 (10:04):
I'm kind of like a cooks. It's not that weird.

Speaker 3 (10:08):
Yeah, trying trying to trying to dissect that statement.

Speaker 1 (10:11):
You know, I'm wondering same, Okay, I'm wondering if it's like, yeah,
that song.

Speaker 3 (10:19):
Like a direct statement, so like a general statement that
what I'm saying, like, because yeah, I think I'm right
aout that song and I'll be personal because that is
something I don't say. You have to talk for yourself
because how you know how I feel about that person.

Speaker 2 (10:37):
I probably love them like how Jesus loved them the
same way.

Speaker 1 (10:40):
And you know, I'm trying to figure out if the
person is trying to say in a facetious way, like
you know, you're basically saying you're a horrible person. Kind
of what we were just talking about. If I really
think about.

Speaker 2 (10:52):
That's what I got it.

Speaker 1 (10:54):
Yeah, and Jesus might love you, but you're a horrible person.
So I'm staying away from you.

Speaker 2 (11:01):
That's what I'm saying.

Speaker 1 (11:01):
Yeah, I need them to elaborate a little more, but yeah.

Speaker 3 (11:05):
Yeah, I think I think we might be are guys.

Speaker 1 (11:10):
Please provide a little bit of context because you have
lyrics and I a little confused. So we're going to
assume that's what you mean. And if that is what
you mean, you are correct, because it would support our
previous statement that you shouldn't be around persons that make
you feel away, as we like to say. You know,
so if that is the case, yes, but we all

(11:32):
should love each other. How about that, if.

Speaker 3 (11:36):
It's a female event that comes from a female, something
like that personal question from a boyfriend.

Speaker 1 (11:41):
I know, yeah, yeah, the people business, you know, it's
not me. If that's the case, nobody, that's why this
is anonymous. So if that's the case, then yeah, maybe
it was a little personal and she wanted to just
let one of who knows, Yeah, which is cool. School,
that's fine, of course, of course, all right. The next

(12:06):
person said, a nice car is not going to impress
women these days. You need a food truck.

Speaker 2 (12:16):
True, I mean yeah.

Speaker 1 (12:18):
Yeah, hell that is me, not because me love my belly.

Speaker 3 (12:23):
I love you, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, I
I I I can dig that.

Speaker 2 (12:27):
I rock with that truck.

Speaker 1 (12:30):
A food truck is to touch on.

Speaker 3 (12:33):
That, to touch on that, right as you say that, Yeah,
she said that, No, a nice car couldn't press a lady.
But there's what kind of right. No, that that all
depends on your standard. If you if your standard is
you're looking for nice things, you like flash and bright

(12:53):
lights and.

Speaker 1 (12:54):
Stuff like that.

Speaker 3 (12:56):
There's something with quality, something business you know, oriented, No,
that might impress you.

Speaker 2 (13:02):
I might put up in events, you know, and you
might be like, oh my god, and you might want
to just jump in.

Speaker 1 (13:10):
Very true.

Speaker 3 (13:12):
So it's really according to your standard and what you're
really looking for. So I will agree with that, right,
I will agree with that, and I will further, I
will extend and say, hey, listen, if you know you
would and you know what you want in life, I
have a certain standard, right, you're looking for long shavity,

(13:33):
you know, something solid and first personal. You have to
understand a kyd of not just a nice car that
you know it could be. It could be it could
be a demon experience behind that nice guy. It could
be somebody who.

Speaker 1 (13:46):
It's so true, so true. I think that a lot
of times people are blinded by the physical whatever that
might be the car, the nice clothes. You know, for women,
a lot of women like tall men and you know,
things like that, and you don't know their character. Yes
you know, and it's it's somebody's character that will determine

(14:10):
the trajectory of how you live. I don't think people
really understand that, you know what I mean? People just
getting in relationships and going with this one and that one,
but who that person is, like their values. That can
be the difference between them, you know, having you get
in their car when they know they have something bad
in their car that they could get in trouble for.

(14:31):
You know, that could be the difference. Yes, the difference
between someone coming to them and say, hey, you know,
I know you're dating so and so and he or
she has a lot of money, so can you invite
me over their house? And maybe I could steal something
that's their character that's going to say are you crazy now?
Or say oh okay, well if I invite you, can
I get a cap that's somebody's character, you know what

(14:53):
I mean. So I think that's so true. Like yes,
you know, the car thing or whatever, the attributes, you
have to think twice about it because sometimes it's really
not worth it. It's not I wish we could see
somebody's character like how we see their height or their
crying or their car, because I think that would save

(15:15):
us all a lot of time.

Speaker 3 (15:16):
Well, well the thing is right as you say that
now me personally right, like any relationship I was ever
in or you know, from from whenever, from ever since,
I should say I always believe in energy, how it
flew right and when some people say go through supposed
to flow there. So sometimes now you just have to
let let it frow. So I like to know somebody,

(15:38):
be friends, see what they're like. Sometimes a lot of
times now somebody bringing who does affect them and how
they how they react. Know I'm saying it might even
be them. It might be something they were seeing their
fad or the step fad or the step.

Speaker 2 (15:52):
Model where mat it is or wherever they upgrade.

Speaker 3 (15:54):
Bringing in the household was respectfully, you know, that might
affect them to who they are today, you understand. So
my advice like to anybody, and I know, you know,
a big, big professional with the relationship this that, But
at the end of the day.

Speaker 1 (16:13):
No, you're talking to real life.

Speaker 2 (16:14):
It's real life.

Speaker 3 (16:15):
So the more you get to know a person, the
more you see the person for who they are.

Speaker 2 (16:21):
Before you jump being the.

Speaker 3 (16:23):
Yeah I love this person and he looks so good
that she looks so good and da da da. All
that is good physical travel and all that's good, you understand,
But it's true a lot of times you just have
to know the person.

Speaker 2 (16:35):
They will understand.

Speaker 3 (16:36):
Sometimes see a red flag, sometimes see certain signs and saying, hey,
this person is a selfish person, this person is a
nice person, this person is this this person whenever you
see in that person.

Speaker 2 (16:46):
Time doesn't always reveal anything.

Speaker 1 (16:48):
So yes, time is a master. Time is absolutely understand Yes, absolutely,
And ladies and gentlemen, those red red flags are not
an indication of carnival. It's an indication to.

Speaker 2 (17:01):
It's not something.

Speaker 1 (17:05):
No plan run.

Speaker 3 (17:09):
You know, you know when you're driving at that red lights,
the stuff you read light, Yes.

Speaker 1 (17:18):
It's to go, it's to go. And you know what,
we're all guilty of it because, as I said, if
you are a person with good decent character, you're always
going to try to give persons the benefit of the dolt.
But what we have to realize as we get older
and we go through things is that you cannot be
the one giving the benefit and always receiving the dolts.

(17:39):
It can't go sound, you know what I mean, Like
that should be an indicator that it's just not going
to work, you know what I mean. And I think
that's so true what you said. I think a lot
of times we've all been there where we say like, oh,
you know, we're going to be this person's friend, and
then you know, one thing leads to another and it's
it's not really a friendship. Then it turns into a
reallyationship like that. But I've found that it really is

(18:03):
important to get to know a person before there's any
kind of intimacy, because you get to see like who
they are, and even if they are saying to you, oh,
I'm not that person. I'm not that person. My dad
always tells me. People can't hide from themselves, and you
can only wear a mask for so long, you know.

Speaker 2 (18:22):
Yeah, And like I said, actions speak loaded. You could
say whatever you want to understand. Everything's everything that's.

Speaker 3 (18:31):
Come on in a natural way, in a natural form,
so you could if you ask fishers, it will have
some kind of situation that will show that that will
expose that.

Speaker 1 (18:41):
Oh yeah, God always always, always yes, cannot hide, cannot
hide a right. That one was deep. I didn't expect
that that one was deep, all right. And the final one,
the person said, I collectors are calling me and now

(19:02):
I have to turn into Tupac. There's no way I
can pay you back, but my plan is to show
you that I understand.

Speaker 2 (19:27):
What what?

Speaker 1 (19:30):
Oh lord, guys, I am so sorry. My audience is
probably so tired of me fighting for my life laughing.
It's hilarious.

Speaker 2 (19:41):
Wait, that is hilarious.

Speaker 1 (19:44):
That that does?

Speaker 3 (19:47):
I listen if it's a female lady girl, If guys,
are you no problem.

Speaker 2 (19:54):
I'm for you. I'm with you. I support it, but
I don't know. I'll see if that be right.

Speaker 4 (20:00):
End?

Speaker 1 (20:01):
Oh god, and it's too hot to be outside, you know.

Speaker 2 (20:05):
Please?

Speaker 1 (20:05):
Do you want to pay your bills? Okay, before you
get the carnival costume or you do whatever you have
to do.

Speaker 3 (20:13):
Pay your bills, ladies, he says, always remember life after it, please,
life after the two back.

Speaker 1 (20:23):
Yes, oh my gosh, I have tears in.

Speaker 2 (20:33):
That.

Speaker 1 (20:35):
That was serious. That was not a joke. That was obviously.

Speaker 2 (20:42):
Don't do that. Don't be back. It's so good and
so funny, but don't do it.

Speaker 1 (20:46):
Yes, do not do it. Do not do it. Take
this as a heat as a warning, please. Okay, So
that was a lot of fun, Yes, it was so.
Now we're gonna talk the real things. Now. I did
my research and I found that you grew up in

(21:10):
church and that you started singing when you were seven.
So yes, if you could do me a favor and
close your eyes and go back to that moment in church,
what do you remember about how music made you feel
before you ever knew where it would take you in life?

Speaker 3 (21:30):
Actually, that's actually a really really really really really good question.
I really liked that question. Applaudia for that question. Actually
that is full time. Somebody else asked a question, right, yeah, yeah,
who's that.

Speaker 1 (21:43):
Means you're gonna remember me forever?

Speaker 3 (21:50):
But music always makes me feel like like I kind
of is give me like a super so your super power,
right always like from small like when I like if
I'm feeling dung even up to this day. But I
just talked about back then, like when I first, you know,

(22:12):
start getting into music and stuff and you chews like
that choose and stuff.

Speaker 2 (22:16):
Actually it's it's something that.

Speaker 3 (22:19):
Always bring a kind of not that kind of but
a joyful feeling to me all the time and understand
and even like at that times and chech you know, when.

Speaker 2 (22:27):
You're small and you want to go to every Sunday,
it's like, oh my god, it's.

Speaker 3 (22:31):
So long and drawing out, and you know, a day
from about nine an the morning.

Speaker 2 (22:35):
Until about five or six in the evening.

Speaker 3 (22:37):
Because your grandfather, my grandfather was the actual pastor to
the church and stuff.

Speaker 2 (22:42):
Like that right here. So I didn't just grew up
in a church. I grew up in a Jewish because
I had no.

Speaker 1 (22:48):
Choice exactly like most of yea.

Speaker 2 (22:53):
So that music always.

Speaker 5 (22:54):
Put me in that soon that make me feel so alive,
like so so so powerful, no, you understand, and and
when I when I develop, when I and I really
like you know, understand, Like I had a talent and
a knack from music.

Speaker 3 (23:13):
I started that is when I started writing. But I
was writing music, I was writing poems right because I
ain't had no rhythms and stuff like that. So I
started off writing poems and stuff. And I realized like
I was really good and writing poems like nobody never
teach me to do none of that. Like I never
went to music school or writing school or anything like that.

Speaker 2 (23:36):
I just really had a natural knack for it, you
know what I mean.

Speaker 3 (23:39):
So music then it was just making me feel like, yo,
I did something that I really love, you know, And
and from.

Speaker 2 (23:46):
Small, and it's from small.

Speaker 3 (23:49):
You don't know right, you might know exactly what you
want to me, but something like when once when when
you get.

Speaker 2 (23:56):
Older and you pay attention and you look back and say.

Speaker 3 (23:59):
Yo, always used to make me feel and a good
way on a good vibe and.

Speaker 2 (24:04):
A powerful look and look look like you know, to
be music. I never thought I would true, you know
what I mean. I never thought I would have been
like back then.

Speaker 3 (24:15):
I wasn't thinking, oh yeah, I'm going to be an artist.
I'm going to be a musician. But thinking back then,
how it used to make my field answer a question?
It you really used to make me feel powerful and
and really alive and like if something just used.

Speaker 2 (24:31):
To move inside them every time I hear it.

Speaker 3 (24:32):
And I know my all music gospel, so car, reggae,
dance or anything anything, any kind of music, cap so
anything you understand, And yeah, so it used to make
me feel like I don't you.

Speaker 1 (24:44):
Know amazing, that's amazing, and it's something that you know.
I come from a musical family. My dad is a
professional drummer, and so I've been around music all my
life and I've grown up around you know, persons like
the Marley's Bears, Hammon things like that, and I person's
like that, and I just it's something with music and

(25:05):
growing up around that as a child. It's like what
you said, you just start to hear melody and it's
really a gift, you know. It's when you're not taught something,
but you're so good at it like you are, you
can tell that's something that was innate in you from birth.
That's that's not something that everybody has. So that's so amazing.

Speaker 2 (25:26):
Yeah it is. It is wow, Like yes, right.

Speaker 1 (25:32):
And it's funny you brought up the childhood thing because
I just said in a previous episode that I find
that whatever makes us happy as children, or made us
happy as children, that's really what our joy is or
where our joy lies. It's as we get older and
persons tell us, oh, you can't do that, you can't
do that, or you know that will never happen, and

(25:53):
start to put doubt in our mind, that's when we
lose that creativity. But like you said, once you get older,
you find yourself trying to get back to that person
you were before a person started telling you that. Because
think about it, when you're younger and you're like five,
six or seven, and somebody says, what do you want
to be when you grow up? And you say, oh,
I want to be a doctor and an astronaut and

(26:15):
a dinosaur and you know Albert Einstein, and they think
it's so cute. You're like, oh, yeah, you can be
all those things. But something happens where you then say
you then get told no better, you just go be
a doctor or a lawyer or you know all those
like standard jobs that we're supposed to have that make

(26:36):
you successful. But it just goes to show you when
something's in you. God already has your path set, no
matter what anybody else thinks, Like your path is already
for you.

Speaker 2 (26:46):
You know, yeah, it's true. And I have certain people
to see that in you before you see it. Yeah.
And my story and two people to Rasta.

Speaker 3 (27:00):
Young guys like when I was small, you know, I
didn't know anything about Rastafi or anything like that. And
one guy, you know, one time he was in my
grant grandmother gallery, and he was like he was telling
my grandmother he said, when.

Speaker 2 (27:13):
He grew up, he go be a Rasta and he
could be a big star. He go be a singer.

Speaker 3 (27:18):
And I'm small, I remember it's like yesterday, and this
is this is when I'm small, like small, I didn't
even travel to America and nothing like I small small
right like that, I remember that I'm born and everything
I love I remember that. Like he was a Rasta guy,
and you tell my grandmother, He say, listen, he's going

(27:40):
to be a musician, a big popular artist, and he's
going to be a Rasta. And I grew up to
be an artist, a musician, and I have dread.

Speaker 1 (27:54):
Sorry you should have asked him for some luttery numbers
while you were.

Speaker 2 (28:00):
Tell you I wasn't. I didn't even know if he
was just talking. You know what I mean that I'm
a kid. No, listen, listen if.

Speaker 3 (28:10):
Incredible, that's incredible, that's incredible. And then again like when
I started doing music, you know, when I migrated to
the States and stuff. This guy who I used to
work with, he told me that too. I was on
a ladder paint and he said, you will be Ahsoka Tess,
a household name and everybody know you.

Speaker 2 (28:31):
And then yeah, he tells me that.

Speaker 3 (28:33):
And I was actually working on a job like paint
and I used to paint and stuff like that, and
he tells me that, and you know, and with my
first hit. When I got my first hit, he wanted
me to be the godfather for his daughter. And he said,
remember I tell you, Remember I tell you what I
will tell you any ladder, he says, see any I
tried to go again and tell me that, but I wasn't.

Speaker 1 (28:56):
Saying that's amazing.

Speaker 5 (29:00):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (29:01):
I like to think of those people as little angels
God sent to tell you, you know where your past
should be. Because what if you just decided no, man,
I can't bother mat me just paint young man, because
and then we couldn't have all this great music.

Speaker 3 (29:15):
Well yeah, the city thing is in life, right, I
would just get a really really really quickick quick uick
story in life Sometimes like if we don't pay attention
to what God wants us to do, he will is
either two things, he will take it away from you
or he was so if he's speeding, he was so,
you know, to putting in that seat. And what he
did with me now he's saw me on because I

(29:38):
was doing everything else but focusing on music back then,
everything else, running along with my friends and looking at
the party.

Speaker 2 (29:46):
In school and all kind of thing.

Speaker 3 (29:48):
And I had a situation and I got shot in
my foot straight where it wasn't it wasn't intended for me,
but that at that moment, at that time, I didn't.

Speaker 2 (30:00):
Know what he was doing. I just said, I get shot.
I can't walk. So when I got shot, could do
work for two months.

Speaker 3 (30:09):
And that that moment when I got shot is the
moment when he started talking to me in dept. Because
I was on beddress and I couldn't do anything. I
was just on medication and think.

Speaker 1 (30:21):
What you had to listen to listen.

Speaker 3 (30:23):
And from me. Then from then I never took him
back like ever until now.

Speaker 1 (30:31):
M hmm.

Speaker 2 (30:32):
So he sold me all you way on for that.

Speaker 1 (30:36):
To become the wow wow wow almost that is amazing,
like oh my gosh, wo that that's going to bless
a lot of people because it blessed me because it's true.
You know, I think that God will slow you down

(30:58):
in one way or another. It is say hey, hey,
this life is not You're not driving the car here,
it's me.

Speaker 2 (31:04):
It's you.

Speaker 3 (31:05):
It's me and I have something to store for you,
and you're not focusing on it. You're not paying attention.
So listen, sit on, vamin it. Let me talk to you.

Speaker 1 (31:14):
And I know you were like, god, you really just
you had to make me get shut.

Speaker 2 (31:18):
In me yeah something I said that. I was like, yo,
I have to go through all of this.

Speaker 1 (31:27):
That's how you know you are stubborn, you know, because
you tried to tap you. If I co bet my salary,
I would say, try to keep your tap on the shoulder,
but he said, no, man, this one needs something. This
one needs something very serious to see.

Speaker 3 (31:40):
You're not listening wrongly wrong. People are showing you that
all kind of thing. I'm telling you that you're listening
sit on vaminate my gosh.

Speaker 1 (31:50):
Yeah man, that's that's a beautiful story though. Sorry for
your foot then. But speaking of you know, just your
songs and what they've done for so many of us.
You've made a name for yourself writing songs that I

(32:13):
would say uplift people, right, and that kind of positivity
I know firsthand doesn't happen by accident. So where does
it come from? Is it something you were taught, something
you practice, or is it something that just keeps choosing
you or choosing you to kind of like send that
message to the I.

Speaker 3 (32:32):
Think it's a little bit of everything you see is
definitely I give.

Speaker 2 (32:37):
You know, it's something I never practiced. Like I said,
I never went to school for it. I never. I never,
you know, was taught how to write or how to
you know, approach I read them or anything like that.

Speaker 3 (32:49):
But it is something that I got better with over
the years.

Speaker 2 (32:57):
And I was with anything anything you're doing, any any thing.

Speaker 3 (33:00):
Once you practice your craft, if he's a writer, if
he's a singer, if he's a doctor, if he's a mechanic.

Speaker 2 (33:06):
Anything you practice over the years, you will get better. Right.

Speaker 3 (33:09):
And like I said, when I first started writing, or
I started writing poems, right, and then I realized, hey,
I have a I could write good.

Speaker 2 (33:17):
And in school now I was good at composition and.

Speaker 1 (33:20):
Sa and all them kind of thing.

Speaker 2 (33:21):
And I was like, yo, you know, but I wasn't
thinking artists for all them time.

Speaker 3 (33:25):
But when I fust get my full meet my first ridden,
I was able to write. When you write melodies and
stuff like that obviously would help pick up my boy.
The instrumental, the enjoumental studio, he's the he's the post.
And that taught me how to write bars record certain
kind of your voice, how to project your voice, how

(33:47):
to limit your voice, you know, only basics, only basics
about writing and recording, but the actual, but the ritual
writing and recording that natural vie and natural talent. I
never know just how to knock for it and just
get a gift from God and just was able to
you know, belt all lyrics and loos and melodies and
stuff like that, and a lot of melodies I learned

(34:09):
from it. It's from church, you know, believe it or not.
You know, even with a song like happy Places that
is a church melody you know, and just incorporated and
you know, make it my style. But like I said,
it was just a really unnatural talent from Neon Mighty.

Speaker 2 (34:28):
You know.

Speaker 1 (34:29):
Wow wow. And even it's funny you bring up that
song because I also think even the introduction to that
song musically reminds me.

Speaker 2 (34:36):
Yeah, you know.

Speaker 1 (34:38):
So that's so interesting because you can hear the difference.
You can just tell that you're the type of artists
that listens to different kind of and you can always
tell them, like you know, a lot of times artists,
I don't know, I don't know if it's that they
lose their creativity or they just figure, well, everybody likes
this sound, so let me stick to this but I

(35:00):
find that you can hear the influence of different kinds
of music within your music, which is good.

Speaker 3 (35:06):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I like I always like to be versatile,
you know than different audiences you know what I mean,
because I have audiences would go in with you, which
is you know, the younger art is the younger generation, you.

Speaker 2 (35:18):
Know who coming up and stuff like that. And then
you have people and.

Speaker 3 (35:21):
Like yourself who might be from Jamaica who like dance
for music, and you know who were like a different
kind of song and at different kind of silence in Soca.
So even in the concepts and like a city melodies
that will always put you in a pocket the Keith
for every different kind of audience that have, when you

(35:41):
listen to different different music, it.

Speaker 6 (35:44):
Will trigger that, it will trigger that talent in you,
that creativity in you to just create different songs that
will put you in different pockets and the eyes of
people to be like.

Speaker 2 (35:54):
Yo, I like the song, I love the song from
all different.

Speaker 1 (35:58):
Walks at yeah, because it will be like they can
kind of hear themselves in the song.

Speaker 2 (36:02):
Yes, yes, yes, yes, no.

Speaker 1 (36:05):
I agree, I agree. And when you perform in like
major concert venues for example, you talked about it earlier,
but you have an upcoming major show in Brooklyn called
happy Place. Right, So happy place is not just a mindset, right,
it's a message. So what does a happy place mean

(36:27):
for you right now? As a man, an artist, and
a father, would you say happy.

Speaker 2 (36:33):
Place means comfort? Be some mind.

Speaker 3 (36:40):
And in different aspects and different walks of life.

Speaker 2 (36:43):
Now happy I want to.

Speaker 3 (36:44):
Explain to the people and them that happy place can
be anything, right, It could be anywhere. It could be
someone you know, like like your office might be a
happy place, your house could be a happy place. In
my case, now, the studio is my happy place. When
I wrong my son any way, wrong my son, that
is a happy space and a happy place right.

Speaker 2 (37:04):
And a wrong.

Speaker 3 (37:05):
Love ones not just myss on and wrong. Love one's family,
fans and only fans.

Speaker 2 (37:09):
You know what I mean.

Speaker 3 (37:10):
When I'm a show, When I'm on a show on stage,
that is my happy place. When I take in pictures
with fans, that in my happy place. This is things
that I love to do. Like, I'm very passionate about that,
you know, I do just do it because now I'm
really really passionate about what I do about music, about
kitten to people. So anything that brings a peace of
mind comfort for me, that put me in the zone

(37:32):
is my happy place anyway.

Speaker 2 (37:34):
It could be any batter you will.

Speaker 1 (37:35):
I love that, And I just think, what a what
a beautiful gift that you're able to make a living
doing something that you actually truly love. Yet, yes, and
I don't get to do that, And it's evoked through
your music. You can tell it's something you genuinely love
to do, love.

Speaker 2 (37:54):
To do, like like every day is a day.

Speaker 3 (37:58):
Don't go a day, don't go by without me doing
something with music.

Speaker 2 (38:04):
Like music is literally in my life. Have no D
B D Christmas, you know, matter what the.

Speaker 3 (38:13):
I always mean, always on it, like yeah, when I
finished talk to you, I jump in the car, go
to the mall, I go in and listen.

Speaker 2 (38:23):
I read him like I always on it. Obviously.

Speaker 3 (38:27):
Obviously, sometimes you take time and you reset your brain
and you spend time with your family, and you know,
do regular things to you. Don't get me wrong, you
know I do regular things. I wash, I cook, I
do I do.

Speaker 2 (38:37):
All them things to.

Speaker 1 (38:38):
But you hear that ladies and gentlemen even lyrical washes
and cooks. Okay, Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, you know what
I mean. I tell them about them sometimes.

Speaker 3 (38:47):
Yeah or the other what you know, And a lot
of times people are paid like you know you Fellas
put it like I could cook and clean.

Speaker 2 (38:54):
So no girl, chemic style and.

Speaker 3 (38:56):
You do it for that, don't do it for that,
you just for you, for you.

Speaker 2 (39:05):
Maybe maybe you can do it to help exactly, you
know what I mean exactly.

Speaker 1 (39:13):
Exactly. But cleanliness is next to godliness, so you should
learn how to keep your place tidy.

Speaker 3 (39:20):
Yeah, cleanliness is not next to godliness. Cleanliness is godliness.

Speaker 2 (39:25):
He is right.

Speaker 1 (39:28):
We have to reframe that.

Speaker 2 (39:29):
I agree.

Speaker 1 (39:31):
I agree. We need to change that expeditiously. And even
though you know you obviously love performing. You love music,
You're passionate about it. And we see the performances, but
we don't always see the discipline behind them. So can
you share what's something that you do, maybe mentally, emotionally,

(39:54):
spiritually to stay grounded, Like just when life gets noisy.

Speaker 3 (40:00):
You know, sometimes I do a little fast, you know,
and just just fast just for not just for music,
but just for you know, life, you know, and on
the whole, you know what I mean. Sometimes like they say,
get noisy, you know, you would get a little rough
in your space and andoline, you know, and you might
just kind of stick to myselfs me. A lot of times,
I just I just make sacrifices like take away stuff

(40:23):
that I love, which is fast and the same way,
you know what I'm saying, just drink alcohol and stuff
like that. I might just stop drinking alcohol for like
two three months, you know, like right now I'm drinking.
I'm drinking, you know until after my concert, you know
what I mean. Stuff like that, to prepare myself, to
prepare my body, you know, nourish my body and my
mind and soul and everything like that. So there's a

(40:43):
lot of deep total a lot of sacrifices that you know,
a lot of times I will put in to give
the people and them, you know, a great performance or
a greater performance, you know, energetic vibe and stuff like
that and more focused. So like I said, they mightn't
see it, but there's a lot of times that you
know what we just be doing. He understand what I'm saying.
You need certain things, you know, it's a certain time.

(41:05):
You know what I'm saying, we'll cout, you know what
I mean. You know, a lot of different things that
that anything that could help us give you a better product,
a better show.

Speaker 2 (41:16):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (41:18):
I love that you said that too, because I don't
think a lot of persons realize what you ingest can
really change your ability to perform in anything that you do.
You know what I mean, If you eat something that
makes you lethargic, if you drink too much, if you smoke, whatever.
Your advice is, you have to be careful what you're
putting in your body. And it's not just what you're

(41:39):
physically putting in your body. It's kind of back to
the dat Noasaune Safe segment where it's also about who
or what you surround yourself with. Because if you're surrounded
with negativity but you have a show tomorrow, you can't
do your best because you're going to be thinking about
whatever negativity you're dealing with, you know, in your environment.
So I love that you said that because it's so important.

Speaker 3 (42:00):
Yes, stay far from negative energy conduct, you know what
I mean? Yes, as actually a line in one of
my songs coming up side.

Speaker 1 (42:06):
Yeah, you see, I'm reading I'm reading your notes. I am.
You talked about, you know, your happy place being your
family and particularly your son and you're raising a son
while showing up for the world as a man of
integrity and faith and positivity. So when you think about

(42:28):
your son, what do you hope that he sees in you,
not just on the stage, but in those quiet moments
just as a dad. And what part of who you
are today do you credit to your mother also for
raising you to the man you are today.

Speaker 3 (42:44):
Well, fustly with my son, I I just always teach
him manner ism, discipline, and respect. You understand, Do you
understand what I'm saying? So have respect for your I
respect for yourself. Like no talk about cleanliness, you know
what I mean. Like what you do will attract the
kind of people who you want to be with or
want to be around.

Speaker 2 (43:05):
Stuff like that, you know what I mean. Either try
to force.

Speaker 3 (43:07):
Him into being a singer or be in this and
being that, I'm gonna try to show him listening at
different walks in life. And whatever you do, always try
to be the best at whatever you do, whatever.

Speaker 2 (43:17):
You choose to do.

Speaker 3 (43:18):
And I always here to support because and say next
part of your question, You know my mother always support me.
She was never against music, She was never against me
doing anything. Girl in my Hair doing nothing whatever I
wanted to do, you understand. So I always credit my
mother to always be one of my biggest supporters and
support support system from jump before before she even see

(43:42):
any type of success. She always know and could I
always see if you say no, mother, have the vision
and have the eyes too to say, hey, my son
good in this. But she always was very very supportive.
She always teach me a always look the key to
to yourself. Always be good for yourself, like to cook,
to wash your clean. I learn that for my mother,
you know what I mean, like all of that, and

(44:02):
I try to teach my son, you know the same thing.
If I wash in you know what I mean, I
would tell him full up your clothes, paint in this
straight amount to do that, stremeunt brush TV right away,
Pussia tongue.

Speaker 2 (44:12):
This is that every little thing that growing up to
be the right.

Speaker 3 (44:15):
Way of our man to see, hey, I have respect, discipline,
punctuality and everything you brought upsy.

Speaker 2 (44:23):
Every everything that I.

Speaker 3 (44:25):
See in in in myself, I want to see in him.

Speaker 2 (44:28):
But I open impression and I was just teach him
right exactly, just guide him, just guide him.

Speaker 3 (44:35):
He's a he's a kid, you know he's nine years
old going on ten, so he would do certain things.

Speaker 2 (44:39):
O kid would do you know what I mean, you know,
but I'm here to teacher.

Speaker 1 (44:44):
He of course do that matters.

Speaker 3 (44:47):
Yeah, clean up after yourself, make sure you do this,
make sure you always focus on balance if you're playing
a game, make sure you're doing good in school, stuff
like that.

Speaker 1 (44:55):
I love that, and that's I mean, I think that's
also why fathers are just so important, because you know,
fathers are important for boys, but I actually think mothers
are even more important. And the reason why I say
even more is because mothers have like a natural like
nurturing ability. And I think that because the world in

(45:19):
general is so hard on men, particularly Black men, Caribbean men,
wherever you're from in the diaspora. A lot of times,
a lot of men that end up in problems or
violence or angry they never had that nurturing, so they
just always kind of feel like they have to fight
for everything, and everything is a fight because they never
had that. And usually fathers. While fathers can provide that nurturing,

(45:41):
they're usually there to teach more of like the tough
love because the world is not going to nurture them
you know what I mean. So I think it's so
good to have that balance and the fact that your
mom instilled that in you, that's something that you can
pass on to him as well, for sure.

Speaker 3 (45:55):
Yeah, And as you say about mothers, I have to
credit his mom because she'd do an amazing job, like
you know, as be on the road and you know,
I'm all over and traveling here and they and that,
so I don't be around all.

Speaker 1 (46:10):
The time, you know what I mean exactly, but your job.

Speaker 2 (46:13):
As he needs, I'm a job, you know what I mean.

Speaker 3 (46:15):
But all they providing for him, man, you know what
I mean, everything.

Speaker 2 (46:19):
You want and you know, yeah, everything good.

Speaker 3 (46:22):
So but she just do a really really really really
really good job from every time, every like every time, you.

Speaker 2 (46:29):
Like, if it's a hundred and fifty no life.

Speaker 1 (46:35):
I love that, And I think you know, your son
is blessed. And I can tell from experience to have
kind of both of those worlds, because I find that
when you have a parent that has that type of
a job, it's hard for other kids maybe to understand
because they're used to having maybe two parents that work

(46:55):
nine to five and come home every day. But the
other side of it is you get to see all
these cool places, You get to meet all these people,
you know, you get to travel, you get to be
in places that kids your age don't get to experience.
And I think it's just good for personality development because
when he gets older, he'll be able to go into
any setting and adjust because you know, he's able to

(47:16):
come with you sometimes to shows, I'm sure, or you know,
hear certain things you're working on in the studio, And
I just think it makes a well rounded child, even
though it's a different type of upbringing, if that makes it,
you know, So that's really positive. Okay, great, I love that. Yes,

(47:36):
all right, So before we transition to our final segment,
I've been allowing my guests to ask me one question
this season. So is there anything that you would like.

Speaker 2 (47:47):
To ask Wow, supervise.

Speaker 3 (47:56):
Wowt at what what point?

Speaker 2 (48:05):
Or what song? Because you don't have to specify any year.
You can if you want that you fell in love.

Speaker 3 (48:13):
With Soca or use always a Soca lover com inception?

Speaker 2 (48:17):
Or what like? What song with artists like wrong with Time?

Speaker 3 (48:21):
You will say, you know, I really like I really
like this.

Speaker 1 (48:25):
I absolutely love this question. You were my favorite before,
but because I will admit, and I think I said
it's on an episode before I there was a period
where I did not like soccer. But let me explain.

Speaker 2 (48:45):
It's okay, Okay, my father.

Speaker 1 (48:48):
Used to play for Byronley and the Dragonaires. I don't
know if you're familiar with it, Okay, of course, all right,
So that's what I knew of Socca, and that reminded
me of the Audi, you know, the tiny whiney, So
that's what I see. I was even calling it wrong
because that's what I knew at Soca. And then it

(49:10):
was twenty fifteen and I heard DJ Private Ryan's mix
that everybody else and I don't know what it is
about that mix. First of all, the fact that I
know everything that that mixed back to front is a problem, okay,
but it really made me fall in love with Soca.
And I think it's because now that I'm talking to you,

(49:34):
the mix had so now that I know more about Soca,
so many different types of Soca, like the power Soca
the day. So it was my first time hearing like, wait,
Soca can sound like this, It doesn't sound like everything,
doesn't sound like barrenly under Dragonares because that's what I thought,
you know, so I just wasn't. That's that's why it's

(49:54):
so important to be educated on things, right, because I
didn't know. I was going around saying, oh, no, I
I don't like soca, not even realizing that's not even
what I would I would just have that in my mind,
you know, so I would say twenty fifteen, that's when
I fell in love with it, and ever since then,
I just love soca, like every type of soca. Every

(50:18):
I've never heard a Soca artist that I'm like, no, no,
I'm you know, it's like, it's not my thing. I
just I'm a very positive person, and I find that
soca is very positive. It always puts me in a
good mood. It's just I don't know, it's just it
can just make you feel like everything's better in the world,

(50:41):
even if it's for five minutes and thirty five seconds.
It's just something that I think makes you feel like
you can either do anything or you know, if you
want to six thirty touch your toe little, it's you know,
do like have a good time. I think it's it's
import important to really find out about music and really

(51:05):
open your mind and your airs literally to being cultured
you know, through different types of music, because I find
that there's a lots of Jamaicans that don't like Soka
for that reason, like maybe they only heard one Soca
song and because they don't like that song, they think
they don't like the genre, right, you know what I mean.

(51:26):
I don't think that's fair. So yeah, I would say
twenty fifteen, that's when I fell in love with it.
And I would say, even though you didn't ask me,
I'm just gonna give you this my ooh, this is hard.
But if I had to choose one of my favorite
songs of yours, it would be Don't Tell Me Minisfeu.

(51:58):
I love that song, and of course happy Place of course.

Speaker 2 (52:01):
Yeah yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah yeah yeah.

Speaker 1 (52:04):
But they're so.

Speaker 3 (52:06):
That that was actually, I mean, every year is great
for SOCCA every year, but twenty fifteen a lot of
people see it that year was a colder year for soccer. Yes,
twenty yes, that was when I sang Cloud nine, Lona
and all and those, but.

Speaker 1 (52:27):
I didn't know what year it was. I didn't know
if it was twenty fifty. I didn't want to drop
the gun and say okay, and those are like literally
my top two songs from.

Speaker 2 (52:36):
You yeah, yeah, yeah yeah.

Speaker 3 (52:39):
And that song for over that is when I was
actually that's decks. That's favorite song.

Speaker 2 (52:45):
From for me really.

Speaker 1 (52:49):
Saying I am one of the I threes, I'm a
background vocalist. When that song comes down in my career, okay, concert,
that is my song because we wants to.

Speaker 2 (52:59):
Fit not me, no one, no one, especially when I
haven't brothers.

Speaker 1 (53:05):
Exactly, you know what I mean?

Speaker 2 (53:07):
Why is that before me?

Speaker 1 (53:08):
You know, gosh, that's hilarious. But thank you.

Speaker 2 (53:13):
I love that. That's that song coming. But that is
a different story. Really we go yeah yeah.

Speaker 3 (53:19):
Yeah, that that song was that was a crazy kind.

Speaker 2 (53:22):
Of well, I believe everything was happened supposed to.

Speaker 3 (53:28):
But when while when when I never went to the
studio to record that song. I actually went to the
studio to record a different song, and I was in
I had taken a uber a taxi to the studio
right because I wasn't home.

Speaker 2 (53:43):
I was, you know, aware when I was.

Speaker 3 (53:45):
In New York time and took out uber from the
hotel to the studio.

Speaker 2 (53:50):
I took a taxi.

Speaker 3 (53:53):
I finished when I was violin and then I was leaving.
So the uber say seven minutes it will be here
in seven minutes. And while I waiting for it, did
you Spider? At the producer he put on your rythm
and then I heard you rth. I was like, I
was like, yo, why aren't send me this?

Speaker 2 (54:09):
He was like, he's like, what do you mean. I
was like, I was like, yo, when this is coming out?

Speaker 3 (54:13):
He was like, you know, coming out like in two weeks,
you know, so if you want to be a you know,
hurry up and stuff like that. And while he's saying that,
I say, d j DJ on it again because his
name is did you Spider.

Speaker 2 (54:32):
Again? Yeah?

Speaker 3 (54:38):
I was just telling him to play over the beat,
like play over the beat. So but like when he said,
I just said play over the beat and I was like,
and then I keep saying play. I was like, DJE
get and I was like, did it again again? I
was like, and I run any boot and you know,
I start, you know, just rivingt.

Speaker 2 (55:00):
But it was it happened so spontaneous.

Speaker 3 (55:02):
It had no cameras and like it just happened literally,
so it had no cameras that really capture and everything.
And we always say like, yo, if we had captured
this moment, it would have been like in see it
because it just likely taxi coming.

Speaker 2 (55:16):
I went on my app o. My I'm canceling uber.

Speaker 3 (55:22):
Because it was just the vibe us one time, like
right here within the seven minutes, I just running your
boot lighters and I don't know, deft over like I
just start saying that and that was it.

Speaker 1 (55:36):
Oh my gosh, that's incredible. So basically you just vibe
the song. You didn't put pen to paper.

Speaker 3 (55:41):
No, I don't write. I don't I don't write pen
to paper. I don't write none of My my gosh.

Speaker 1 (55:44):
I'm having because Mody said the exact same thing, and
I almost dropped down, like London Bridge. I'm trying to
figure out how you guys come up with songs like this.

Speaker 2 (55:53):
Yeah, yeah, I don't write.

Speaker 1 (55:55):
Just no, man, that's a gift. Yeah, it's a gift.

Speaker 2 (55:58):
Yeah, I do, all right, I write.

Speaker 3 (56:00):
The last time I was writing, like when I was
telling about the poems and stuff like that.

Speaker 2 (56:04):
That was like when I was going to school and
things like that.

Speaker 3 (56:06):
But since I since I became a professional artist with people,
I never write a song on a paper ever.

Speaker 1 (56:13):
So the last time you put pented paper was as divan,
not as lyrics, never.

Speaker 2 (56:18):
As lyrical No never lyrics, Oh my god.

Speaker 3 (56:23):
Lyc Because what I realized, like the early days, like
when I was writing and stuff like that's no started
and nobody know me that I could have never.

Speaker 2 (56:34):
I could have never sing read and sing. I could.
I can't read and sing.

Speaker 3 (56:38):
It will go good with me like I can't read
and singing a song like I reading.

Speaker 1 (56:47):
I'm saying authentic, it's a song like I reading something.

Speaker 2 (56:52):
It'll flow like how I wanted to flow.

Speaker 1 (56:54):
So can you imagine if you were like I turn.

Speaker 2 (56:57):
Up write you know what I mean?

Speaker 3 (57:07):
So so my my writing, my form of writing is
singing it over and over and over and over and over.
But what that what that does do is I have
I have a phone. I have an extra phone anywhere
going it could be traveling anyway, I always have extra phone.
So if I catch a melody, I catch your lyrics,
I just.

Speaker 1 (57:25):
I just sing, just repeat it, just singing them a.

Speaker 3 (57:28):
Phone, I just singing them a phone. Like let me
just say, is that get over? I do not need
do it all over just and I just recorded. And
wherever I line, I catch, catch catch, I just keep
recording and recording, recording it. And then that is basically
it that is how if I write, that would be
my writing, but not never pen to people or anything,
and I not there's no slam, not towards nobody who
just right, I mean, of course everybody going away, you.

Speaker 2 (57:52):
Know what I mean.

Speaker 1 (57:52):
Of course, of course, I'm just saying it's a gift
because it's not an easy thing to do to come
up with a melody and lyrics that makes sense. Yes, right,
So it's not just like you're saying foolish. That's why
for me, as just somebody listening to both of your
you know, your catalogs of music, it's hard to conceptualize

(58:14):
that because it's so well thought out that it seems like,
oh you have to write that down, you know, like
it actually makes sense.

Speaker 2 (58:21):
Okay, wow, And you know your brains myself.

Speaker 3 (58:24):
So the more you use your brain is stronger you get,
the more dreammembrance.

Speaker 1 (58:29):
Oh that's so true. That's so true. Thank you so
much for that story. I love that, No wonder, that's
my favorite song. Oh my gosh. All right, so you're welcome,
of course. So before we get to our last segments,
I almost forgot, but I did say at the top
of the show that I would mention it. So in

(58:51):
a recent episode, Muddy named you as one of his
dream collaborations and we reposted it and so many people
were like, oh my gosh, I really want to hear
that happen. So what does that mean to you for
another artist from you know, another country looking up to
you in that way or wanting to collaborate with you
in that way, and.

Speaker 2 (59:12):
That is great. I think that's a great thing. And
just just show your body at work and you know,
you're doing your.

Speaker 3 (59:16):
Writing and you have the impact on your music, you know,
stuff like that.

Speaker 2 (59:22):
So you know, I just want to you know, Tank
the Fat.

Speaker 3 (59:26):
I forgive him that talent and you know, to really
put out to the world and you know, to touch
people and stuff like that. And for someone like Muddy,
you know, big up money. You know, you've been putting
on great music for number years. A lot of people know,
probably not starting to really get to know him, know him,
know him like that outside of you need a life.
For the last I was like two years and I

(59:46):
talked him out like a wide range, know you know
what I mean, not not just places he go and
stuff like that. So, you know, salute to Muddy and
definitely the yelewy, let you get the collaboration gain, you
know what I mean?

Speaker 1 (59:59):
Yeah, but I know, I'm so excited for him because
I think a lot of people don't really realize the
magnitude of his talent and they're starting to. So yeah,
that would be that collaboration would be awesome.

Speaker 2 (01:00:11):
Yeah, super talented better.

Speaker 3 (01:00:13):
But if I'm doing a collaborate money it Colby, it
had to be in studio together, you know what I mean?

Speaker 2 (01:00:17):
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, especially.

Speaker 1 (01:00:20):
The way you guys, you know, conceptualize music. Now that
I know that, yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah, now
that you have to get on video.

Speaker 2 (01:00:28):
Yeah, we had a document that's make sure.

Speaker 1 (01:00:30):
I'm there so I can make sure I'm a witness to.

Speaker 2 (01:00:33):
That for sure. For sure. For show you invited the recession.

Speaker 1 (01:00:36):
You know, you see you guys you heard it here first.
So he has to keep his word.

Speaker 3 (01:00:41):
Definitely, definitely, But yeah, I literally, you know, really there's
a humbling feeling and to hear after sonya, you know,
I like money and anyone else you know who wants
to collaborate with myself and one who who who just
really you know, saluted the music now like you know
who who who really really, I will say the music

(01:01:05):
catching them in a suit, and we to say, well, boy,
they want to do something with lyrical and any any
kind of capacity, you.

Speaker 1 (01:01:11):
Know, Yeah, I love that, beautiful, beautifully said. All right,
So our final segment, I'm going to ask you a
few rapid fire questions and you have to give me
the first answer that comes to mind. Okay, okay, all right,
who is your favorite reggae.

Speaker 3 (01:01:30):
Artist regular regular dance reggae, reggae reggae reggae. Well, I
would say Boo because was done well, and then I
guess reggae like I don't know.

Speaker 1 (01:01:43):
If that's true. He's kind of on the line. Yeah, okay,
how about this? How about this? Who's your favorite old
school reggae artist? So Bogo is fine, but I'm asking
you a second question, who's your favorite like old school
reggae artists?

Speaker 5 (01:02:00):
Would you say, okay, keep it old school, now, keep
it old school old school?

Speaker 2 (01:02:05):
I would say, is that I don't know what it's like.

Speaker 7 (01:02:12):
There's no good you know, like all right, all right, yeah,
so so I'm conscious like and conscious reggae.

Speaker 2 (01:02:25):
I will see, I really like I was. I don't
think it's les down, so I think it's reggae.

Speaker 1 (01:02:34):
Yes, I would agree, I would say so yeah, I
would say sure, okay, all right. I didn't expect that
to be such a hard question.

Speaker 2 (01:02:46):
But you don't want to see the wrong thing and offend.

Speaker 3 (01:02:49):
Nobody will be like yo, that he's not he's not
ready's answer you exactly.

Speaker 1 (01:02:53):
But you've made a good point because some of them
are doing a little bit of both. So well know
that we brought up I might as well just ask
who's your favorite dance?

Speaker 3 (01:03:02):
All artists of Cattle writes cattle from from from from
ever since, not come a wrong time before I talked
about before he clashed with Mavado time before that.

Speaker 1 (01:03:14):
WHOA, yeah, I see your favorite artists. I'm curious that's
the artists.

Speaker 3 (01:03:20):
Sol artists because it was firstly, his lyrics and flow
is out there, his will right, there's ass like that
is very intelligent, right, and and then no, he he
capture lyrics, flow and melody do.

Speaker 2 (01:03:39):
Like don pack right, Mvado, Mvardo have it.

Speaker 3 (01:03:44):
To you know, but cattle, you know, just kind of
nagy lyrics the lyrical content. You know what I'm saying
that Vado had a melody and he made people and
them sing youngster songs, making guilds sing youngster songs and
solutevao same it to but Cale just have that melody
lyrics and flew that the stick you will buy Stormy

(01:04:07):
he just and he's so racked with his songs.

Speaker 2 (01:04:10):
Is there's so many songs. It was his created so quick.

Speaker 1 (01:04:14):
Yes, a gift as well. Yes, it is the credibility this.

Speaker 2 (01:04:19):
World alter this soul. And then he was right.

Speaker 3 (01:04:21):
He was right for people well before not probably not now,
but he was writing for like, you know, his his camp. Now,
the guy's a camp, you know what I mean, not everybody,
not like a PA pone and stuff like that, but
he was writing for them, you know, females and stuff
and stuff like that too.

Speaker 2 (01:04:37):
So he was.

Speaker 3 (01:04:38):
He was very influential in that part of it too.
So yeah, cattle for sure. And before before cattle, when
before cattle was boujou.

Speaker 4 (01:04:48):
Oh that's right, yes, right, was full dance, remember, was
full dance all over?

Speaker 2 (01:05:01):
I understand.

Speaker 1 (01:05:02):
Yeah, yeah, nice that you know your dance.

Speaker 3 (01:05:07):
I mean, I mean I know music, I know music,
and you will I don't listen. I don't even I
just listen all kinds of music, not just.

Speaker 1 (01:05:16):
I can tell yeah, I can tell you.

Speaker 2 (01:05:20):
Yeah, I love that.

Speaker 1 (01:05:22):
Love that all right? What's the lyric of yours that
you feel evokes exactly who you are.

Speaker 2 (01:05:34):
And happy place?

Speaker 3 (01:05:36):
I will say, when you're seeing rock with my friends,
it's just a love. It just have vibes on the ends.
And when you see me rocking by myself, tell them
it's no false pretense.

Speaker 1 (01:05:47):
Okay, I love that.

Speaker 8 (01:05:53):
When you're seeing rockay with my friends, it's just just
vibes on when rocky by myself, tell them fast pretend
it just realized and gets you know what I mean,
that's just me or the.

Speaker 1 (01:06:03):
Kid that session.

Speaker 2 (01:06:06):
Please.

Speaker 1 (01:06:07):
I can't any time that you say that though in
that line, because as somebody that appears to be extroverted
but is very introverted, I think people can take it
when you do want to be by yourself as something
is wrong. It's like, no, I just need to recharge,
Like I just need a second.

Speaker 2 (01:06:28):
That is a put on your phone and charge.

Speaker 1 (01:06:35):
I can't have the phone tied to my fered need
to charge up.

Speaker 2 (01:06:41):
You know, you can't need gas and need a charge.
Everything needs a charge in life. That's true for everything
that everything, everything that moves, need a charge. Plans need
needs full needs a charge.

Speaker 1 (01:06:54):
We need Yeah, for sure, everything that moves needs to charge.

Speaker 2 (01:06:58):
That's all.

Speaker 1 (01:07:00):
True. Okay. What is one lesson from your childhood that
still guides you today besides getting shot in your foot bottom?

Speaker 3 (01:07:13):
Well, well, there's a couple of things. Is a couple
of life lessons. And you know that that really, you know,
stood out to me and and and really mad maet
me into the pus and I am today, And and
that is.

Speaker 2 (01:07:29):
Always always always put your best food forward.

Speaker 3 (01:07:32):
My my mother and my father always tell me anything
you're doing in life, always make sure to be the
try to be the best at at it as you can.
You understand anything you're doing, so you always stand on.
Never try to fit in order to try to stand out.
And I stand and always be a leader, never follower

(01:07:52):
the follow the morning you leave you away, you understand.

Speaker 2 (01:07:56):
And my name and Cosey or Marry is leader. Get
o Maria and co see Matt, and that's my name.
You know there's leader, you know king leader, you know
to leader.

Speaker 1 (01:08:07):
You know so you had no choice. You're born to
be I'm born.

Speaker 2 (01:08:10):
To be a leader, you know.

Speaker 3 (01:08:13):
So a lot of times, even even in my genre,
or anything I do, not just my genre, a lot
of things a lot of people might be doing. I
mightn't see me. They'll be like, why do I do this?
Like this person like, because it is not me, you
know what I mean? So, yeah, I don't want to fifteen.
I always want to stand out. But you don't have
to do much to stand out in life. You just

(01:08:34):
have to be the best version of yourself.

Speaker 2 (01:08:36):
The standard.

Speaker 1 (01:08:37):
Yes, so true, beautifully said, beautifully said. And the final
question before I do my thank you, if you could
sit across from that seven year old boy in church
full of voice and vision, what would you tell him? No,
know that you've been through life. You know, not your

(01:09:00):
but you've been through a lot of life, and knowing
what you know now.

Speaker 2 (01:09:05):
I will say to him, like everything.

Speaker 3 (01:09:09):
Firstly, before I answer that, I want to say every
because you know, sometimes you know, you might say something
even though you ask it any perfect way. But sometimes
I say something and people might say, well, you know.

Speaker 2 (01:09:19):
I always like.

Speaker 3 (01:09:20):
To say I don't regret anything. I think everything when
I do in life is what makes.

Speaker 2 (01:09:25):
You who you are today.

Speaker 3 (01:09:26):
Right, But what I will say that a seven year
old in the church is follow these signs follow God's
signs and what he's telling you to do, right, because
all these signs were people and what people were saying
about me. But he go to be artists and who
is this that was in front of me right there?
I just wasn't really paying attention take and he you know.

Speaker 2 (01:09:48):
What I mean?

Speaker 3 (01:09:48):
So I could have been I could have been doing
what I wanted to do or what I was destined
to do way before I started to do it.

Speaker 2 (01:09:57):
I understand.

Speaker 3 (01:09:58):
So you know you're saying, yeah, just take out signs
in life, and yeah follow for follow your.

Speaker 2 (01:10:06):
Father saying do this? Are do you writing? You know?
I mean?

Speaker 3 (01:10:09):
And and usually it's sometimes we just sort of when
we work back at to yourself. You know, we want
to correct certain things what we imperfect. But that is
something I would say to the last seven year old.

Speaker 1 (01:10:21):
Okay, now I'm going to do my thank you. I
try to tell people now I used to not say this,
but on a Nago, come on here and mash me
up because I love to cry. Try your best not
to cry, but I have to, you know, thank my guess.
It's kind of my thing. So lyrical. I think that

(01:10:41):
you are more than an artist. You serve as a
reminder that joy doesn't have to be allowed to be powerful.
It can be deliberate, it can be faithful, and it's
something that everybody is able to experience. I feel like
you've taken the weight of the world and turned it

(01:11:02):
into melody, making room for people to feel good again,
And in doing so, you've reminded us that healing doesn't
always happen in a hospital or a doctor's office. Sometimes
it happens in a fet Sometimes it owns like a
lyric that heals your soul, or a melody that just

(01:11:22):
makes you feel good inside. And it's easy for everyone
to see the artist. You know, the crowd, the catalog,
and really your craft. But today I am so grateful
for the opportunity that you shared the man Devon Martin
and the voice behind the rhythm. You know. You shared

(01:11:44):
that you are a calm, grounded person that is committed
to joy, and not the performative kind, but the kind
that requires depth and honesty. And as you prepare to
bring happy Place to Brooklyn, I hope you know that
you've already built something lasting. You've even given your son

(01:12:05):
an example, and your mother a legacy, and your fans
a reason to believe that positivity still and will always win. Also,
your music reminds us that celebration can also be sacred,
that joy is something that we're all worthy of, as
I said earlier, And even if we forget that, sometimes

(01:12:27):
we need to remember that our happy place and you
said it earlier, isn't a location at all. Sometimes it's
a choice that we make a song, we return to
our loved ones, or even a version of ourself that
we finally allow to shine. So thank you for showing up,
not just in performance, but in spirit and to me

(01:12:49):
and many of us in the diaspora, your music isn't
just a gift, it's a ministry, and i'd like to
say that I think it's working beautifully. So yeah, thanks
for coming to talk to things with me.

Speaker 2 (01:13:02):
That was beautifully said, Like that was on me? Is
that was? That was? That was it? I just light
just fast. That was that was really good? Like I
was I was looking at before, like this is good.
Like it's so.

Speaker 1 (01:13:22):
It's true every word I said it's true. So like
you that you really take that in.

Speaker 2 (01:13:28):
You you you what you just said there? Right? If
you if you hear any one of them lines and
a song I will give you.

Speaker 3 (01:13:36):
I willn't give you a percent of that song because
you spit some lines.

Speaker 2 (01:13:42):
They just know. I watched like like, you're right, and
I tuned.

Speaker 1 (01:13:49):
Let's see. I told you that's how I feel connected
to you and money, because that's how I just come
up with things in my head, Like I just I'm
somebody that I'm a very positive person and I I
don't even on this show. I don't ask people to
be on this show that I don't feel like I
would like as people. You know, That's that's very important

(01:14:10):
to me because I want this to be a space
that's safe. And yeah, we laugh and we joke, but
I don't like any type of negativity. And I surround
myself with people that inspire me and influence me. And
so those are just words that I feel based off
of what I know about you. I know I don't
know you personally, but that's what it makes me feel.

(01:14:32):
So it makes me feel good to know that you're
receptive of it and that it makes you feel good.

Speaker 2 (01:14:38):
Yes, definitely, one hundred percent. Definitely really on me.

Speaker 3 (01:14:43):
And this was an actually really really really really really
good interview.

Speaker 2 (01:14:47):
I really enjoyed it much. Love to you.

Speaker 3 (01:14:49):
Much love to or you know, early listeners and loyal
listeners and the full time listeners and whoever is still
you know, listening right now. Much love to you guys.
You know, I just appreciated love the support over the years.
You know everything I do, you know, even the even
the near c us who was near c Us before.

Speaker 2 (01:15:05):
And whose believe us now you know what I mean.
Welcome lyrical lyrical lounge. You know, I.

Speaker 1 (01:15:13):
Love that because you have to pick them up to,
you know, because pushes us forward. So yeah, you definitely
have to pick them up to. I absolutely love that.