In the past year we have unfortunately seen how this pandemic and its restrictions have influenced the regular course of cultural and musical life. Of course dancehall music has also been impacted by these changes. Let's talk about it with three artists, each representative of a different branch: Kimiko Versatile for the dancers category, Chris Martin as a singer and Willy Chin for the djing..
WHAT IT HAS CHANGED IN YOUR ARTISTIC LIFE DURING THIS PAST YEAR WITH PANDEMIC?
C. MARTIN: Definitely travelling, performing which is life for me and I haven't been able to do it during this pandemic. I can't do any stage show, so this is the main thing that has changed in my artistic life. But there is also another positive change, I have had the opportunity to spend more time in studio, I have had more time to write, and more time to improve my craft.
KIMIKO: A lot has changed, everything has changed! I changed my home, with my dance studio I wasn't making any money so I've had to start classes on line which I don't really like because I can't have the same feeling with my students not looking at their bodies, but it was a good opportunity for me and other dancers. My spirituality has grown, I now tend to exclude myself from certain activities that I use to do which I don't like anymore. The dancehall parties are very short, they have to have them in secured places to hide away from police. Everything has changed!
WILLY CHIN: Bookings has changed a lot. For the most events have changed to Livestreams and Zoom parties. I also started an online course teaching skills of remixing and producing. You can check it out on soundboypro.com. Also i have been spending a lot of time with the family, enjoying watching my children grow.
IN YOUR OPINION, HAS THE DANCEHALL MOVEMENT (INCLUDING ARTISTS, DANCERS, PROMOTERS) BEEN ABLE TO DEAL WITH THESE HARD DIFFICULTIES AS A GROUP, OR DO YOU THINK THAT THERE HAS BEEN SOME SORT OF INNER FRACTURE?
C. MARTIN: In my opinion the dancehall reggae movement is formed by dancers, artist,promoters, patrons and it's very difficult to deal with all of this as a group. Because parties are the glue that keeps all these figures together, for dancers to show their moves, and artists to sing their songs, so the entire structure somehow collapsed. It's super difficult because parties are the substance of surving for this people which is now finding other ways to take care of themselves and their families, there is a standstill right now in our industry, so yes, I think that there's been a fracture.
KIMIKO: Definitely it's hard to deal with all of this as a group, everyone has to find their own ways for them to survive. Even me having my group I now feel like discontinued with it, because it's hard to try to think for everybody, and with the social distancing we have to think and do things to help ourselves. One of the thing that I see a lot, is that since now artists aren't free to travel and tour and perform anymore, they are doing a lot of promotion work on line, so they use the dancers to do promotion dances for their songs, so this is one of the things I can attest the development of, because they want movement for their songs, and it's definetely one of the thing I am grateful for.
WILLY CHIN: I think the world has had to deal with this as a group. It's not only one industry affected by the pandemic, it's multiple. I'm sure it has been difficult for everyone in these times. But you still see everyone adapting, still putting out music, having livestream concerts, still finding a way to entertain and touch the people from a distance.
DESPITE THE IMPORTANTE CONTRIBUTION OF SOCIAL NETWORKS AND ONLINE PLATFORM, DANCEHALL MUSIC HAS ALWAYS SPREAD THROUGH THE "REAL THINGS" (PARTIES, CONCERTS, WORKSHOPS AND OTHER EVENTS) WHICH NOWADAYS, FOR OVER A YEAR, HAVE BEEN PRATICALLY DISAPPEARED OR SERVERELY LIMITED. HOW DO YOU IMAGINE THE RESTART WHEN THE EMERGENCY WILL BE OVER?
C. MARTIN: Yes, the online platform are very important for our culture to contribute in spread it all over the countries, but the real spreading, the real vibes are shown with parties, and sessions, stage live performances and yet the few times that I performed in this past year have been patronsless events, without audience so it was an only an "online vibes", so it's rough… How do I imagine the restart? When everything will be open and back to normal, when we'll be able to move on and get back to where we were I would say that it's going to be such a joy, for those of us who are working on this. But I don't know when we will see this happening, when this emergency will be over and this pandemic will stop, of course I look forward to it because as I said I've been recording and writing so much so a lot of new stuff will come out and honestly I can't wait to be back to me travelling and live performing because I really miss it!
KIMIKO: Wow! I know persons are going to be happy to come out to go to the parties freely, it's going to jump up! Jamaica is a party island, it's a big part of our culture which is now missing. I don't mind the parties to be earlier if they maybe lock off at 2:00, people will start to come out earlier an it could be good for people that is going to work the day after. Taking some time off from parties is bringing us to a blank drawing board where we can create and think about other talents of ours, so it gives you the opportunity to really focus on other things you can do to survive in this World and to make money and to be happy, so I try to look at that in a positive way, but I know for sure that when the World opens again is like we will be a child again, ready to take on the world, ready to go to parties, ready to do physical workshops and all of this. But until then I will continue to focus on other things, I continue to focus on me, which is one of the things this pandemic as taught me.
WILLY CHIN: I believe that it will pick up where it left off. Many things are different and it will take a while to fully be back to normal but nothing beats live interactions and energy. I know once the place opens fully, party patrons will be looking for something to do.
Thanks to:
Dane "Fatman" Bogle for the Christopher Martin interview
Sara "Fluffy" Andinolfi for translation edits
