— Dan Evens —

Dan Evens aka DJ DAN has been DJing for over 20 years. He started with Dancehall parties in his hometown of “VOLGA PLAGE” in Martinique and he has been hooked ever since !

“ Naturally with experience you gain more knowledge and I have come a long way ”

SPLASH 💦 20 MILLION VIEWS

_Tell us more about the story behind the hit « SPLASH ». Did you expect this smash ?

I did not expect this. The feedback was crazy! I remember sending this beat to Travis, he added his touch and put everything together then BOOM- Fire. We are on the same page musically, I am his biggest fan.

“ I am open to working with creatives, artist who think out of the box ”

MOODS 🇯🇲

_You worked on I-Octane’s « Moods » album, right? How did this happen and what was your input ?

First, I want to shout out my friend ZJ SPARKS, a Dj and music producer from Jamaica. I have been working with her for a few years on different projects with Spice, Ding Dong, Mr Killa, Teejay etc …

I came up with this beat that I sent her and she made it happen .

Listen Here 🎶

..2022 🔥

_How are you dealing with the sanitary crisis as a DJ with all shows that have been canceled since last year ?

It’s hard but when life gives you lemons, make cocktails !! lol I have been so productive during this crisis. We have to take advantage of any situation.

NEW Release — HAPPY PAPI RIDDIM

Listen Here 🎶

I always have new things cooking up, but you can just follow me on Instagram to stay up to date !

Follow DAN EVENS on Instagram

Just being able to work with people that I would never imagine and to have the opportunity to work on my craft everyday is a blessing the my best achievement.

Dan Evens is still going upwards with endless possibilities! No doubt that in 2022 we will see him “drink water and mind his business”

to be continued..

“ KRIBBEAN makes me connect with a part of every island in the Caribbean and you guys are dope ! ” — Dan Evens

Follow KRIBBEAN on Website | Instagram | Facebook | Youtube | Twitter

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My Process Is Drum And Bass Then Melody was originally published in Artist Reviews & Caribbean Lifestyle on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Interview by Mike Ponin

“Music is my way to be connected to something bigger, to god. It’s a prayer”

 

Grégory Privat is a piano player from Martinique who has been living in Paris for 14 years now. His father José Privat, the actual piano player of the band Malavoi, gave him obviously the love for music.

BUDDHAM JAZZ

“Creating my label after all was a real act of freedom”

I think the creation of my own label « Buddham Jazz » in 2019 is one of the thing I’m really proud of.

At that time, I was supposed to release « Soley » on ACT Music, a pretty good German label for jazz music. I had already released « Family Tree » with them in 2016. But « Soley » was really different from this album since there were more electronic sounds, singing parts, and it was not the sound of a traditional piano trio, so they didn’t like it. They wanted me to change my music. So I quit this label because it was like selling my soul.

Creating my label after all was a real act of freedom.

Listen Here

I’m releasing a solo album in January next year. I’m really excited about this one !

“Generally I wait for the inspiration to come. I don’t want to force the process, I let it come naturally. It’s more powerful this way”

LAURA PRICE, Peace of Mine

This project is the first one where I stand as musical director. I enjoyed to play this role as Laura is a really good musician and singer, and she as pretty good compositions too. So I gathered the team for this project, prepared the music for 5 musicians, booked the studio, wrote a string quartet arrangement for 3 songs, and I tried to fit in the vision of Laura.

It was a really good experience !

 

 

_We were gladly surprised to see you appears in the credits of “EDS”, a creole Hip Hop artist. We didn’t expect you here. We wonder if you got an opinion on the urban trends, particularly in Martinique.

Yes, EDS. is one of the first collaboration I did ! Actually I was still living in Martinique at that time. I’m not really aware of the urban trends now, but I think I want to make that kind of collaboration in the future, to try new experiences, meet new artists who are not in the fields of jazz music, and see what happen.

“This is our specificity in the Caribbean, to be able to play and to fit in different genres”

Do you have any advice or warning for local artist who would like to develop themselves overseas ?

The first thing I would say is to stay true to yourself, to work hard, and not to be afraid to be open to all kind of music. Because this is our specificity in the Caribbean, to be able to play and to fit in different kind of music.

FROM THE CARIBBEAN

“All the elements of Caribbean music are present in me”

 

Gregory Privat played in many jazz festival in Martinique and Guadeloupe. He also performed in St Lucia « Jazz in the South » but it was a long time ago.

10 years ago you gave up an office job to focused entirely on music. What are you still dreaming about and where are you seeing yourself 10 years later ?

I don’t know. What I know is that I do my best every day to go as far as I can, and I hope to reach out to more and more people with my music in the future.

“I would be really glad to come back with my new album « Soley » in St Lucia, Curacao, Tobago and more”

Listen Here

“Let’s hope for the best, so we can take back our lives as they were before covid as soon as possible !”

Follow Grégory Privat on Instagram | Facebook | Youtube

 

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Gregory Privat was originally published in Artist Reviews & Caribbean Lifestyle on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

“Paille, It’s just me. You can not entertain people continually if you play a role…”

Paille touched his first mic when he was twelve but he decided to involve himself in making music in 2001. From an opportunity to another, 3 records later, he has been traveling all around the world for 15 years now, sharing some martinican vibes with different people.

FROM INFLUENCE TO COLLABORATION

“When you understand that writing and singing can be weapons, every single word is important”

When I was younger , I was very impressed by some martinican MC’s Like Straika D or Janik MC who made songs discribing my reality. Dancehall music is supposed to make people dance but if it can motivate people to think about a way to grow up, it’s even better.

In my opinion the Caribbean islands are crossroads of many influences, from KASSAV’ to Marc Anthony through Buju Banton or Machel Montano.

 

“I have written a single for KASSAV’”

One day I received a call from Jean claude NAIMRO (one of the KASSAV leaders), asking me to write a song for him . So now I can say that I have written a single for KASSAV’. This has boosted my self esteem lol.

“DJ GIL, More than an partner he’s a friend”

I’m working with producers, beatmakers, especially with DJ GIL. We spend a lot of time in his studio, creating without limits. He’s been one of the most recognized Dj in Martinique for 15 years therefore he has developed some skills in making heavy tunes, whatever the style . Due to our friendship, I can ear his riddims before any other artist and I am able to choose beforehand.

_What does represent Carnival for you as Caribbean and artist ?

AROUND THE WORLD

“MOROCCO was a really good experience for sure!”

A different language , a different culture , servicemen with guns but also people who want to share the vibe and have fun on caribbean rhythms .. A really good experience for sure.
I have played in many little venues at the beginning of my career , I have even sung in a nursing home and through this kind of experience, it tastes better when, several years later, you get to perform in front of 4000 or 5000 people.

“COLUMBIA was all about energy and sharing”

I think it would be huge to practice a creole concept of mine called « La Vakabonagerie » on the other Caribbean audiences such as Trini, Barbados or Jamaica . The challenge is bigger than me but it’s exactly the reason why I’m interested in it.

STAY TUNED!

We are working on an album but the goal is the same as usual … To hit the road alone or with my band (big up the Red Ties Gang) and share the martinican vibe all around the world.

We have just finished the video for LOVER BOY, a song featuring Etana (the queen). She has such an amazing voice. I’m really proud of it and of the trust she has put in this song.

Follow PAILLE : INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE | FACEBOOK

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WHO IS PAILLE was originally published in Artist Reviews & Caribbean Lifestyle on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.