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Countless times we read, hear, discuss what makes a hit song, and the responses are as follows: you have to have great lyrics and melody, work with the best producers, collaborate with a big name artiste, have big time management, and oh yeah the performer should have some talent. The Entertainment Macco, decided to do a little research. This time our maccoing took us to Guayaguayare, Trinidad where we found Eustace Bessor. This artiste seems to have been doing everything right with no results; we wanted to find out why?
Eustace Bessor…The struggles of an upcoming artiste..
Entertainment Macco: Who are you and what do you do for a living?
Eustace Bessor: “My name is Eustace Bessor…presently I am employed as a health and safety medic (RBG)”
Entertainment Macco: How long have you been singing?
Eustace Bessor: “Professionally…..5years”
Entertainment Macco: Where are you from?
Eustace Bessor: “I hail from Newlands Village, Guayaguayare”
Entertainment Macco: How would you describe your music?
Eustace Bessor: “Soca with a little Soul, African vibes, pop…..it is fast but very melodic….I am all about melody with constructive lyrics….I cannot do it if it isn’t not melodic”
Entertainment Macco: What made you decide to sing?
Eustace Bessor: “Bunji and 3Suns really inspired me to start singing…I started off singing their songs..…chanting their songs only and people started telling me to sing my own tunes. I always had an interest in music; I just did not take it seriously until a little later on”
Entertainment Macco: What else…..
Eustace Bessor: “….It was in 2003 I wrote my first song and in 2005 I recorded my first song “Bounce it” in KMP lab and 2 yrs after I met up with 3 suns and told them about “Prayer”…. they heard it and then recorded and them…there is a song with Sean Caruth “Move your hips” and “Nah going” which got me to the soca monarch semi-finals in 2008…So the extra push when I started taking the music thing seriously is getting me somewhere.”
Entertainment Macco: How many songs have you recorded thus far?
Eustace Bessor: “5 Songs”
Entertainment Macco: What are the names of these songs?
Eustace Bessor: “Bounce It, Prayer, Move your hips, Nah Going &Turn it up“
Entertainment Macco: Which producers have you worked with thus far?
Eustace Bessor: “Neil Bernard, Shawn Noel, Kasey from KMP lab and GQ from zero one production”
Entertainment Macco: Have you collaborated with anyone?
Eustace Bessor: “Sean Caruth, 3 Suns, Impulse”
Entertainment Macco: So…it sounds like you have been doing all you are supposed to do…have you been enjoying a fruitful career and favourable airplay?
Eustace Bessor: “NO….”
Entertainment Macco: Why you think your music is not being played?
Eustace Bessor: “Hmmm that is a good question...I and all do not know…when people talk about a good song they say to work with the best producers; which is not cheap, good Melody, great Penmanship….A good producer usually lets you know if it is a good song…”
Entertainment Macco: Continue…..
Eustace Bessor: “..…RIGHT and then they say release your music early – When you release it early it still not playing…When you call the radio station – they tell you that you have to wait to get on the playlist…sometimes you go to the radio station and leave one for each DJ with their name on it and they saying they eh get it…then you give it to them in their hand and they still not playing it…”
Entertainment Macco: I hear that…
Eustace Bessor: “Now I realize dj’s singing too so maybe that squeezing new artistes too…. They in the mix….they playing their own with high ratings…Probably I have to collaborate with a dj to get a forward….”
Eustace Bessor: “NO Never and no Dj ever ask.”
Entertainment Macco: Would you pay?
Eustace Bessor: “No my music is too good…I would never pay for airplay..…I want my work to stand out if it is good play it…if it not good doh play it.”
Photo Courtesy Keon Paul of Mayaro Sun
Entertainment Macco: What do you think is the reason for the lack of airplay and support?
Eustace Bessor: “The DJ’s not just playing the music..…I really don’t know…good producers willing to work with me including people like Daryl Braxton so it has to mean that the writing has to be good and the talent is there”
Entertainment Macco: What is the main struggle you’ve had to face in your career as an entertainer?
Eustace Bessor: “The money and not reaping the benefits….travelling from Guayaguayare to Petit Valley or St. James...borrowing money to pay to record and nothing to show after….”
Entertainment Macco: Do you think the fact that you reside “far” from the limelight is a reason for your lack of popularity?
Eustace Bessor:“Maybe…to get into this business you have to be around certain people….It could be a reason…I have to go and meet people and I cannot do it all the time as much as it is important..…once a week is sometimes not good enough”
Entertainment Macco: Do you think there is anything that needs to be fixed in your music?
Eustace Bessor: “Well when you go to a producer sometimes you go with one thing written and a producer may not like something…the approach is different…after that is done there is nothing to change from the final product.”
Entertainment Macco: When you have your music in hand and take it to a radio station…what type of feed back do you receive?
Eustace Bessor: “I will listen to it yuh kno and I will call yuh back…leave it dey for me nah and we go leh yuh know…..”
Entertainment Macco: Can you recall one incident that stands out in your mind?
Eustace Bessor: “There was one time when I went to the station and was getting real horrors and I bounced up Shal Marshal and I spoke to him, one time he took my CD and he went and play it ….he thought the song was good…that was in 2008 with “Nah Going”
Entertainment Macco: How do you feel when you not hearing your music on the airwaves or when the response is not favourable?
Eustace Bessor: “If I record and it eh play I doh stress but what does eat me up is when I hear real shit on the radio and my song better than that….and when I hear people who cah even pen a song, recording and getting real forwards….The only DJ/artiste it have in Trinidad is Dawg E Slaughter, the rest of them if people eh write songs for them they have nothing…The DJ’s have the asset and access that is how them could turn over night celebrities in the industry….Right now all them DJ’s blocking artiste spot…”
Entertainment Macco: How do you feel about the whole concept of having to pay you dues?
Eustace Bessor: “I doh believe in that…a good song is a good song…once it is the right song it will buss you….that dues thing…NAH”
Entertainment Macco: Is there anything you think you can do differently to get a more positive response?
Eustace Bessor: “I will continue to write good music…..with positive messages...good vibes...I really think the industry needs some new faces and voices and new vibes…”
Entertainment Macco: Throughout the entertainment business here in Trinidad are there any persons who have inspired you to continue to want to do this?
Eustace Bessor: “Bunji Garlin”
Entertainment Macco: Why?
Eustace Bessor: “When he first buss he brought something different to the industry…real critics and he stick to it. Then 3Suns (back then they were Treason) come on the scene and that was a different vibe and scene…..the same man who they say doh sing soca @ Garlin is still going strong…still doing his thing and breaking barriers….It have hope… if Garlin did it with that different vibe”
Entertainment Macco: Tell us a little about your song “Prayer” that you did with 3Suns….how was such a positive song received?
Eustace Bessor:“Well hmmm….we didn’t get much airplay…102.1 was the only station that played that song regularly….Marcia Henville contacted me almost immediately after the song was released on that station for an interview…as far as the general public is concerned I cannot say because of the lack of airplay….Alvin Daniel played it on his radio station (Trinbago) So I have to thank them both for the help…”
Entertainment Macco: The song was so beautiful and inspiring…what were you trying to achieve when you penned the lyrics and eventually released the song?
Eustace Bessor: “I was more or less trying to create awareness…..not to buss as a big artiste or anything….something to uplift… a song to start the day with because we living in the last days and just to get peeps to understand the message…More like a medication for the nation for the serious situation..”
Entertainment Macco: Generally do you think that people are unwilling to accept and appreciate positive music?
Eustace Bessor: “Yes…they don’t really pay much attention to it unless it is a big artiste who singing it…..people definitely prefer the whine and jam..…party thing… “Love generation” is one of my favourite songs from Maximus Dan and that lack forwards….”Lick down” - Bunji – lack of forwards too…the ratings are less with positivity…”
Entertainment Macco: Is there anyone in particular you would like to work with in the future?
Eustace Bessor: “Garlin..3suns (I can work with them all the time), Machel, Maximus and Destra…..R Kelly, T Pain and Kanye West….”
Entertainment Macco: Is there anything you feel like you can do differently to push your career forward?
Eustace Bessor:“Well probably I eh reach in the right circle….just be more persistent…..but it is hard to say. Maybe try different producers and keep pushing forward….”
Entertainment Macco: What are your plans for your music in the near future?
Eustace Bessor:“The music is not only for Trinidad…just take it further…cross the border”
Entertainment Macco: Any closing words or remarks?
Eustace Bessor:“Firstly thank you for the interview…I really hope DJ’s would give everybody a little bligh…..give everyone a fair chance and divide up the thing……Do what they are good at and leave the singing to the real artistes…Despite the struggle and stress I am coming out again for 2011 because I love music, so look out for me I am sticking with it…”
2010 Carnival attendees might have noticed that missing from D Asylum band was founding member Skarz. If you not sure who we are referring to, Skarz is the extremely energetic guy who always ran out on stage, firing lyrics at the masses and feeding off their energy. His energy seemed boundless.
What is Skarz up to now? and What is going on with D Asylum Band? Gailann, Benjai and Ninjitsu have all left (but that's another interview), now Skarz!! Entertainment Macco caught up with Skarz to get the scoop
Entertainment Macco: Who is Skarface?
Skarz: "The Street artiste...the people artiste.."
Entertainment Macco: Birthday/Sign?
Skarz: "I was born on the 7th of November 1978 which makes me a Scorpio also in the twelve tribe they say it’s the tribe of GAD"
Entertainment Macco: What is your Government name?
Skarz: “The name given to me by my grandmother is RENE DAVID CHARLES”
Entertainment Macco: Are you single/in a relationship or married?
Skarz:: “I am currently in a relationship and as I am who I am its complicated cause finding a lady in these times who understands your aim in the music life is hard because of the sacrifices you have to make, they ain’t really ready for it as much as you are”
Entertainment Macco: That is understandable...
Entertainment Macco: Do you have Children…if yes how many and do you plan on having more soon?
Skarz: “I have one daughter and plan on having more if the good Lord wants me to, it’s never a planned thing its always his plans so when I hear people regretting having children it just sucks to hear bcause they weren’t asked to be here, we brought them and they were all part of the masters plan so live with it.”
Entertainment Macco: How did you get the name Skarface?
Skarz: “Well Scarface is the name given to me by the people I grew up with in school to now but Sir Skarz is the name I grew into when I realized it’s really a scar on the mind of people I was brought here to leave in peoples’ minds.”
Entertainment Macco: Are you still a member of the Asylum band?
Skarz:“I am not a member of the asylum band no more cause after step 1 there is step 2”
Entertainment Macco: Did you leave or were you fired?
Skarz: “I left cause in a way it was like a fire under low but you need to read between the lines when someone is ready for change so I did.”
Entertainment Macco: Does it bother you that you are no longer performing with the band?
Skarz: “Nope it doesn’t bother me cause the band is not the band I started with any more… not the same vibes there no more… all the family love is gone, it was good while the real family was there together reaching for the dreams we wanted but those dreams were in the past we grew up and got bigger dreams now. So I might miss the fam but they ain’t there any more so to me there ain’t nothing to miss.”
Entertainment Macco: When Gailann, Benjai and Ninjitsu were all gone did you ever think to yourself “Damn, am I next”?
Skarz: “To me I never studied it cause I knew how the band thing goes”
Entertainment Macco: Do you think you would ever get back into the band scene?
Skarz: “Getting back into a band! I never think of it that way cause what we had was more than a band and for me to think about getting with a band it got to be the same thing like the love me and 3suns and Benjai carry it’s like we are a family band still by itself so when it comes to looking forward to just getting into a band again I don’t think I am really looking forward to that."
Entertainment Macco: What are some of the constraints you faced being a member of a band?
Skarz: “My biggest stress out I had in a band was the flying day after day used to have you worried sometimes.”
Photo courtesy: SkarzPhotographer: Teeography
Entertainment Macco: Were you ever a part of 3Suns?
Skarz: “I started 3suns in school it was my group as i was the lead and also gave the group its name.”
Entertainment Macco: Alot of people definetly did not know this....
Entertainment Macco: Hear nah where does all your energy come from?…No joke you are like an energizer bunny man!!!
Skarz: “My energy comes from the spirit of the music if I can’t move in body or words that simply mean the music just ain’t the vibes I like.”
Entertainment Macco: What made you want to sing?
Skarz: “While growing up I grew with my uncles who were like DJs cause they had tons of music from every origin so it was in my blood since kindergarten I just loved it.”
Entertainment Macco: What is your biggest turn on in the opposite sex?
Skarz: “My biggest turn on of the opposite sex is a woman with nice eyes, hair and that not too over did heavy T but a well rounded one lol”
Entertainment Macco: Ah ha...Entertainment Macco: When u were or when looking for a mate did you look for someone in the industry or out of the industry?
Skarz: “Someone who understands the industry but is not a part of it.."
Entertainment Macco: Why?
Skarz: "It is easier that way.....if it isn't that way then little focus will be placed on the musical job"Entertainment Macco: Who is more successful, men or the women in the industry…why do you think so?
Skarz: "It is hard to say who is more successful since the industry is male dominated...it is the person who puts out the most....it shows...whether male or female"
Entertainment Macco: You made a good point.... Skarz: “Right now I am working at Shot Master J’s studio in Santa Rosa and also at one drop studios in NYC but the next drop will come out of Shots Studio produced by Orlando a great musician from Arima. It’s a track I call the “Gaza in yuh area” partially a reggae dancehall mixed with a little old school slows style…. something new I am trying.”
Entertainment Macco: For carnival I saw your performance at Dawn, it was great to see the Asylum members back together on stage, with the exception of Bunji…Benjai introduced you guys as the “Bomboclat Cult”, What was that about?
Skarz: “About that performance in dawn when you speak to Benjai you ask him.”
Entertainment Macco: We are real life maccos so we do not miss much…we noticed that since Fay Ann joined the Asylum band, Gailann (gone), Benjai (gone), Ninja (gone) and now you gone is that a coincidence?
Skarz: “Well it’s right in front your eyes, seeing the real members leave one by one so if its a coincidence I really ain’t sure…lol”
Entertainment Macco: In your industry what is your biggest pet peeve…that one thing that does real stress yuh out?
Skarz: "The lack of airplay...that fact that if you are not a big name then your music cannot and will not be played."
Entertainment Macco: Having been a member of a band for a long time would you encourage a new artiste to join a band?
Skarz: “I would encourage a new artist to explore their inner to the extent ….do whatever makes them feel good about themselves whether it be in a band or as a solo artiste just make sure you put your best foot forward and be always ready for the worst cause such is life bad things need to take place for good things to happen.”
Entertainment Macco: What are some of the challenges you face as a recording artiste in Trinidad?
Skarz: “The main challenges as a recording artist in Trinidad I would say is after you spend so much money on a tune and much time getting it as right as possible if you don’t have a big manager on your side or have DJs as real good friends it’s very hard to get your airplay if you ain’t part of the mafia.”
Entertainment Macco: I hear that!
Entertainment Macco: Do you feel that you able to reach your true potential while you were a member of asylum?
Skarz: “I didn’t reach my potential as a member of the Asylum because I was kept away just to perform my lil thing and go. All the different ideas I wanted to try were always put away I didn’t really get a chance but as I was about to leave and other people came on the scene I saw the same things I was told wouldn’t be right for me as our band was not a band for that. I started seeing them doing these things like singing certain dancehall and reggae sounds in the mix just as I once mentioned but no hard feelings I was to be what they wanted me to be”
Entertainment Macco: If you were not performing what else could you see yourself doing?
Skarz: “Well besides performing I was always in the line of sales…as I can speak and relate to people very well so I started back sales cause with me an income must come…lol”
Entertainment Macco: I know there are real life maccos out there…how do you keep your personal life and business life away from the maccos?
Skarz: “I got nothing to hide from anyone all you gotta remember in this life is the key words of Garnet Silk “Talk keep them talking” and as Machel Montano would say “Talk is cheap my people does talk cause they could talk...”
Entertainment Macco: Could not have said it better!
What the old crew looked like (kinda)
Entertainment Macco: I know there are real life maccos out there…how do you keep your personal life and business life away from the maccos?
Skarz: “I got nothing to hide from anyone all you gotta remember in this life is the key words of Garnet Silk “Talk keep them talking” and as Machel Montano would say “Talk is cheap my people does talk cause they could talk...”
Entertainment Macco: Could not have said it better!
What the old crew looked like (kinda)
