When you hear the word Spine you automatically think of a body part, one of importance and well you are right. So it is easy to analyze that a man with the sobriquet "MR. SPINE" is one of importance as well right? He has been in the industry for quite some time and is responsible for some of the most creative and well received riddims and hits that have been riding the airwaves in Trinidad and Tobago , the Caribbean and some parts of the world. When mention is made or any tracks done by Makamillion, Orlando Octave, Kerry John or Fadda Moses (to name a few) the name SPINE will come up. Hailing from Central Trinidad Mr. Spine is a young and energetic artiste, producer and musician who has become a Spine of Music. Entertainment Macco off course had to sit down with him and dig deep. Here is what he had to say to us.
Entertainment Macco: Who is Mr. Spine?
Mr. Spine: “Mr Spine is Shawn Jon Ayo Stewart, a passionate youth with a love for music and the movement and the upward movement of youths”
Entertainment Macco: Explain your sobriquet to me, why Spine?
Mr. Spine: “We all know what the spine is and the fact that it is one of the most important parts of the body and it works directly with the brain. I believe that I have an important part to play in the music industry.
Entertainment Macco: What is you date of birth and sign?
Mr. Spine: “10th September 1986 so that makes me a Virgo.”
Entertainment Macco: Do you have kids?
Mr. Spine: “No”
Entertainment Macco: Do you want to have some of your own one day and how many?
Mr. Spine: “Yes, I want two kids.”
Entertainment Macco: Are you single/ in a relationship/married?
Mr. Spine: “Single as a dollar bill.”
Entertainment Macco: Do you have kids?
Mr. Spine: “No”
Entertainment Macco: Do you want to have some of your own one day and how many?
Mr. Spine: “Yes, I want two kids.”
Entertainment Macco: So you single, OK single men are supposed to be able to take care of themselves, So can you cook?
Mr. Spine: “I can”
Entertainment Macco: What can you cook? I hope you not going to say you could boil rice?
Mr. Spine: “LOL noooooo.....I love Italian food, so I can cook anything with pasta, I can also make Pelau, I don’t eat lots of meat so I do lots of salads and curried veggies. I can hold it down in the kitchen man.”
Entertainment Macco:
We could put you in house!
Entertainment Macco: You’re are quite the dresser who dresses you?Entertainment Macco: So you want us to believe you does buy your own clothes and match to look so fine?
Mr. Spine: “OK ok I have a clothing sponsor (Brands Galore)”
Entertainment Macco: And the truth comes out..LOL so they pick what you wear or you pick?
Mr. Spine: “I pick most times but they also help.”
Entertainment Macco: What’s your favourite color?
Mr. Spine: “Blue first, purple second.”
Entertainment Macco: Nice
Entertainment Macco: What do you think is sexiness?
Mr. Spine: “Sexy is having your personal style and having the confidence to carry it without being awkward.”Entertainment Macco: We not sure what you mean? Can you give us an example of some sexy people you know that we may know?
Mr. Spine: “My mom, and just about all the females that I associate with.”
Entertainment Macco: So Spine I sexy? Thanks (the man say mummy yes)
Entertainment Macco: What is the best advice you were ever given and by whom?
Mr. Spine: “It would have to be “God helps those who help themselves” My Parents told me that.”Entertainment Macco: Many may remember you from Synergy Soca Star a couple years ago, how long ago was that?
Mr. Spine: “I was on in 2006 and then 2007 but I would be remembered from 2007”
Entertainment Macco: Why 2007?
Mr. Spine: "I participated in the competition in 2006 alongside Umi Marcano but dropped out for personal reasons, however in 2007 myself and Musique (another recording artiste) participated again and we made it to the semi-final round."
Entertainment Macco: Were you involved in music before Synergy Soca Star? How long has it been since you have been a part of the entertainment Industry?
Mr. Spine: “Yes, long before, I started music at the age of 5 or 6..so it has been a while, a long time”
Entertainment Macco: What role did you play at 6?Mr. Spine: "I played pan at 6 and started singing calypso in school."
Entertainment Macco: I have heard a lot of reasons for artiste wanting to be a part of the industry (some made sense and others unreasonable), tell me when you realized your desire to delve seriously into the industry?
Mr. Spine: “I always liked music and I was always determined to do whatever I put my mind to. Nothing is impossible. Honestly, what really triggered me to get into music was at about 10 or 11 years I went to a Bow Wow concert in Chaguaramas and I was watching this small man doing his thing. I knew I could have done the same or even better so I was like why not. I think it was then and there I started pushing and everything started building from there.”
Entertainment Macco: Can you play any instruments?Mr. Spine: “Piano, guitar, steel pan and drums”
Entertainment Macco: If you weren't doing music what would you be doing?
Mr. Spine: “I would definitely be a businessman or into Sports.”
Entertainment Macco: What kind of business?Mr. Spine: "Probably Clothing, or Food, I like to run my own show."
Entertainment Macco: What have you been up too recently? I hear some talks about an album..please shed some light on this..
Mr. Spine: “As a producer I currently have 2 albums available digitally (747 Riddim, Swing Bounce Riddim). As an artiste, My personal album, entitled Touch the Sky has been in the works for a while now. Touch the Sky will include songs all done by me. The album is 90% completed, I am still putting the final touches on it."
Entertainment Macco: I gotta ask because I love to mind people business..how have the females been responding to your fame.. (Whether you want to admit it or not you are "popular")
Mr. Spine: “I consider myself normal and a down the earth person and I appreciate the love and support of everyone that supports my music."
Entertainment Macco: What is the weirdest thing a female has ever done to grab your attention?
Mr. Spine: “A time I went to Sting night club and this girl just inappropriately grabbed my privates as though it was okay to do it.”
Entertainment Macco: WOW !! How did you respond to that?Mr. Spine: "I was too stunned to respond, LOL she did it and was gone in a flash."
Entertainment Macco: What is the one quality that turns you on in a woman, that thing that makes you take a second look?
Mr. Spine: “It will definitely have to be an independent woman! That’s for sure”Entertainment Macco: So spine you want to make sure they can buy their own stuff?
Mr. Spine: "I want a woman that brings something to the table."
Entertainment Macco: Alright back to business, for those who may not be familiar with your work, can you highlight some of your most popular productions?
Mr. Spine: “747 Riddim(Makamillion, Orlando Octave, Pampute), Wanna be like Chynee- Chynee (Soca Star Winner 2009), Flex Riddim, Swing Bounce Riddim(Buffy, Merital, Makamillion), Born as a winner (Kmc & Shabba), Luni Sparks & Electify- Clear the Way (Grenada Soca Monarch 2008).”Jade Lopez –Bum Bum."
Entertainment Macco: If you can pick one of your musical productions as your favourite, which would it be?
Mr. Spine: "Mega Mix of the 747"
Entertainment Macco: Heyyy that’s not one song… Mr. Spine: "Exactly but it is one mix with all the songs on that riddim…haha"
Entertainment Macco: What was it like to hear your music on the radio for the first time?
Mr. Spine: “It is always a good feeling to hear yourself or your work on the radio because now you know others will be able to enjoy it as well. I felt proud and the feeling never changes.”
Entertainment Macco: What was the first song you did that you heard on the radio?Mr. Spine: “It is always a good feeling to hear yourself or your work on the radio because now you know others will be able to enjoy it as well. I felt proud and the feeling never changes.”
Mr. Spine: "A song I sang called Next level."
Entertainment Macco: Earlier I asked you about your album but I also have to ask you about your decision to start back singing.. Why did you stop and what is the inspiration for starting back?
Mr. Spine: “I had to focus on something else which was production and I wasn’t ready to do the singing as I wanted to; I had to build Holy House and give one a rest to better the other one. Now one is established so I can build again on my singing… My inspiration was my family.”
Mr. Spine: “I had to focus on something else which was production and I wasn’t ready to do the singing as I wanted to; I had to build Holy House and give one a rest to better the other one. Now one is established so I can build again on my singing… My inspiration was my family.”
Entertainment Macco: Now when one hears the name Holy House production they think Gospel, how did you come up with the name?
Mr. Spine: “My family is religious, and I put God first in everything I do so hence the name.”Entertainment Macco: Which role is more fulfilling, Spine the producer or Spine the performer?
Mr. Spine: “I would say Spine the entertainer.”
Entertainment Macco: What does that mean?Mr. Spine: “They both are equally fulfilling, because either way I get to entertain people.”
Entertainment Macco: I realised that Holy House production has formed an alliance with the Millionaire Family, is this a trial or something we will be seeing more of?
Mr. Spine: “Holy House is the production house/company and the Millionaire family are the youths, so we move together, it is the truth, it is a movement and not a trial. We complement each other and we are like siblings.”
Mr. Spine: “Recently would be Barbados , Grenada , USA and I plan to travel to Jamaica
Entertainment Macco: How was the experience?
Entertainment Macco: How was the experience?
Mr. Spine: “It was a great learning experience, to be able to entertain people from different backgrounds and feed off their energies.”
Entertainment Macco: Tell me that one thing that absolutely annoys you about this industry?
Mr. Spine: “The ignorance and the crab in barrel mentality I believe that everyone have a space and a chance to succeed but it is sad that sometime just one person or a few people want to own the space. It is not fair here at all, it is like a mafia.” Entertainment Macco: Without referring to your response above, what is one thing you would change about this industry if given the opportunity?
Mr. Spine: “The seasonal mentality of the music I think that is the main reason why the music is not international. Too many people only focusing on Entertainment Macco: In your opinion, why do you think there are more successful men in our Industry that women?
Mr. Spine: “That is simply because there are more men than women in it. I believe once you do the right thing you get the right results regardless of man, woman or child BUT it is just that there are more males than females, nothing too complex.”Entertainment Macco: What are you complimented about most?
Entertainment Macco: You think you smart? Good answer, but let me rephrase, what physical feature are you complimented most about?
Mr.Spine: “LOL, My eyes and my smile.”Entertainment Macco: What is this I hear about you being shy! Is that true?
Mr. Spine: “I won’t really say I am shy but I just like to hold my own and stay in my little corner sometimes but my mood or attitude depends on the vibes.”Entertainment Macco: In our industry so far, I have heard a lot of music and very few artistes bring originality and authenticity to the table, what sets you apart from the others?
Entertainment Macco: Do you intend to produce your own music or there are hopes to work with your colleagues?
Entertainment Macco: Do you want to share which producers you want to work with?
Mr. Spine: "Ma$tamind, Madmen, Klase."
Entertainment Macco: At a recent music conference you said that to be successful in music it 10% talent and 90% discipline, can you elaborate a little on that?
Entertainment Macco: Who is your biggest inspiration?
Entertainment Macco: Why?
Mr. Spine: “They were behind me from the jump, before Spine was Spine, my thing is once people stick with you and believe in you they keep you going and that is what I love about my family. Before I believed in me they believed in me.”
Entertainment Macco: If you died tomorrow how would you want to be remembered?
Mr. Spine: “I want to be remembered as someone who created positive avenues for the youths, so that they could have better lives.”Entertainment Macco: There are a lot of maccos out there, how do you plan to keep you business and personal life separate and out of the mouths of maccos?
Mr. Spine: “It is not about keeping them out, if they are not talking then you not really doing anything. The key is to keep my business correct so when they talking it is about something positive.”
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5 Responses
Dammmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmn, he fine!!!!! and talented too
He is very talented person wow................he set a great record for the young people....keep it up....meeting him and getting to know him is vast different his personality is pretty up to the point pleasant, soft spoken and he knows what he is about a very bless young man in the music industry..!!!!!
I didnt even know that he was responsible for all those riddims and songs and still he didnt call all. He seems as though he has his head on his shoulders, drama free and driven. All the best Mr. Spine
spine, good luck with all your future endeavors.... seem like u have ya head in the right place
Much success!
I enjoyed reading your blog thanks