Dalee B has re-entered the Crop Over scene and he is ready to Get On Bad. The former member of the band Synergy and the now defunct Electrik, real name Dale Best, his last time on a stage was nine years ago.
His last time peforming in Barbados was for the Mount Gay/Cable & Wireless Party Monarch Finals in 2004, when he was a finalist in the competition with his song, Stuff.
His daughter was born the year before, an event he said caused him to slow down considerably.
“Naomi Was born in 2003 and it slowed everything down for me. I guess because I wanted to do other things as well I took a break from performing,” he told EASY magazine.
The song he released for this year’s Crop Over season, Get On Bad, was actually written last year while he was still working on an Italian cruise liner for the Mediterranean Shipping Company.
“I was working for a cruise liner for about three years and that took me out of Barbados. That gave me the opportunity to write more and hone that skill. Writing for me has to be comfortable and peaceful and I do it at my own pace. On the ship, I would find a quiet corner without any interruptions. The song I have for this year was written since last year, but I decided to hold it back to ensure that everything was perfect for its release . . . . That too, I wrote while I was on the ship,” he said.
As for re-entering the soca scene, he said it has been fair and favourable to date.
“What happened is what I expected. As I have been off the scene for a while, it is now my duty to get back out there and let people get acquainted with Dalee B. Nine years is a long time to be out. People . . . who have never heard my name, so one step at a time till I get there,” he said.
But in spite of it all, the former Parkinson Secondary School student is humbled by the rotation the song has been getting on the airwaves, considering he is now “coming back out”.
Dalee B, who is also the older brother of Soca Kartel’s bass guitarist Ryan Lewis, INDICdivulged that his focus has now changed from just singing soca music to exploring other avenues in the musical field.
“My focus and direction has changed a bit. I am looking at music in a holistic way. In addition to my soca songs, I have written R&B and some hip hop songs. For me I write according to how I feel at the time, or if a melody comes across my mind. Right now I see myself doing other genres and collaborations in the future,” he said.
And although he had no performances lined up for this Crop Over season, as luck would have it he got a last-minute call from Sizzling Soca, the team who manages him along with a slew of local artistes, to perform at the recent Bashment Soca competition as background vocals for Rameses Brown and Lady Essence.
“The team decided they wanted live background vocals for the song Blows and they asked myself and Amaul to join the presentation on stage. Being back on the stage was so hyped. It felt like I was part of the act rather than just singing background vocals. And although I wasn’t up front it felt really good to be back on stage for the first time in nine years,” he said laughing heartily.
He also got the opportunity to perform at a Bajan fiesta held in Cohen Park, New York City, this weekend.
“I sent my song to some international DJs, a promoter heard it and asked me to perform at the fiesta, an opportunity for which I am grateful,” he said.
His teenaged daughter Naomi also got the opportunity to be a part of her dad’s act in the Big Apple.
“Naomi is artistic as well. She is a frontline dancer with Dancin’ Africa and has performed for local artistes like Grynner, Peter Ram and Red Plastic Bag. She wants to be a DJ and a dancer.
“I didn’t have the push when I wanted to be a singer. Back in the day nobody saw entertainment as a moneymaking avenue, so I am going to be pushing Naomi where she wants to go, so she will be performing with me in New York on the 9th [yesterday],” he said.
Naomi, who was present during the interview, was a bit shy, but when asked how she felt about performing with her dad, she said that she was happy to be able to dance with him because all she wanted to do was “dance”.
Along with his musical skills, Dale also runs a small home bakery called Creative Cakes.
“It is a business venture but I would not want it to get in the way of my music. I loved doing it from school and so I used that skill to make extra money until I reach where I want to be. My number one thing has always been music, whether writing or performing. My writing skills aren’t bad, but I think there is room for more development although I enjoy singing more.
“My thing is if you have more than one talent and you don’t have the resources to get to your passion right away, use your other skills until your passion lifts off and you can excel at what you’re good at,” he said. (RA)
