Wonder
Germaine Smith, Staff Reporter
WAYNE WONDER knows what patience is. Since coming into the turbulent cut-throat dancehall world in the 80s, Von Wayne Charles has constantly pumped all of his energy and imagination into his work, despite numerous setbacks.
He has played the game like a chess master who rises from novice to grand master after several years of studying. Many people feel that he deserves the record sales, international presence, popularity and, most recently, the Grammy nomination he now has.
He did not get them easily.
Even while speaking to him now, the conversation will every now and then drift to the 'old days', when things were not as smooth as they are now. Some producers heckled him about what he should sing, how he should sing it and what he should not sing.
"I can remember when I started to do some dancehall tunes, some producer frowned on me and I had to change up my whole programme," Wayne recalls. "This was because they had no vision, because it is what comes to the heart that you vibe."
Wayne's vibe, as he calls it, began when he made his first recordings in the mid to late '80s. He dabbled in these early years with producers King Tubby, Lloyd Dennis, and Soljie.
He began to get more national attention in the '90s, after going under the wings of the famed Penthouse Productions and teaming up with Dave Kelly.
Then, local favourites like Baby You and I, I Don't Know Why and Saddest Day were born, sending the name Wayne Wonder from Jamaica to other shores.
Throughout the latter part of the '90s he recorded with other producers, but stuck close to Dave Kelly. Tracks like Joyride, Bashment Girl and Informer made Wayne a staple figure inside the dance halls, but his biggest break came when he signed to VP/Atlantic in 2002 and dropped the bombshell album No Holding Back.
This was the album which bore the addictive singles No Holding Back, Friend Like Me, Bounce Along and several others, prompting the birth of music videos which plastered his face across American television screens. Now, Wayne is a household name across the world, with back-to-back international concert dates.
Now that the Grammy Awards are upon him, Wayne recently shared his thoughts about life, the past, the music and The Grammys with The Sunday Gleaner.
Sunday Gleaner: How do you feel so far about your recent Grammy nomination?
Wayne Wonder: It is good to be a part of it, yu know. Mi done win already, because basically this is what we have been working on for all these years. The works can now reach out and people can recognise it and say well, you know we were never wasting our time. Its a good feeling.
You have been in this business a very long time Wayne. How do you feel now that so much attention is being placed on you?
Well, as I said this has inspired me, cause I know that deep down inside the work that I was doing was not in vain. It will be just a stepping stone and an inspiration vibe to push me on and carry me out. Out here in the world is a different ball game, it's like I started over again, cause I am breaking ground.
Tell me some more about that, what are the differences in your career between now and back then?
Well you know now when you go into the venues and the people come they know who they are going there to see, because there has been a lot of groundwork and over the years we have been doing a lot of underground, cause my music before the big break in America was like underground music. They are familiar with it but they don't know exactly what it was until they can really put the face to the music, so now it is a whole different ballgame. The fanbase is wider now and it is just a bigger vibe. Now when they come out they come to see Wayne Wonder in concert.
How much has your stage performance changed?
Well yes now, because I see it as a show now. When Wayne Wonder goes out there you come to see a Wayne Wonder set, so it's not like you come to see me do two songs or I do a thing before a next artiste comes up. I have my presentation now, so it's not just about just going on the stage and singing a few songs. Its a presentation. I have a 45-minute or hour set, depending on the venue.
In which ways has touring so extensively made you grow as an individual?
Definitely when it comes to the music, as an artiste I know that I am not going to rush my work now. I spend time and make sure the work is proper. So I definitely take production on a different level, I don't do any rush work, cause I am not an upcoming artiste yu know. When it comes down to production and the business side of the music, I know what's happening now on a wider scale, cause by being around you basically go through that process, so you have to catch on with what it comes with.
How easy or difficult was it to adjust to this type of performing?
It was not really adjusting. It was just staying focused and know that you have to work for what you want and what you hope to achieve. My work is to just being out there and let the people know what Wayne Wonder has to offer and what Wayne Wonder was doing all the days of his life in Jamaica. I am just exposing them to my thing.
Where have your tours taken you?
I have been to some places in America I had never even seen them on the map. It's not just the regular New York or Miami or L,A. We go way out, in the midwest, Sioux City, Oklahoma, all over the place regularly. We touched all parts of Europe, we go all over the place.
Give us an idea of your schedule, or your typical day.
When I am not on the road I am in the studio. It's a non-stop thing for me. It's about the music and what needs to be done for me.
How often do you get to rest then?
Rest is when you die; that's the only time you rest. You never rest you relax and chill out. There is really no rest.
Seeing you are so busy touring, how much recording do you do?
Well definitely Wayne Wonder is doing his own thing same way. A lot of songs coming out in Jamaica I recorded them and sent them down. Producers still get their music to me and I record it and send them back to Jamaica, where they mix it. You still have to keep the roots supplied.
Going back to the Grammys, what do you think are your chances of winning?
As I said, just to be there and to be a part of it. I am not the type of youth who is running that down; I am just happy to be a part of it. My brothers are competing, so any one of us wins it is going to Jamaica.
How do you feel going up against Sean Paul, Burning Spear etc.?
Well, I feel good. Sean Paul is good, Buju Banton is a hardcore deejay and Wayne Wonder as a little dancehall singer is there representing, so is an honour, it's a big thing for me.
Your word to Jamaica.
I am glad for the support over the years, cause that's where it started, but for now we are just spreading our wings right now. We been doing it for a long time now and we are just going out into the world to introduce our music to newer markets and know that this is what we are doing now, cause nothing has changed. We've been writing love songs back in the days, so we are just continuing to do it from the heart.
