MAJOR EXCLUSIVE: ‘This Is A Huge Game Changing Deal For The Bahamas!’ – BahaMen

May 25, 2012 No Comments by Sherice Major

The music industry will eat you up and spit you up, just look around you. Artists that were once standing on the top of the mountain now find themselves at the bottom of the pit fighting for relevance in the ever changing industry.

There was a time when everything you turned you couldn’t miss the infectious tune, “Who Let The Dogs Out.” They almost had it all, but somewhere along the lines they found out that the industry ain’t for everybody….

The veteran Bahamian band BahaMen now find themselves in a similar position, bright lights and spotlight. They recently announced that they would once more have the opportunity to prove themselves after being offered a recording deal by one of the biggest record labels in the world; Sony Music Entertainment.

I recently sat down with one of BahaMen’s finest, the infectious Dyson Knight and got the scoop on the exciting and MAJAH news…

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SSM: While performing at Sony Music’s annual conference at Atlantis over at Paradise Island were you aware that there was a possibility that your life would change that day?

Dyson Knight: Yes!! The band went in with intentions of impressing Sony. I did not expect for persons to be in my ear midway through the set telling me that the CEO wanted to sign us right there on the spot though. That really blew me away! As for my life changing… well, that hasn’t happened as yet so… to be continued.

SSM: Can you recall in that moment what it felt like when you found out that you would be signed to a major record label? What went through your mind?

DK: I was already singing and dancing when I found out so I just kept singing and dancing. With a rejuvenated bulk of energy of course…. and then I took my shirt of threw it in the air… but I’m always doing that… lol.

SSM: What do you think this means for The Bahamas and more specifically Bahamian music?

DK: This is a huge game changing deal for the Bahamas! HUGE!!! We performed straight, hard core, original junkanoo music for the executives and they were up and dancing after the first couple lines of the first song. Just about all of them! AND they stayed on their feet dancing and chanting to songs they’ve never heard before in their lives till the very end of our performance. Then they asked us to sing more! Which we did and they continued to dance!!! What does this mean??? (Explicit was just deleted here)!!! This means that our music in it’s natural form will now have the support of the largest music label in the world. No more do we have to jock the style of any other culture. We can be ourselves and be loved for who we are! We can celebrate every uniqueness that is Bahamian!!! This is a MAJOR deal for every Bahamian to find pride and promise in be just that. Bahamian!!!!!!!!

SSM: I know you weren’t apart of the ‘original’ BahaMen legacy, but how special do you think that moment was for them…being able to redeem themselves.

DK: Well, I know that the talk of BahaMen being so successful musically and having a Grammy and still living in the hood was rampant around town and it sometimes would work on the minds of some of the band members. Then having to put down music in part to take on a full time “regular” job brought on some levels of depression even. However, my fight has always been easier to cope with but harder to validate. When I quit my job about 3 years ago everyone thought I was a real (Explicit deleted here too). Even members of BahaMen got real silent about the move but I couldn’t have gotten here without the sacrifice. I know that they are extremely happy right now but, I don’t think there is redemption for the original members as yet. That will come after we win another Grammy.

SSM: Moving forward, what can we expect from Baha Men? Will you guys stay true to your sound?

DK: BahaMen never stopped being BahaMen musically. They’ve always recorded strong Junkanoo music. What the listening audience heard in the finish product is what previous labels instructed their engineers to give them. Many times I’ve heard the original members say that the song they heard when they left the studio is not the song they listen to on the airwaves. So, to answer your question, BahaMen will absolutely stay true to the our music and the Bahamas.

SSM: What makes BahaMen MAJOR?

DK: BahaMen is the best! They are the most decorated band in the country. That’s an undoubtable and unarguable fact. But what really makes us MAJOR is the fact that we believe in ourselves, our heavily practiced craft and our country. Everyone in the band is multi-talented and getting to know each individual in the band is a legacy on it’s own so all 9 of us together is very MAJOR!