BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – Masud Sadiki is known for his amazing music, especially his hit song ‘Love for Mama’, that touches the heart of every Kittitian and Nevisian. A committed husband and devoted father [of three-year-old Jahzara, whose African name means ‘blessed princess’ and eight-month-old Asafa, whose African name means ‘rise to the occasion’], he is ready to take his career to the next level. Sadiki chats with Suelika about fatherhood, his music and for the first time ever about his father.
JWS: So what is fatherhood like for you?
MS: It’s exciting and challenging. It’s something new because, for a single man, you don’t have those responsibilities; you tend to do as you like. Now I have to move at a certain time, to get the kids ready, and I have to spend time with them. Sometimes I’m tired…my daughter, she’s full of energy, and just looking at her play is tiring. I have to keep my eyes on her. It’s a lot of responsibility. But I love it.
JWS: What is your favourite pastime?
MS: I haven’t had time to do that recently, but I love basketball. Basketball – apart from music – is that activity that allows me to escape, you know, stress and any kind of frustration. It’s a good way to go. So whether I’m on the court or onstage, I don’t remember anything else but what I’m doing so I can escape. I hope to do that more. I just got myself a new pair of shoes, and I’m gonna get a ball next week. I live just next to the court so I don’t have an excuse.
JWS: I notice from time to time that a number of organizations would call you to speak to young people. Tell me about that.
MS: Just the other night, I was in Saddlers [for Saddle Fiesta], and I got a chance to connect with those that came out. I try to change the way I deal with the crime situation, even in my songs. I have songs where I was judgmental in the past, and I hope I wouldn’t write anymore songs like that. Everyone is into fighting crime. I’m older now and a little bit wiser, and you can’t fight crime [although that may be your intention] because once you use the word ‘fight’ you’re putting energy into the negativity. So I would hope that everyone who speaks about it can try to use a better term, even ‘heal crime’ because it’s an illness. We have to spend more time focusing on solutions. I realize that hurting people hurt people. I am always happy to encourage and support our youths.
JWS: Your way of helping with that is…
MS: Through my music…I try to sing songs that would encourage everyone to remember the good things. When I sing a song like ‘Log Out’, I’m singing to myself because what I’m doing is deliberate, because it takes effort to stay on the right path. I can sing some slack song tomorrow because they’re easy to write [but I choose to sing positive songs]. My purpose is to bring something to uplift people. I don’t think I have anything new to tell people but [I can sing about issues] in a different way. I’m hoping that I can connect with people, especially the youths who are easy to influence. I want to be careful with the words I choose; music is music and music is pure. I am fortunate enough that people see me as someone doing something positive along with sportsmen and other persons who are doing positive stuff in the community.
JWS: How did you meet your wife?
MS: I lived in Nevis for awhile. I left the band [Caribbean Roots] in 2003, and I was back at my mother’s house and she was living in the neighbourhood. So I saw her when she came by the shop. At the time, I was looking for a partner. I was looking for a mate. She came into the shop and bought some stuff. She was wearing a big old frock, but she was just pushing that kind of energy that was just sweet. I just felt like there was something good about this woman. She was just sweet, friendly, bubbly and smart. We laugh back at her frock now because it wasn’t like she was looking her best, but her beauty…you couldn’t escape it; her personality…it just grabs you. So my brother does landscaping, and she was asking me to give my brother a message and to tell him she wanted him to cut down a tree. But she didn’t leave a name. I went to her and asked what her name was and she said, ‘Just tell him the lady say’. Then she said if you want to know my name you can ask me. You don’t have to go around the bush. So we talked, and I got her email address and pursued her.
JWS: She is from your area?
MS: No, she’s from Antigua. She came here to work for [Eastern Caribbean] Central Bank. She was living at Mattingley then moved from there to Old Road. It just happened that I met her and we connected. We have similar interests – she’s into music and she’s a choir director with a youth group – and we had that kind of vibe. One thing led to another and ‘boom’ we got married and had children and everything sweet. hahahah
JWS: At what moment did it click that she was the one you wanted to spend the rest of your life with?
MS: ‘The One’: that’s an expression people use a lot. I came across a lot of females that could have been ‘The One’. Sometimes it just wasn’t the time. Sometimes maybe I wasn’t a good communicator, but this love thing is a willful thing. It wasn’t an accident. Feelings that you get first [will feel like] butterflies, etc.; you will get those instantly. Love is something deliberate. It’s a verb; you have to do it. You have to decide to love the person because you are attracted to them and both of you make good company. Everyone puts their best foot forward when they just meet and [they] say the right things, and it’s good. But the more you start to spend with someone, they will drop their guard and start to show you an insight into who they are. You have to make the decision that you’re going to love me still. You have to decide that you’re gonna love Masud still because he’s writing a song and he don’t want to talk to anyone, he just in a room writing. [Are] you gonna love him still when he seem like he want to spend more time with the band because he’s in a creative zone? Are you gonna love your wife when she wants to hang out clothes with colour-coordinated clothespins when Masud want to come and just put them [on anyhow]? The whole idea about ‘The One’ is more for novels. If you ask elders for advice, they’ll tell you that they had to work on it. You have to meet halfway. We have a sweet relationship. She knows I don’t have a regular job with money coming in steady and she met me doing that and she understands. So we both make each other the ‘One’.
JWS: Do you have a favourite local song?
MS: Well, Konris is my favourite local artiste. I admire him a lot. He’s really smart and creative. I think he’s doing a lot of good for us. I’m such a fan of Konris where I had never been to a calypso finals until one year when he entered, and I was there running around, acting like a real fan, giving the kind of support that my fans would give me. I like a lot of the other artistes, [such as] Crucial Bankie. A lot of these young acts, I admire them: ‘Infamus’, ‘Best A Dem’. They’re doing some real good work. ‘Hi-Light’: he’s skillful; he’s a good vocalist and a real good writer. He has this song ‘Choices’; I love that song. But if I had to single out someone and a song, it would be ‘One Song’ by Konris. It’s a powerful song, and also ‘Sleeping Tiger’.
JWS: When was the last time you cried and what was it for?
MS: You know, I’m due a good cry. I have a couple things to cry for. I haven’t really cried. Water came to my eyes a couple times [like] when I hear people get shot, like the young girl, as I’m now sensitive to those kinds of things seeing that I have children. Sometimes some movies would get me. I put down a good cry when I watched the movie ‘Sister Act 2’. I remember [the character that] Lauryn [Hill played] wanted to go do music, and her mother didn’t want her to because her father used to do music but things didn’t work out. I imagine someone telling my daughter that, as she is already showing signs that she loves [the] Arts. I would feel it for others who want to [pursue artistic endeavours] but are [being] discouraged. I want to be successful enough so if younger ones want to get into music they could look up to me and say I made it so they can to. That’s why I try to do things different. I move crazy with my music. People around me would say, ‘Why you don’t do a normal job?’, but people are scared and they want to project their fears on me.
JWS: So has someone ever told you to stop?
MS: Lots of people, and they mean well. Initially, I used to be offended, but I feel sorry because they mean well. Some of them are just scared that I might not make it. If someone in the lowest class says he wants to be a doctor then I would encourage him. Every time I see him, I would ask him what’s going on; if I could find a book; introduce him to a doctor to be his mentor, because you never know. Sometimes we write off kids, because if we keep telling the kids the same things over and over they grow up to believe it. Once I see someone has a passion, they will get more support from me.
JWS: What do you find most attractive about the opposite sex?
MS: The fact that she’s a woman, she ‘done’ attractive! Women are the mothers of the world. We need women. We need that feminine energy. Women are nurturers. If a lot of women would understand and accept their power, a lot of men would behave a lot better. They would be more calm and peaceful. I like to be in the room with all females and don’t have to be sexually attracted to them, [but] it’s just their energy. I love the softer side; the compassionate woman, a woman who knows how to treat a man and knows how to ask for what she wants.
JWS: Tell me about your religion, your faith. Seeing that you have locks, most people would automatically think you are a Rastafarian.
MS: I’m 34 now, with a lot of different experiences. If you asked me some time ago, I would have told you one thing but now it’s a different thing. I’m more on a spiritual path now, and I realize that’s where people get into confusion. When people spend too much time focused on religion, it becomes a competition. Everyone would think they’re special and that they have it right. I respect the Rastafarian religion. I’m heavily influenced by that, and also Christianity; I’m influenced by that. Buddhism: I respect that. There’s wisdom scattered all over the world. You can learn a better way to do something, such as the way a Buddhist or Monk meditates. One time, I was on a boat and when it docked I saw three Muslims go down on their knees. I respect that because they are true to their religion. They don’t care who sees them. So I respect all religions but I’m more focused on practicing some serious spiritual principles and to become one with the Creator.
JWS: Tell me about your father. Where is he?
MS: My father lives in St. Thomas. My father and I are very good now. When I look back on things, it might have been difficult for him to deal with a son or deal with my mother as a girlfriend, you know. So he left pretty early. I’m glad you asked this because I don’t want people to think that when I sing ‘Love for me Mama’ that I dislike my father. But it’s my personal tribute to my mother and all single parents, most mothers especially. So it’s easy for men to run away. My father had a rough upbringing. His father had another family. His Mom died giving birth to his sister, and he had to live with his grandmother. So he had a traumatic childhood. He never had that connection with his father. It’s important that family stick together. I love my father very much. We have a lot in common, too.
JWS: And you said you and your Dad have a good relationship now?
MS: Yeah, we are tight now. He came the other day for World Cup, and he spent 10 days in my house. He is a good man. We have a lot in common. I learnt that he used to be in a band. My father used to work at the court house, and a lady who used to work with him met my wife one day. She asked my wife if I have to take off all my clothes when I’m going to defecate. My wife said, ‘Yes, why?’, and the lady was like, ‘His father used to do the same thing.’ (laughs) I like salt-fish and he likes salt-fish, too. We both like to eat a lot. I like the soft silky part of the salt-fish, and my father is like, ‘It can’t be salt-fish without that part.’ He used to do a lot of community work and organized a football team. He loves his grandkids. Now he’s older, he understands, and he told me my Mom did a good job raising me.
JWS: What would it take for you to make it? Why aren’t you touring? You have great talent. What is needed for you to spread your message through your music?
MS: That’s a beautiful question! No one has ever asked me that. I’m glad you did, as it gives me a chance to share with your readers. Masud is a youth like anyone else. He grew up in St. Kitts and loves music. He never had anyone to teach him the business. He maybe had someone who put him on a show and who forgot about him, without evening looking back to see how he would get home or if he had to beg for a drink or buy a drink at the show. Masud just worked for free. In St. Kitts, we don’t have a proper music industry. We don’t have the professionals to support the talent. We have talent ‘can’t done’, but we don’t have the persons who would decide they will do proper artiste management. I had to grow up and learn the business. Now I’m older and wiser. I buy books and connect with people who know things. I’m looking for a manager because I manage myself. I think I do a decent job. I haven’t had an album out since 2003, but people respect me a lot. I think that’s based on the little I know about the industry, and now I know a lot more.. I’ve done a great deal to get myself on that level to get international attention. So I’m in the process of putting my team together. An artiste is only as strong as his team. There are a lot of people who have good intentions, but I still have to make sure my career is so mature that I can’t afford to play around with childhood error. I had two managers before; two sisters, who meant well, but we decided to split respectfully. I realized I needed to take my career in my hands, as they weren’t doing this thing full-time and my career needs special attention like a baby does .. So my next manager has to be doing this for a living and has to be connected. I want to find someone who will focus on that. So what’s really holding back Masud from shining like he’s supposed to shine? It’s the team. I have to get the right team going. That’s because talent by itself could go wasted. If you don’t understand marketing, it [the music] wouldn’t sell. My team has to be strong. So I need them to do their role while I focus on my music because the business side can be distracting.
Masud Sadiki whose real name is Kevin Donovan is planning to launch his third album this December.
