BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – LATELY, there has been a number of mishaps and falling out between the local bands and their members, and many people are wondering if it would have an effect on carnival. The latest being the recent move of Ras Kelly from the Nu Vybes Band back to the Small Axe Band.
Not forgetting former Nu Vybes’ drummer Oflyn ‘One Boot’ Rogers who recently left the band due to still uncertain circumstances but is now with the Grand Masters Band, while two of Small Axe’s other members, Kile ‘2Sec’ Roberts and Dexter Francis, also left the band because of Ras Kelly’s return, according to them.
SKNVibes spoke to a few persons to get their opinion on the band soap opera and here is what they had to say:
Mel, a diehard band fan, said, ‘I don’t like it! With a situation like this I think there is lack of communication or reasoning. Not because something doesn’t work out to your favour you get up and leave. As a team, you should set standards and morals. My conclusion is that they should work together and forget the modesty.”
“It looks like we only going to have two bands for this carnival. That is Kollision and Grand Masters…because only them seem to have it together. The rest of them playing ring-a-ring-a-rosie,” said Marvin.
Twenty-five-year- old Kim, who often looks forward to carnival, said, “I don’t really like it…because the movements are keeping back the band musically. It’s like every minute a new member, then the band has to restart and get that person trained for them to play together as a team. But then again, when you say one you have to say two because only who’s in the kitchen knows the heat. So it's a funny situation, but once I can ‘wuk up’ to Nu Vybes in December I cool, because I gearing up to ‘wuk up’,” she added while laughing.
When Vashell was asked about her take on the bands and their issues, she said, “One specific member in Nu Vybes is all about himself and that is causing all the members to leave. And only Nu Vybes people moving from band to band; so what bands you talking about? He needs to think about others and not just himself.”
Seth Saheli, a member of the Nu Vybes Band, said, “In life there are many passions! In St. Kitts, music is part of our everyday lives; music is our passion and to some it is a way of life. The love for music is so strong that it has life changing effects on many of us. Band politics, as it is so affectionately called in our society, has a tremendous role in many lives and that is why we see changes. Musical artistes face these band changes all the time…in other islands, internationally, all over the world. The closest to us to note is in Antigua with the well-known Burning Flames. That band has been changing its musicians back and forth.
“It is not anything out of the ordinary here in St. Kitts. Our musicians are professionals. They are always seeking to develop and better their musical talents, and if the chemistry is not there and for reasons beyond one’s control a change must happen. Just as long as the music lives on, that is what we all need to focus on and not lose the art work and our culture that is so precious to our people.”
An individual who gave his name only as the Kid, said, “I know Ras Kelly gone back with Small Axe simply because he can’t get to form his own band and carnival coming up. I think he got ‘riddims’ he wants to show off to the people and the only way to do so is to be in a band and no other band would take him. So, I think he would leave them again anytime he gets a chance to form his own band. But I think the shifting around is because of the band leaders.
Now that you have read their opinions, what about yours?
