BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – MICHELLE DOWNER, popularly known as D’Angel, is a businesswoman, artiste and also a mother hailing from Jamaica. In 2006, she dominated the local and international media with her celebrity marriage to Dancehall Mogul Beenie Man; however, the couple are no longer together but are still focused on raising their son in the right way. The former model believes in working hard to accomplish her dreams and her music continues to ‘blaze’ with such hits as the reggae anthem ‘Stronger’ that appeals to women who have been through relationship problems similar to hers. In this exclusive interview, D’Angel’s speaks about her musical career, her relationship with Beenie Man and the craziest rumour she has ever heard about herself in this week’s edition of Juicy With Suelika.
JWS: Tell us who is D’Angel?
D: D’Angel: I’m from Spanish Town. I was born and raise there, grew up very humble, with all my siblings. D’Angel represents life, represents God-fearing, love life to the fullest, family oriented. I’m a very happy person, outgoing, and very approachabl. I’m someone you can approach on the road. I always have time for my fans; they are the ones that really matter when you have a career and the people that look up to you. When you become a public figure you have to respect your fans. That’s the kind of person I am. I’m a downtown girl living the uptown life.
JWS: How would you describe yourself as an artiste?
D: As a performer, I love to challenge myself. I’m always learning new things and trying new things, not only dancehall but I’m a reggae artiste as well. ‘Stronger’ is a reggae song and that’s one of my biggest songs for the year in terms of chart topping. I always love to challenge myself in terms of my vocal ability and performance wise. I like to interact and speak to my audience…let them enjoy the performance and let them get involved. I’m a singer/songwriter/entertainer and I have to always challenge myself to get better.
JWS: What inspired the song ‘Stronger’?
D: Pretty much, my life, my journey, what I’ve been through and this is a true replica of D’Angel’s life. I just put it in music and that’s how music heals the mind, body and soul, and a lot of people in the world can relate to my life and what I’ve been though. o I just put it in a song and other people gain strength from it as well.
JWS: What have you been up to lately?
D: Wow, a lot! Right now I just got to give thanks to God. It’s a blessing how my career has evolved and it has to do with my consistency and, no doubt, my determination and the talent that God has given me. Right now I’ve already had VJ of the Year and Singjay of the Year under my belt and I have major endorsement deals. My first endorsement was a drink called G-Force, then I copped a deal with Digicel and now I’m the face for Coke Zero. So, no doubt, my career is evolving in every single way you can think of and my music is crossing all boundaries. I have number one songs after number one songs and it’s such a blessing, and it’s more hard work for D’Angel. I have also done some high school tours along with other top act artistes. We go into the school to mentor teenagers and promote “Abstinence makes Sense”. I’m seen as a role model for the youth.
JWS: You mentioned in one of your songs that you are a first class model, could you tell us about that aspect of your career?
D: I had a modelling career in Jamaica. I moved on to international scene, doing major fashion shows for different fashion houses. I could have reached further but music grabbed me in the interim. I still would do modelling but it all depends, because I still have the look. I’ll never retire. I did modelling for some time and I could have peaked but, maybe, that wasn’t my real calling; maybe music was my calling and I just started music professionally full-time. Music and modelling work hand in hand, so you never know. D’Angel is a face for endorsement, but while it lasted I loved it.
JWS: What is your favorite dish?
D: Anything Jamaican.
JWS: What Jamaican dish would you recommend to anyone?
D: Honestly, I love my mother’s stew peas. I love stew peas with pigtail in there.
JWS: Where is your favorite vacation spot?
D: You know what, I hardly get the time to do vacation because it is work, work, work, for me. My favorite vacation is relaxing at home, ’cause I don’t get the time…I’m just working constantly, but I guess spending time with my son and relaxing at home would be the perfect vacation.
JWS: Is there any place in the world you would like to visit?
D: Italy. I heard about their sight-seeing, shopping; it’s just luxurious and a place where everyone wants to go. The culture, it’s just an incredible place, and that’s where I’d love to go and experience for myself. But I’m working and I know definitely my music would take me there.
JWS: What place in Jamaica would you most encourage people to visit?
D: Visit Kingston. It’s hot and a lot of parties go on here. Most people, when they come to Jamaica, like to go on down to the tourist areas - Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, Negril - but you have to visit Kingston. If you come to Jamaica and haven’t gone to Kingston, you haven’t gone anywhere.
JWS: What is the craziest rumour you have ever heard about yourself?
D: Oh wow. The craziest rumour that I’ve ever heard about myself was that I was unfaithful in my marriage. It’s personal but I have to just spill it out because that was the craziest rumour. I have to be true to myself, true to my fans and the world. That’s what I represent truth and life.
JWS: So what happened in your marriage? What happened between you and Beenie Man?
D: Not like I want to elaborate on that. We’re having a very amicable relationship because he is the father of my only child and we’re really handling ourselves as parents very well and very supportive. He’s very supportive, we support each other. I just performed on his show Summer Sizzle. I brought down the house. He also joined me onstage. So people can cop the Summer Sizzle DVD and see what’s going on. We have a healthy parental relationship, all in the name of the child because children have to grow up in a positive surrounding and the parents have to reflect that positive vibe so they can pick up on that.
JWS: So, are you guys officially divorced?
D: I don’t want to get into that. I don’t want to talk about my personal life any more. I’ve moved past that now and I want the whole world to know we’re living amicable and that’s where it’s at because after a storm there must be a calm. Whatever was in the past stays in the past. Now we’re moving forward positive because we have a child in all of this. So it doesn’t matter. I’m not the first to go through what I’ve been through personally and I wouldn’t be the last, but I have to definitely set an example which I have always been doing and to just maintain that.
JWS: What have you learned from all of that?
D: I’ve learned a lot. I’ve learnt how to appreciate life more and not to rush into anything, get to learn and know people before you engage in anything, a relationship, marriage, just learn, take things slow, get to know before you actually get involved. I definitely learnt from the challenges and what can happen in my life, not only in personal but overall. I’ve learnt a life lesson that will definitely carry me through for the rest of my life. I’m more aware of my surroundings and everything that goes on around me. I take things in stride and I don’t rush into anything. I analyse things, so it’s a life lesson for D’Angel and what I’ve been through that’s why I did the song ‘Stronger’.
JWS: Tell us about your son?
D: Ah. Marco Dean is the centre of my life! He turns three next month, November 9, and has brought a new found life to my life and sense of responsibility as a mother. He is doing everything you can think of in the books. He is very bright, very outgoing and already displaying his father’s talent and mommy’s talent as well, but acting more like his father. So I have to watch out for another king of the dancehall.
JWS: So if that is the route he wants to go, would you encourage him?
D: I’m supporting my son 100% but I’m more focused on Marco Dean getting a solid education and the proper upbringing of a child. I know I can’t go round it, I know it is going to be there because it’s an in-born talent. I’m taking it one-step at a time and not trying to push him in anything. So whatever I see that he is good at or better at, I will definitely help him to develop that talent. I’m here just as a strong mother, supporting her child the in best way I can.
JWS: Is it hard for females in the music business?
D: It’s a male-dominant business. Females are just coming up, but when you look on the international scene females are just as dominant as males. But in Jamaica it’s the opposite; but we are owning our own and coming into our own space now we’re running things. We’re topping the charts, we’re doing things now. You have to just know what you want and open that door for yourself. You have to be persistent, you have to be driven, you have to be determined you have to know what you want and how it’s going to work and what you want to achieve out of the industry and you just go after it one step at a time; because I did it and I don’t have anybody managing me or backing me, I have to do it on my own. And I make sure when I’m putting songs out there, I put songs that people can relate to. People are growing up to my music and listening and enjoying it, so that’s the kinda energy I bring off…a downtown girl living an uptown life, it has never stopped. You have to be determined and forceful out there so you can carve out a space for yourself. If I do it anybody can do it, you have to love it, you have that talent and love it then people will automatically love your songs. Not everyone might necessarily like you as a person or artiste, but they love your music because music is what heals the body, mind and the soul. When you hear the music you fall in love with the music.
JWS: Is there any collaboration with other artistes you would like to do?
D: Recently, I’ve done a collaboration with Mr. Vegas; it’s called ‘Good Life’. Artistes overall, I’d love to work with Beres Hammond. Locally and internationally, I would love to do something with Beyonce because she is someone I look up to for some time now. She is like one of my idols because of her work ethics and how she keeps herself together as a woman. I really admire her strides and her success in terms of her hard work and discipline and her drive, and that reminds me of me. And anyone that is really contributing positively to the music and creating an impact, I’m open to work with them.
JWS: What are your future plans?
D: My immediate future plans are that I’m formulating my book, my album is still in the making. I want to definitely have my own talk show, and I want to go into big screen acting. I have done acting in Jamaica for our local sitcom called ‘Royal Palm’, and I also own a clothing line. So all of those stuff are in the making. I’m just taking it one step at a time, but those are all the things I really want to achieve. In addition, I haven’t been signed to a major record label, which I know is around the corner, because I’m working very hard and whatever you sow you are going to reap and I believe in that. I’m a strong believer in God, He has never failed me.
