BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – UNDOUBTEDLY one of the best artistes to emerge from St. Kitts, Masud Sadiki is asking for ‘Courage to Change’ in a single he recently released.
The smooth reggae track, which was arranged and produced by Raga Redz of the Calabash Band, is a sweet melodious Reggae song with a positive message.
The track was officially released on Pep Radio yesterday (Feb. 25) by DJ Sugar Bowl. Sadiki, who was born Kevin Donovan, said that the song was inspired by the Serenity Prayer and asking God’s help to have the courage to change the things in life.
“If the sun is too hot we can’t change, we’d just have to get out the sun. But for the things we can change, it’s for us just to be brave enough to do it. The change I’m talking about could be scary for some; it can be from a relationship that might not be working out for you and you might figure you have to leave to make peace, although you love the person.
“I’m hoping for people to connect to it, embracing it as something they can relate to when you’re facing a situation which is difficult for you to change, the way you think or feel, or someone. If you can go to the song sometimes, hopefully, it could give encouragement and inspiration because it’s actually like a prayer asking the Father to give us the power, courage and knowledge,” he said.
The song features a unique sound that reflects the artiste, who said that he had found the right sound he needed in his music.
“We have spent years experimenting with different sounds, trying to find our sound. My music is a combination of St. Kitts, which represents where I’m from and where the sweetness in it comes from, and it incorporates Jamaican-style of Reggae as they are the founders of Reggae music.
Jamaica is where Reggae music was born and I’m grateful to them for the gift they gave the world, and my music also has an African influence which is our roots. We put those three together to get the sugar city flavor of Reggae.”
The song is number 13 on his new 15-track album - ‘Keep it Down to Earth’ - that he plans to release this year.
Sadiki told SKNVibes that about 20 persons worked on the track to produce a top quality song.
“We have the Catholic Youth Choir doing back vocals, Mareice Roberts, Adelcia Connor, keyboards by Johnny Lehr of KC-5 Band, and additional horn arrangement by IP Isaac. We recorded at our studio, Regional Occurrences in Old Road, and also at Atlantic Recording Studio in Molyneaux,” he said.
“There are some African students on it helping with vocals, and this is the only track that has real horns. We have Alex Condell on saxophone, Mikey Martin on trumbone, guitar by Ruel Richardson of Sandy Point, drums by Nabo of Calabash who was a part of Razor Band, along with Paige Thomas.”
Sadiki said that in order for him to do anything it has to be the best and up to standards. He also referred to the handpicked group of singers and musicians as the St. Kitts Reggae Team.
“My band is Calabash Band and all of us together, I think that when it comes to Reggae music they are the best,” he said.
Originally, the album was scheduled for release last December but was postponed because of a new opportunity which would give his career great exposure.
Sadiki was booked to perform for a major concert in Africa and this was the main reason for the postponement of his album launch.
“I felt bad about disappointing my fans and I want to apologise to the people for the false start. We had to change the album launch because of the African trip, which was postponed until April. We also had to change a lot of stuff and a whole lot of other behind the scenes stuff was happening.
When we come to the public we want to come correct; we want to come strong because we’re veterans, so we want to bring a higher level of presentation so our launch has to speak to that. It has to be grand and classy…we’re just asking the public to give us more time.
“Sometimes I’m judged as a perfectionist but I want to be one of those artistes who bring it on a higher level. Not just my music but my messages and how I launch. I prefer people to be mad with me where they say, ‘I say I coming and didn’t come’, than to come at the event and say ‘What’s that’,” he said.
He extended gratitude to the people for their continued supporting and also his sponsors, including David Coury, for being one of the first sponsors to come on board substantially, Dongo Farrel for being a true ‘Masud’ fan and also to all those who believe in him and what he is doing.
He said the single would be available soon for download.
To listen to the song click on the link below
http://www.youtube.com/watch#playnext=1&playnext_from=TL&videos=NHW1rntOXL4&v=Do8dsRHNuII
