Rikki Jai –- soca -chutney's superstar

He is one of the most successful of what is popularly known as “crossover” entertainers in the region and is in demand year round throughout the world, with Holland, Guyana, Suriname, USA and Canada scheduled for the rest of the year.

Currently working on his soca and soca-chutney offerings for 2009 his focus is now on making music that everyone can enjoy the world over, an example of this being his first reggaeton track ”No hablo espanol” which has reached number five on MTV’s Tempo Cross Caribbean countdown.

Starting his career in 1986 with the band Naya Andaz and moving to Triveni Orchestra in 1998 covering Indian film songs, chutney, calypso and reggae, he later embarked on a solo career where he has found most success to date.

His most recent CD Aashish: From Father to Son was aptly named after his newborn son. One track “MorTor” has been signed on to an Indian movie to be released later this year.

1. Where were you born and where did you grow up?

On the outskirts of San Fernando, a village called Friendship Village.

2. Who were the people who have influenced you the most, in your career and in life in general?

My parents by far in the way they lived and raised their six children with limited resources. My father believed in family life and did his best to keep us together and happy. They both have encouraged me to follow my dreams and have supported my career choice. My mother supported me morally and spiritually as well.

Others include Baron, Rudder, Sparrow, Ras Shorty I and the greats of India like Kishore Kumar. I have been blessed to have met and worked with Errol Ballantyne, my early adviser who today still remains a source of invaluable help and advice.

3. Tell us about your inspiration to do the type of “work” you do. What advice would you give to anyone contemplating such a vocation?

Everyday life inspires me. It’s easy to write about things which affect us on a daily basis and people can relate to, for example happy times in people’s lives such as weddings, child births, Carnival time etc, all things when people celebrate. I write life experiences in song.

My advice – know where you and your ancestors came from, know your history and your culture so that identifying with it all in a song will become easy.

4. At what schools/institutions did you receive your education?

St Paul’s Anglican school, Naparima College, St Stephen’s College and Queen’s College, New York.

5. Which is your favourite calypso of all time? Outside of your own.

That would be David Rudder’s “Calypso Music”.

6. What is your favourite meal or dish/food and drink?

I absolutely love creole food, steamed fish, calalloo and coucou; and sorrel.

7. What advice would you give to the young people of Trinidad and Tobago?

Follow your dreams to the fullest. Never believe that a goal is unattainable.

With hard work, determination, honesty and ambition anything is possible. Reach for the stars but keep your feet planted on the ground. Don’t let others influence you to do the things which will later cause pain and hurt to you and your family.

8. If you could dine with anyone in history who would it be and why? What dinner conversation would you have with that person?

Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela and what made them want to dedicate and risk their lives for the freedom of so many people they did not know, with non-violent methods, incarceration and loss of family.

9. What daily motto/credo do you live by and your recipe for success?

Just being myself and doing everything to the best of my ability. Trust in god.

10. What are your most prized possessions: one tangible, one intangible?

I do not have a tangible prized possession but intangible has to be the love from my family, friends and fans.

11.Your pet peeve? Your favourite form of relaxation?

People who have no concern for time and other people’s time. I love to watch movies, one after the other sometimes to get my mind off everything.

12. What is your favourite pastime/interest/hobby outside of performing?

Spending time with my family.

13. When through your work or otherwise you experience the fallout of social issues happening in our country what are your thoughts…solutions?

There are so many issues and so few people listening. I have done songs on unity which is a subject dear and close to me but I find the power holders are not concerned with unity and so they fall on deaf ears. I did a song with Black Stalin about unity which I think passed over the heads of a lot of people. I keep singing.

14. When and how did you get into singing?

I was in a bazaar in Oropouche and heard the band Naya Andaz playing calypso music without vocals so I asked them if they wanted a singer to voice the songs. They asked me to audition and I passed with flying colours…the rest is history. That was 1986.

15. Tell us about your inspiration to do the type of work you do. What keeps you going?

I go to sleep at night thinking of music and wake up in the middle of the night with thoughts and ideas for songs or I may be flying on a plane and I get an idea or I may be driving and songs may just pop into my head. I love to do songs that are life experiences, my own or others. The successes of other people in the industry act as a catalyst for me to succeed also. My fans keep me going mainly but my love is what keeps me going day in day out. A hand shake or a compliment after a show from a fan goes a long way.

16. Of all your accolades, prizes and awards which do you rate as extremely special?

All my awards are special and to rate one as more special than the other just can’t happen.

17. If you had to perform for an audience who had never heard or seen you before and you had to perform one of your songs and one by another local performer, which would you?

“Sumintra” without a doubt and “Calypso Music” by David Rudder

18. What goals and or ambitions do you still have?

Acceptance on the world stage still looms large in the distance which I hope to shorten and bring close to me and all of Trinidad and Tobago

19. Your favourite calypsonian(s) of all time?

The Mighty Sparrow.

20. Do you pattern your work after any other person or persons? If so, who and why?

Maybe when I started off my music I tended to sound like other people but now I think I have my own style which is distinctive and has its own flavour.