Samuel's music to uplift the down-trodden

ON AN international scale, gospel music is becoming more mainstream and holds a larger share of the global music industry. The same can be said for the local gospel industry, which has seen an upsurge in the last few years with the advent of specialist Christian/gospel radio stations and increasing gospel events in the country. In the middle of it all, Samuel Dyer has risen to prominence. “I started singing at age five, my parents sing, my brother sings, my sister is Esther Dyer of Roy Cape All Stars. I’ve always been going around to different schools and events singing. I was one of those children who was never really into sports. Give me a piano and I’ll play it and sing to my heart’s desire,” said the humble and soft-spoken vocalist. Samuel has recently concluded the recording of his solo album entitled Spirit Arise.

He continued: “At a very young age I wanted to break all the records that Michael Jackson had set such as winning the most Grammy Awards. Basically, I just wanted to become the best singer in the world, but not simply a singer, I wanted to be the best overall musician. It seems far-fetched now, but I was just about seven years old when I conceived theses dreams.” The 21-year-old attended Four Roads Government Primary School then went on to Diego Martin Junior Secondary, then to Tranquillity Government Secondary. However, unlike many who speak of good school memories, Samuel’s journey through the education system was in no way easy or enjoyable. “I had a hard time in school. I was always pestered and laughed at by other students because I was different, as a result I hated school. I had low self-esteem. “I thought I was stupid. I thought that nobody cared because someone was always trying to pull me down.”

The struggle is what Samuel credits for his complete acceptance of God into his life. An emotional-sounding Samuel said: “I used to go to church just for the sake of going, just for my parents. I was along for the ride and had no real relationship with Christ. I chose one day to accept Christ into my life and started the walk of Christ. I pulled away from my peers, as most other youths would try to hurt me. I used to write a lot and spend time playing the keyboard. God just started to heal me, he just started to heal me.” His relatively diminutive figure and soft voice are deceptive. When he began to play samples of his music the power of his singing voice was astounding. Of course, he credits Christ for this ability. “I never had voice training, I did warm-ups with the church choir, but no formal training. I actually started doing vocal training after the album was completed, just to keep my voice up to par.

“I started as a child singing gospel music but then went on to secular music, singing R&B, myself and my group entered “Scouting for Talent,” performed at Island Club and things like that. One day I met with my producer Keith Israel and told him that I was simply losing the desire to do secular music. Right now we are scouting for a record deal from abroad and things are looking really good right now, and I will not doubt, because God is calling me to minister the gospel in song. “God promised me that he would open doors for me. He told me about four years ago that all the good things that are happening now would happen and as they come to pass now it just reinforces my faith in Him. This album, the work I put in and my music in general, is not about me. It’s all about Him.” Samuel’s music is simultaneously powerful and soothing, incorporating several genres with a focus on the R&B gospel art form. “The album is well-balanced with a little dancehall, a little funk, hip-hop and a touch, just a touch of rock, but it is an R&B gospel album in its entirety.

“My music is to help build, to lift those who are down, and to those who aren’t it’s just to get them to praise and worship mode in reverence to the father. “A lot of folks who are not Christians are positively affected when they hear the music. “One girl walked up to me recently and said, ‘Samuel, that song came to me in the right way at just the right time.’ This girl was on the brink of turning her back on God,” added the eloquent young man. Samuel has experienced great success and popularity in the world of local gospel music. He is in demand for many local gospel events. Regarding this, Samuel in his humble manner, said: “I always visualised myself on a large stage performing in front of thousands of people and I always kept this goal in mind and pushed towards it.”

What does Samuel aspire to be and do in the future? “I currently train the choir and am very active at church. I’m there every day. I was never into liming too much. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with it but, I’m labelled boring by some. But fun for me is writing, singing and producing music and I really want to get deeply involved in this.” Following a hearty laugh he continued: “I want to marry and have kids, five to be exact. I also want to go worldwide into ministry but if I have to go away for ten years, I’ll come right back. I love Trinidad too much to forsake the country.”