Music producer credits success to hard work

“It’s always good to see some recognition, some trophies and accolades added on to the hard work,” local producer Lester Iroha told reporters after two of his projects won the Soca Monarch and Ragga Soca Monarch competitions last Saturday.

Iroha, a well-known producer here in SVG, collaborated with Shane ‘Hypa 4000’ Husbands on ‘No Behaviour’ and Chewalee Johnson on ‘Rumist’ respectively.{{more}}

He disclosed that he has been in the music industry for 16 years and has since seen three crowns, including Hypa 4000’s Dutty Dancing, which won the Road March last year.

Iroha, the Association of Music Professionals (AMP) producer of 2015, said he considered that he had “broken through” in the music industry even before 2015, adding that his creativity distinguishes his work from other producers.

“You know, not being afraid to experiment with certain sounds, different tones.”

Iroha recalled when he had just started producing, he received backlash about certain tones he used, “but now half of them are common within soca right now, so sometimes you can’t be afraid to push the boundaries.”

He noted that being born in Nigeria, his musical background came from his father, who was a music lover himself, “so I guess it’s just in the blood.”

When asked about his relationship with Hypa 4000, Iroha said it has surpassed that of a producer and artiste and has reached a stage of brotherhood.

“We argue and we make up just as if we’re family, but at the end of the day, we’re both working towards the same common goals,” he added.

Although many believe that six-time Soca Monarch winner Gamal ‘Skinny Fabulous’ Doyle stayed out of the competition to increase Hypa’s chances in the competition, Iroha refuted such statements.

He said, “Even long before we even had this song, Skinny already said that he was gonna stay out since his last win. Even before he went in for that win when he lost, he wanted to stay out, but decided that he wanted to go out high note, so this isn’t anything that was planned.”

Iroha, however, said that much credit must be given to Doyle, because he passed on a lot of knowledge and support.

“…Without him we won’t be standing right now celebrating this.”

Reporters pointed out that the theatrics Skinny Fabulous is known for were seen in Hypa’s performance and questioned if soca lovers and the competition judges are more inclined to rate such performances highly.

Iroha replied that there must first be good music.

“If you don’t have good music, all the theatrics, all the technology that you put, all the props won’t make any sense, so you always have to have that foundation.”

He stated that Soca Monarch competitions in the region have more theatrical presentation than persons just singing a song.

“So now, when you come into park and you wanna make a good presentation, you want to win, you have to have that in mind. You have to have a great theatrical presentation to accompany your song, one that would bring out the elements or highlight certain parts in the song that you want portrayed.”

Iroha, who is much sought after as a producer, said, “This year goes to show you that once you have good music and you set a good plan and you have a good performance, you can achieve even the highest of accolades.”

He noted that he works with many producers and knows that there is a lot of tension within the music industry, which he tries to keep out of.

However, he said that tension is unhealthy when it is taken to another level, adding that at the end of the day competition is a good thing.

“If there’s no competition, people don’t tend to push themselves to go further or to create a music product that would outshine the other,” he said.

In an interview with SEARCHLIGHT last month, the producer said it would be a blessing if a track he produced wins Road March.

“We are not just out to win trophies, we are out first and foremost to make good music, promote St Vincent and the Grenadines because at the end of the day, when we have good music we have a good Carnival,” he said then. (AS)