Young artist aims to upend the ‘slackness’ in local Soca music

Dwayne Sam plans to change the perception of Soca music as he ridiculed other younger artists for the lack of substance in their music, and the more experienced artists for not collaborating enough with those who are up and coming.

“I need the young writers to start putting more effort in their song composition and start to think about some better topics…they listening way other people singing and coming up with this whole bag of slackness, I think they need to get rid of that.”

He is urging that younger artists take the time in composing music so that it becomes a classic.

“You don’t want a song to just play for two/three days and then it gone; you want music that lasts forever….

“Well that’s my goal, I not sure ‘bout everybody else,” he told SEARCHLIGHT.

Sam said he believes that guidance from the experienced artists may help in the production quality of music.

“I would like to see the bigger and more experienced artists like Skinny Fabulous, Problem Child- I would like to see them helping out and do collaboration with the younger artists…all of us are one at the end of the day.”

The 20-year-old, who goes by the stage name ‘Wayne Musiq’, said he is pleased to see more youths getting involved in music.

“ I would like to see as [many] young artists singing music”, he mused, adding that they should make use of whatever talent they have, “whether it’s football or music, just keep at it.”

Sam is one of SVG’s newest soca/dancehall artists with plans to make a showing at carnival events this year.

“For the rural carnival I plan to dominate them. I don’t want to talk boasting, but I plan to win them,” he declared, adding that he also has plans to enter the national Soca Monarch competition.

“You can’t go in anything to lose, so that’s the goal for this year, everything I coming for.”

Sam is hoping that he can eventually take his skills globally and become an international Dancehall and Soca artist.

His passion for music came while he was a student of the CW Prescod Primary School and was part of the school’s steel band.

“From there it was just music on music.”

He said the inspiration to become a musician came from his brothers and friends as he was known to freestyle.

“So that’s one of the reasons why I decided to do music, and everybody encouraged me.”

The young man from Pauls Avenue said he first explored the genre of Dancehall, however, he shifted to Soca music because, “Vincy is more of a Soca place than Dancehall.”

Sam has not given up on Dancehall though, noting that he will “still do dancehall on the side- regular too”.

He shared that he has an open-minded approach to music, enjoying various genres, and feels confident about his music because of the feedback he receives from friends.

“I have a few friends and when they phone ring you hear my song…it feels real good, trust me.” He also looks forward to hearing persons singing along to his songs on the big stage.

Sam said he also has received strong family support, noting that they are among his biggest supporters. The up and coming soca artist, who is the second youngest of his siblings, said that he plans to coach his younger brother, when he gets older, in music.

Sam currently has two soca songs- ‘Party Bad’, and ‘Wonderful Feeling’; as well as one dancehall song, ‘How it is’, that are available on his YouTube channel.