Xmyls talks about the industry, beef & more
Sunday, 11 October 2009 04:45
News - Interviews
One thing the Gambian music scene is lacking and not familiar with is good critics. but it all starts here frankly speaking what's on his mind and setting the record, Xmyls speaks exclusively with Big Ben in a rare interview addressing issues which every other Gambian would avoid in fear of hurting somebody's feelings. We need more of this and hopefully everyone with good intentions for the growing Gambian music industry will emulate him and critise or support the artists not because of personal relationships but because of what they are doing and to help point them in the right direction. Read On:-
Ben:- Greetings, what’s your real name?
Xmyls:- My name is Francis Abdul Malick bun Muhhamad. I was born Francis Joseph Mendy but I converted to Islam. It’s a twisted story though, my whole family is Muslim and I was nothing. When I said nothing that’s what it really mean. Then I saw the light that’s why you have Abdul Malick bun Muhhamad. I stick retain the Francis because its heritage; that’s the name by grandfather use and even my father before he converts. On the streets known as Slymx and in the media Xmyls. I go by a lot of names. Tha Cognoscenti (laughs) a lot of people ask me the meaning of that name. It’s an Italian word that means someone who knows a lot about something especially in the arts. So when it comes to Gambian music that’s it. Am talking a lot just ask your next question.
Ben:- Since when did you fall in love with Gambian music?
Xmyls:- I will say when we have the new school of artist coming up. That was in the late 90's when we have groups like Da Fugitivz, Pencha Bi, Dancehall Masters, Born Africans. I went to school with some of these people: Shaka was in Saints and part of the Born Africans; Da Fugitivz was a bit older than me though because they were doing their thing after school. I know Flex while he was part of Pencha Bi. It was really great back then because we Gambians grew up in a dark period if I may put it that way, then we shifted from listening to outside music to our very own.
Ben:- How do you see the industry as of now?
Xmyls:- Now I will say we have definitely come a long way because back then in the late 90's a lot of artist use to make songs for the TV basically. It went on like that, the problem with that was there was no foundation to the music. After the late 90s in early 2000 right up to 2006 there was another phase in the music industry, then from 2007 to date comes another phase. This time it is not cosmetic, it is from the very essence of music and that’s the streets. It’s the streets that have been moving around with it with the Open Mic and the radio shows and you can see true passion in it. So now I am very confident with the music industry. Am sure it will blow really big this time around.
Ben:- You did made mention of the Open Mic, I will come back to it later but first let me ask you this: comparing the music of now and then it seems like Gambians love and follow the music of then more than now even though what the musicians are cooking up now is far better than before. In your view what is the problem?
Xmyls:- I will attribute that to a lot of factors. One thing is that back then TV was relatively new to Gambians and everybody will just sit and be glued to their TVs and not just TV but GRTS ( that is the national TV), and back then the TV was giving a lot of support to the artist. A lot of air time was available with EXTRA TOUCH which was blazing. As I said before the music back then was made for the TV. You are right the music the youngsters are producing now is a million times far better than then. The competition back then was much fiercer but right now all the artist are cool and doing their thing but it all goes back to the attention given to it by the media especially the TV.
Ben:- Coming to the Open Mic, what is the concept of the Open Mic and the motive behind it?
Xmyls:- Well the Open Mic is the platform where artists come share the same platform and Mic. It’s started by Black Lynx. My partner Waagan when he came back from the States(US) he asked whether we have anything like the Open Mic down here. I told him as a matter of fact we have no platform were the artist come together and perform. He said we should try and start something like that. We talked to a few people and that is how it started. We started with no support financially but we got an overwhelming response from the streets. As I said before the visionary behind it is Waagan, then the whole Black Lynx came into it. Right now it is the longest and hottest street oriented show.
Ben:- What of the FIILA (Wolof word meaning "it is here"), it is one of the hottest shows on TV right now. How did it come about?
Xmyls:- Just a little correction, it is not one of the hottest show but it is the hottest show. I am not bragging but you got to blow your own trumpet when necessary. People use to come to me and say X you need to have a TV show but I told them it’s not yet time. Am glad it did not happen back then because it came when we have the perfect team. I remember when we were shooting a documentary for Flex’s album: Ous (the director of FIILA) Waagan, Junior Sam and myself we said why not we have a TV show. We had a series of meetings here and there make some calls and now here is FIILA. It took almost a year for it to be screened. It is produced by Black Lynx and Mediamatic and GRTS does the airing.
Ben:- Let us talk about Gambian promoters. Talking to artist a lot appreciate the work they are doing whilst some are saying that the promoters promote only their friends. What is your say on that?
Xmyls:- Well I don’t know of any promoters promoting only their friends and if they are doing that as long as it is Gambian, I am that type of person- if you are promoting a person or a group just let the music be good, if it is not good do not promote it because it will damage the whole music scene. A lot of artist ask why I do not play there music. I don’t play music that is not good. It helps the artist when you criticise him and make suggestions for him to improve his music. That is the problem with Gambians nobody will criticise your music even if they know it is not good, we got to tell each other the truth. I also have this to say. There are a lot of people that are in the industry for their personal gains. Don’t ask me to name names because I won’t. We have to do it for the industry and not for our selfish gains. Now picture this, if we say we will have the Open Mic reap the benefits from it and then that’s it. Will we have the Open Mic still now? No! we have been doing it without any personal gains and it is still around coming to two years.
Ben:- I have to ask you about this track: "fall back" by Gee? Have you heard that song?
Xmyls:- (Laughs) of course I heard it.
Ben:- Did you see the video?
Xmyls:- As a matter of fact I am in the video.
Ben:- Ok when I heard the song and saw the video I was wondering why you are on it, because in the song Gee is dissing Freaky and Nancy both of whom are Gambian artist. You as a promoter why are you helping Gee diss them when you should be promoting them?
Xmyles:- That is a very interesting and honest question and that is what I am talking about. This is a type of question a Gambian will not ask because they are afraid of making X angry or something like that. I appreciate you asking it and I will encourage you to ask other people what you have on your mind or what the street is talking about. To answer it no disrespect to anybody but back then- the whole video was at my spot. It started with the recording coming to me, me playing it and it got a lot of positive response from the streets. Even if I do not play it people ask for it. Then it came down to the video. If you listen to the song there is a point where he says "shout out to promoters who do not promote….." I forget the word. And that’s me I do not promote anything wag. Big respect to the guys whose names were called: Singhateh and Nancy. Personally I think Singhateh has come a long way. I am cool with Singhateh. I am cool with him I even did a promo for his latest album "rejoice". But Nancy I will be honest I do not feel her music. No disrespect to her, we are neighbors but I do not feel her music.
Ben:- Are you trying to say what Freaky and Nancy were coming up with back then was wack?
Xmyls:- No I am not saying what Freaky was doing is wack. As a matter of fact Freaky is one of the artists with the most hits in the country; he has a lot of good records. As I said before I have nothing against him. I just told you! I did a promo for him. I just have to be on that song and he treated it like a man and we good. He is not wag man he is representing the Gambia and I respect him.
Ben:- Who is your favorite Gambian artist?
Xmyls:- My favorite Gambian artist? I have no favorite artist. I have favorite songs, like when a new song comes out and I am feeling it that is my favorite song for the moment. Not that I am running away from the question but I got no favorite artist. I respect artists that put a lot of hard work in what they are doing, like my man T. Smallz he is a hard worker, Gee he is studio crazy, Vex and the likes. Not like they are my favorite artist but I respect the hard work they put in what they do.
Ben:- Let us talk about Gambian female artists and female goers of Gambian programs. What’s your take on female artists?
Xmyls:- When it comes to the grown ups like Samba Susso they are up there but when it comes to the youngsters I have not been following them because the songs they come up with do not attract me that much. Marion was doing her thing before leaving for UK but it got to the point were by what she was doing was too commercial. IB, she is very good but the BUT is, she is not into the recording thing, she will always be on somebody’s song but for her to record her own song is a problem. Ruggie too is coming nice but she is just like IB. I do not know whether they are more comfortable been on somebody’s song. They should come out and show us what they got. The other part of the question talking about female involvement in the music. We spoke about it the last time on the radio. To a little degree I believe the artists have not been involving them like coming up with records for them.
Ben:- It is a long interview, thank you very much for the time given to Gambuster.
Xmyls:- Shout out to Big Ben and Serign, it’s a good look keep it up.
