Christopher Martin On How Friendship With Usain Bolt Impacted His Career; Whether Dancehall Influences Crime

Reggae-Dancehall artist Christopher Martin has been reaping success in the music industry ever since winning Digicel’s Rising Stars talent show in 2005. He’s also a friend to the world’s fastest man and Jamaica’s Olympic champion Usain Bolt.

In this interview, the I’m A Big Deal singer shares how that friendship has made him work harder to achieve his goals and stay relevant in the music industry.  Martin says he does not fully agree that Dancehall music causes crime and shares that he too does not own his music masters …but he is ok.

Christopher Martin, how are you doing?

Wah gwan mi general?

I remember being at the club and they turned off the music to let the entire club watch you win rising stars on the TV screen, what was that like to enter rising stars?

I was finishing 6th form and all my friends were doing what they needed to do and I heard about rising stars. I had a group of friends I used to sing with and I told them, they said they weren’t feeling it, but on the day of the auction I saw them with a different lead singer. I was like yo you coulda tell me. (laughs) but they entered and me entered and you know the outcome already. It built my character.

It was a TV show and you are one of two successful artists from that show, you signed record deals and moved into the industry. What was it like to move from a TV star to a bonafide star.

It wasn’t easy because earlier the masses wanted to hear the songs I did on TV. It builds character because I knew I could only do that for a certain time until my songs started doing what they were supposed to do. Then I moved from half an hour of my material to now doing over 2 hours of my material. It’s a big vibes.

I saw you at Reggae Sumfest and that was when I knew you made it into the industry. What’s your preparation process for stage performance?

I have to pray first and foremost with my band and make sure everything is in order. I have to make sure what I am wearing enhances the performance. When I touch the stage it’s a different person. A just vibes so when I come off the stage you say “Chris left it all up there inuh”

You are friends with one of Jamaica’s most renowned athletes, Usain Bolt. How did that friendship start and how is being friends with him?

I met Usain through a friend, Germain Gonzales, me general bredda fi life. I went to check Germain by his apartment and Usain was there and from that day we met its a natural vibe.

We love the same things, dominoes, football, and parties. To see his growth from 2005 to become the global star, the fruition of his talent amidst all his injuries, and to be there and see the effort and dedication aided me in seeing how I have to handle my craft. You can be blessed with all the talent but if you don’t work hard at it it’s just gonna be there. I learned that from him and Germain. It’s always a plus when people come into your life at an early stage to take pieces of them and apply to your daily routine. I learned to be steadfast and focus.

What was your first hit song?

Songs hit in different places, Giving It was the first song to make me travel but Take My Wings was the first hit.

Where have you been around the world that was inspiring?

I have been everywhere except China. But I went to Japan and Chill Spot was the biggest song, Ackee and Saltfish performed and mash down the place and I was saying what will I go do after dem man yah. When I went on and saw these people who don’t talk English and singing my song word for word it was an eye-opener.

Kenya also did it for me, after stepping out the airport I saw so many people I thought it was a stage show. They came to greet me. Africa, I love it.

Why did you choose a label instead of going independent?

I felt like I was at the point in my career where I had to do that. The machinery, they can afford you and the opportunity was in my best interest. Big up to VP Records. I still have creative control over my kinda vibes and the type of songs I want to do. We just made the move. It is a good partnership.

Sean Paul told me he doesn’t own his hits. do you own your masters?

At this point in my career, I don’t own my masters. But I am ok. At some juncture in my life, I feel like that will be something that needs to be worked out but at this juncture, it doesn’t take or break me. We kinda creeped in the overseas market. The masters are not detrimental to me right now.

Some people compare you to Tory Lanez, do you embrace that comparison?

I have heard the comparisons. Tory a bad artist. I just feel like the energy I push is my kinda energy. We keep the melody and cadences and beats, talk about women and positivity.

Jamaica’s Prime Minister keeps making reference that the music is contributing to violence, do you believe that?

No, not fully. Music is like a marketplace, you have buyers and vendors and you have to choose what you want. Some people might say yes and they might have strong points to it but there has always been violence. I don’t feel like if your favorite artist tells you this is what he does he will do it. Him don’t do it. It’s just how you interpret it. The PM and his friends have their experts that may show data but I don’t feel like it’s that serious. We can tone it down and it doesn’t have to be so graphic but at the end of the day, you can’t tell a man what to sing.

Your new song is Rent Free?

Boasy vibes. It was Paul Campbell’s first music video and that was an honor to have him in my video. Rent Free is living in people’s head rent free. People see you doing well and they are thinking of ways to stop you. You in their heads but not for good reasons. Dem people deh head we a live innah and it nahguh change cause as long as you doing well you aguh always live in them head.

Streaming is now in the Caribbean. Do you think it is good for the music industry? 

It’s the way technology is going now. You can’t be stuck in the old mindset. It is awesome that those platforms are now available in Jamaica. Those numbers were nonexistent before now. It is good for us to see how Jamaica is supporting your music. The youth dem can see what they are doing and see where they need to improve and how to improve their streams.

Chris Big Up thank you so much.

Nuff respect me general

To hear the full interview listen to the World Music Views Podcast.
Email: worldmusicviews@gmail.com .