This interview was conducted in October 2008, actually my first ever. As we migrate completely over to the new site, you’ll see oldies but goody like this one. So hope you Enjoy, or Re-Enjoy.

De Tropix “Oi”

While it is 86 degrees in St. Vincent, its 50 degrees in London, where Cherry B and Instinct are freezing their asses off and working hard, penning a song they’ve been asked to write for an unmentioned artist. Taking a break they look to CSI for abstract inspiration and took a little additional time to invite me into the Caribbean duo that is De Tropix .

I learned a lot about your new favorite group. One can imagine Cherry sitting over the phone with her bouts of infectious laughter and Instinct bending over occasionally to bring us back to center. We spent a half an hour talking in what seemed like only minutes, embarking on conversation that new friends share with the familiarity and comfort of old chums. Through our conversation I discovered that The United Kingdom and the United States have more in common than just English.

Cherry and Instinct provided me with an all expenses paid mental journey. Brought together by an enjoyable entrapment with music and bonded by respect and understanding, De Tropix is preparing for an unknown journey. All meekness must be checked at the door because you are entering a place of impunity.In a conversation that touched on astrological signs and the future president of the United States, De Tropix allowed me into their kaleidoscopic world. If I would have been in London, and not via Skype, I probably would have ran away from home and became a De Tropix roadie.

So love this song! I have told everyone to listen to it, and I played it like 8 times today. What does “Oi” mean though?
(Cherry laughs) Cherry: Oi. Its universal man. It’s like, YO!, or Hey! It’s really overused in the Caribbean. Instinct: It’s like a call out to someone
Cherry: Yeah like to some random guy in the street or world (LOL)

OOOHHH so it’s just like hey? I thought it was sexual or something:
Cherry: Well you have to listen to it real close and slowly, I have to send you the lyrics. The song itself has a different meaning but the word isn’t (Cherry slowly recites some of the lyrics to me and we laugh together).

Well speaking of the Caribbean, I know London has a good sized West Indian population. How did you end up in London from St. Vincent Cherry?
Cherry: Well were both from St. Vincent. Were here to bust open the world with our music. A lot of our songs are West Indian inspired. Were both from the island so this weather from England is so awful. You have a couple of days of sunshine, but not too many, I miss the sunshine.

Well how did you two link up? Did you know each other from home?
Instinct: No we linked up here in London actually, we met through mutual friends and it’s funny because then we started realizing that our families knew each other. It’s crazy because we knew each other for like 4 years before we hooked up on music.
Cherry: Yeah, I was writing and he was working on his productions.
Instinct: Well, I was making it better, you know its gotten better with time, it didn’t start out too good though.
Cherry: Oh it sounded good then though. But we also found someone who we both liked that wanted to manage us and it was like “lets do this”.

For each of you, how did music become your main focus?
Instinct: It’s always been. I have always loved music. As far as I know its been the only thing I have been interested in. It started as me DJ’ing and it just kinda evolved into making my own music. My parents listened to everything. My mother listened to country western and stuff and my dad (listened to) lovers rock and reggae and stuff.
Cherry: As a Caribbean person, you wake up(born) to the bass. You come out moving. So it was never an option. I knew I’d either make it with my mouth by singing or with my body by dancing.

Yeah I saw the clip on your Myspace Page and you were in the studio and basically said “Fuck It” and started slow winding.
Cherry: OMG. Yeah they don’t show me stuff before they put it on there
Instinct: Its better that way you don’t think?
Cherry: (laughs) I suppose

So moving along, on your myspace page you say your music is “Like a sunny day at the beach”. Given the uniqueness of your sound, what category would you put your sound in?
(Cherry laughs hysterically) Cherry: Gosh Instinct what would you say? I don’t know. Well I mean, the name is De Tropix, so obviously there is a heavy island influence from home. I don’t know would you say Soca, Soca pop, Soca Hip Hop? I mean R&B. Rap. I don’t know RAP what do you think?

Well being in the United States, there is definitely a lack of Soca on the mainstream, our last Soca joint that gained mainstream momentum was probably “Tempted to Touch” by Rupee. I don’t think it would be characterized as that and reggae music is so highly commercialized that if it doesn’t have a riddim that Sean Paul, Beenie Man, or Elephant Man have used people get confused. I would say.. New Wave.
Cherry: I like new wave.
Or like experimental slash electronic hip-hop. It’s an infusion. I mean we just want to make music to move the masses so what ever you call that. I guess, I mean we just let the vocals bounce off the riddims. (Cherry laughs) We make music to make love to. Its our stuff, our vibe.

Cool .So what was the last CD each of you bought or downloaded?
Cherry: Oh gosh RAP, I think its been about 4 years since I bought something
Cherry, 4 years !!?
Well yeah. I’ve had this kind or reality check. It was like buys CDs or nails for my house(back in St. Vincent). Buy CDs or light bulbs..ya know?
Yeah.
Instinct: I don’t really buy too many albums either. The last album I bought was Burt Baccarat. I like older, stuff you know? Classic stuff, an older feel. I like the compositions. I don’t really buy too much new stuff. We have great friends though and they’re always bringing us great stuff, they’re awesome about that
Cherry: I can’t wait till we’re rich though and I could go buy like 10 CD’s (we Laugh).

Yeah broke is something serious. It really shifts your priorities.
Cherry:Yeah Man.

What was your first show like?
Cherry: Well you know, we consider ourselves really unorganized, but you know, none of us really knew what we were doing. I had a background singer, Claudia. All of us were unorganized, but we had to go on stage immediately, so here wasn’t really time to get nervous. We got up there and did our thing. The crowd was rockin and loving it.

So when are we going to get to see a De Tropix show in the US?
Cherry: When they fucking pay us! We would love to come perform in the US. There are so many politics and shit involved, excuse me for having diarrhea of the mouth, but just plug some damn speakers up somewhere and we’re happy. Let us come do our shit. They make a big fuss about everything. It’s not that hard man.

Okay guys, so I gotta jet, but I have one last question. Have you guys been following US politics? How do you feel about the US finally having a black president?
Cherry: Well I was home in St. Vincent the past 4 weeks, but I can tell you that over there he is every where. Newspapers, Magazines, Posters. Theres a soca (song) about Obama, no lie, a soca tune, look it up. I never thought I would see it in my lifetime. It’s amazing.
Instinct: Yeah, it’s like a new start to the new millennium. Like the real new millennium.
Yeah I had the opportunity to see him in person about 3 weeks ago and it was amazing. I almost cried. It was so inspiring and things are so bad over here.
Cherry: What do you mean?
People are getting laid off. Losing their jobs and possessions, it’s bad.
Cherry: It’s like that here too! All that money being spent on the war. Suffering is happening in London too. Were going to build an eco-friendly commune with solar panels and organic food. It will be great.
Really. Well guys I gotta go. I’m getting my hair dyed tonight.
Cherry:Oh RAP, I’ll send you some organic hair dyes one of these days.
(Now I’m laughing) I’m holding you to it. I’m going to be like, where’s my dye Cherry!? (We all laugh)

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All it took was 30 minutes for me to fall in love with them. You can download their FREE EP at this link. Download Now!

This is an Eargasm Exclusive Interview. If you use any part of this interview for professional or personal publications please provide the necessary credit to TheEargasm.com.

Thank you again Cherry, Instinct, and Sophie. You guys are the best.