"Lyrics in English, Spanish and Haitian Kreyol are tied to spectacular percussion, guitars and the all important chorus. Sweetcane's 'Hit na on da radio' from D'Ina Co. records is one of those albums that you can dig alone with your headphones or as a loud dance mix for the party." - DJ Al Angeloro (radiosoliel.com) Midnight Friday NYC Artistic Statement: My concept is to create a three dimensional quality to a song - something i find lacking in simply playing some chords then singing a catchy melody over them. The challenge is to bridge the personal subject matter in the lyrics with the cultural content in the music. For this reason styles of music are very important. They can create a mythical backdrop from which to draw lyrically. The Sweetcane Series: Five parts Did you know: 80% of the slave trade was created to mill the sugar cane. Part I: Hit na on da radio - original version & The ballet of Sweetcane - re-worked version This debut CD explores music and dance from West Africa and it's diaspora in Haiti, Jamaica, Cuba and Brazil all told from the perspective of Sweetcane, the last guitar hero. Reminiscent of Greek mythology's Orpheus, Sweetcane is the guitar hero of modern times. Faced with extinction by the three-minute pop song, Sweetcane follows Destiny, the Goddess of dance, to the roots of radio where, with Tchien Bwa a dan bois (the power of wood from the woods), he revolutionizes pop music. The story is designed as an African ballet that moves with the lyrics and rhythms. (new) Cover concept: color: tan - A fist with a broken chain dangling holds a guitar neck - on the flip side three dancers dance on the guitar body. Part II: Dark night of Soul - (coming soon!!!) This follow up to the Ballet continues the saga of Sweetcane with the African diaspora in the US. The title track is inspired by the Spanish mystic St. John of the Cross whose treatise, Dark night of the soul, (http://www.ourladyswarriors.org/saints/darknite.htm) beautifully depicts an important experience to the seekers of higher consciousness. This experience happens as the soul begins to awaken to the mystic and becomes profoundly disillusioned with mundane life. It can be quite painful, with feelings of hopeless loneliness, though ultimately leads to a powerful fulfillment. In Dark night of Soul, Sweetcane experiences the vibe of the African American and the results of a people forcefully disconnected from their roots. Cover concept: Color: black - Left, a black knight helmet with the visor open showing the outline of a face inside; superimposed against a black sky dotted with stars and, far right, a crescent moon. Part III: The Prophet turns Coming out of the dark night into the light of a beautiful new day, Sweetcane's luck finds him and the prophet turns. Profoundly moved and reconnected, this record explores mystical themes of the female energy in the earth, with a positive eco message. African and Caribbean musics mix freely with modern US styles including: Funk, Hip-hop, Jungle, Soucous, Zuk, Racine & Reggae. Cover concept: Color: green - The back of the Prophet in robe & hood turning toward us extending his hand, which holds a globe of the earth with a dollar sign. Part IV: Whenever there's love This is the love record. Themes of love abound from seduction to infatuation, from misunderstanding to fulfillment, from sex to spirit all resound here. Reggae rhythms predominate, though infused are other Caribbean spices. Featuring the funk/cha cha: You got it going on! Cover concept: Color: red - On a white background a large juicy bright red heart pierced by a sugar cane. Part V: Sugar blues Rock and blues melancholy lyrics with down home rhythms, Sweetcane cooks up a Jambalaya of rootsy blues featuring lots of tasty guitar work. Cover concept: Color: Arizona sand - In a southwest desert setting, next to a cactus, a man in a blue jean suit, snake skin boots and a straw hat rests a foot on a vintage acoustic guitar case. Below is a semi-abstract collage of lyric exerpts outlining the Ballet of Sweetcane. The Myth of Sweetcane Carrying nothing but a stalk of cane, Sweetcane leaves his home in Avalon to follow his Destiny; who has disappeared into the mystical world of Dire. On this misty road, he finds his missing muse dancing in a carnaval of music. Moved by a rhythm of such beauty and overcome with the feeling de amor, he blows into the hollow of his cane; unwittingly invoking Tchien Bwa a dan Bois, the power of wood from the woods. The spirit possesses Sweetcane to speak in tongues. Suddenly, a siren sounds and soldiers from the oppressive local regime descend on the ceremony. Finding a raving Sweetcane, they confiscate his staff; throwing him and the rest of the congregation in chains. Angered at this injustice, Tchien Bwa uses Sweetcane's voice to orate an uprising. A rally forms around the innocent, who only semi-conscious, hallucinates he is still in carnaval. Tchien Bwa's oration intensifies til the people riot, breaking their chains and spilling into the streets. They call in the army and turn the guns on the people. The bullets only feed the spirit's fire, which soon spreads with the news of the massacre, consuming the soldiers themselves in total revolution. His anger appeased, Tchien Bwa releases Sweetcane into the aftermath. Exhausted and disillusioned, he wanders through the carnage overcome with a longing for Avalon. In this moment, Destiny appears with the lost cane. Smiling, she hands it to him and says, "Your luck will find you." Real Live! quotes after recently hearing Hit na on da radio for the first time: "If someone doesn't pick this record up, they're crazy." - Daniel Laurent "The music is overwhelming. You feel like you have to listen to it over and over. By the time you get to the third tune your still digging 1 & 2." - Max Lyncee "Your music is gooood! We listen to it every day" - Josie Lyncee "It's like a journey to different places in the world." - Dadi Beaubrun "I always slip it in a mix when I have people over" - Ariel Agai "You made me sound like Los Munequitos de Matanzas. I was like, did I play that?" - Chembo Corneil "Your production is of the highest quality" - Osca Debe "I listened to it all day for two days" - Fan-fan Louis "I get it! All this music, it's not on the Radio." - Florisca Carter "I came home and Florisca was playing your music. I didn't know it was you. I was like who is that?! This stuff is baaad!" - Carl Carter "I listen to your record all the time. I'm listening to it now." - Abou Diarrasouba "I like the first one. I like the second one a lot and I like this one two" - Gilad Dobrecky (after hearing three tracks) "I always use to tell you, your making music for the future. Well, that time is now." - Alexia Hebel "...cause everyone would like to have your mix." - Wes Morden "I have to get a beer cause I can't listen to this music without doing something." - Jamshied Sharifi