by Steven Seedo
PARAMARIBO — After a short time-out, Surinamese artist Booster is back with new music, fresh plans and a new musical collaboration. He wants to start a new chapter with The Message Band with fellow cantor Farello ‘Layta’ Pengel, known for the kaseko hit ‘Rugtas’ and the R&B song ‘Serjusu’, and with background singer Jason ‘Jayh’ Stern.
After about a year of being in the background, the versatile singer and entrepreneur Ivan Deel, better known as Booster, is making a new start. He used the period of relative peace to evaluate the Surinamese music scene and think about the messages he wants to convey with his music. He is now back with new productions and a strengthened formation of his own music group The Message Band.
“Connections and personal relationships would sometimes be more important than musical talent”
Well off to a good start
Last month Booster and Layta presented their first joint kaseko single ‘Misgun’. This officially marks the start of the musical collaboration. Two more productions are planned for November. The duo brings a old schoolreggae mix of Boosters ‘No Djarusu’ and Layta’s ‘Serjusu’.
In addition, the kaseko/kabula single ‘Motjo Libie’ will be released with Saveljie Kaarsbaan, stage name Shugga, as guest singer. He is the lead singer of the formation Effective. The intention is to produce more music together and explore different musical styles. The new line-up should also give The Message Band an extra boost.
December in particular promises to be a busy month. The band has various performances planned, including birthdays, street parties and year-end celebrations.
The Message Band was founded in May 2018. One of the great successes is the kaseko-kabula hit ‘Gang’. With this song, Booster wanted to send a clear message: “be conscious in the choice of your friends”. Songs such as ‘Sranan Koningin’, ‘Jonkoe Basi’ and ‘Wasi Yuru’ are also part of the repertoire.
Open application to president
But Booster doesn’t just look at the musical opportunities. He is critical of the way the Surinamese music industry functions and says that quality does not always play the decisive role when artists are selected for performances and line-ups. Connections and personal relationships would sometimes be more important than musical talent. He calls the situation unfair and believes that the music scene should pay more attention to quality.
During a first meeting with the president, the artist would like to ask her to ensure that when appointing people to posts and committees, no action is taken on the basis of preferences or personal connections. He mainly refers to posts that offer opportunities for artists to use their talent and thereby earn income.
According to him, it is important that independent people are placed in such positions who know their stuff and are actually committed to the Surinamese music sector. According to Booster, artists should be given fair opportunities to contribute with their talent, but they should also be rewarded for this.
Deel is not only an artist but also an entrepreneur. He runs a barbershop and car wash and is also involved in the sale of sausage and barbecue products, because it is difficult to live exclusively from music in Suriname.
With his new musical collaboration, Booster now mainly wants to look ahead. The time-out has made way for new energy, new music and a clear message: The Message Band is back.
