Volume No. 2 Issue No. 67 - Monday, February 9, 2009
A One on One Interview with Pat Aaron Dominica’s Calypso Genius
 By Cheryll Lafond
Pat Aaron and Lee Abraham of XM satelit radio.
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9. Q: What do you think of Sye’s song entitled Where Pat At? A song, which asks for your where about? Then there is the Comforter who sings “Puppet Abuse”; a song directed at you, it is almost like a sequel to your song the Puppet Master?
Pat Aaron: Interesting play on words, see? Jacko get his chance to write “too many songs” too, that’s what they have been saying about me right? But that is what is needed.
10. Q: How would you rate the calypsos of this year so far? Are there any ones you prefer?
Pat Aaron: Well this is the standard in Dominica, with me being out of the picture. But then remember, Tim took off too, Chester is also not in the ring. Well, my taste is stringent, but a few of them cling to my mind, like Sye, ‘Where Pat At.’ ‘Real Puppet Master, has a feel familiar to my style, not up to the standard but ok. I like the Gachette girls, they are growing in the art, Sugar S is a powerful artist regardless to what she sings. I like “ You Lie On De Man’, Son of Saint, ok too in his style. Beetle J, also has a good song, “Change the Music”, guess that’s all I remember for now.
11. Q: Will we see the return of Showdown Mass Camp Next year?
Pat Aaron: Well today it is our intention to return next year.
12. Q: Many of your critics, have criticized your move this year, for staying out of the calypso arena, it is also said that you have influenced the decision of the King Dice for not wanting to defend his crown this year? what are your views?
Pat Aaron: People must talk, and most people who just talk don’t care to know the facts, and the insinuation that I influence The King Dice, is indicative that people don’t know Dice, but let me inform you, Dice is a very individualistic person. Do you know that The Swinging Stars, packed up on the King Dice last year while he was singing his song after his crowning? Did you hear any one talk about that? No, if The King Dice had done something similar, you would hear talk crowning? The King Dice thinks for himself, and he lets you know exactly how he feels, and that’s what I respect and love about him the most.
13. Q: Many have said that your decision in not being part of the competition this year, as a selfish move on your part, some have also said that your move was based solely on your defeat at the last general elections at the Dominica Calypso Association in which you wanted to become president, is there any truths to this?
Pat Aaron: l also hear that it is because I did not get on to the executive of the association, of course that is not true, I really do not want to be on any public body, I am only interested in seeing Showdown Mas Camp get its fair share of the responsibilities of the association. I have been trying to take some time off for some time now to try to restructure my operations and minimize losses, remember the title of Mas Camp’s 2008 cee-dee album? “Last Lap Last Song?”
Like I said to Matt in an interview he did with me, where he asked if my not being voted unto the executive was the reason for my taking the year off, I asked him" if every day you take the bucket to the well along the short road, and today you take the bucket to the well along the longer road, today the bucket bottom drops out, did the bucket bottom drop off because you took the longer road?"
14. Q: So is it safe to say, that the Last Lap CD title was an indication of what would happen this year?
Pat Aaron: Yes it was my intention to take some time off after 2007, to put other aspects of my life in order, and to give other complaining writers a chance to get the spotlight, but that year Dice defeated himself, forgetting his lyrics, and close people thought that the critics would say that it was because Dice lost, I was taking time off, so I agreed to regain the crown in the next year 2008, which we did, so here we are.
15. Q. Is there any fiction between you, Showdown Mass Camp and the Dominica Calypso Association “DCA?
Pat Aaron: There is always friction, or dissatisfaction, or differences, we are human, but there are some which are unnecessary, Mas Camp has always been treated like the outside child by the DCA, they deny it of course, because its who feels it, knows it, when you walk on an insect, you don’t feel it do you, but ask the insect.
16. Q. What are your views on the current Dominica Calypso Association “DCA”?
Pat Aaron: The Calypso Association serves Stardom Tent, and it treats Showdown like a step child and I for one don’t accept treatment from anybody which I consider less than I deserve, take that in its broadest sense, because this answer cold take a long time.
17. With your absence this year, some of the artists you normally write for have now gotten other writers, what does mean when you return back to writing, will they be back with you, or will they be left on their own?
Pat Aaron: Many things will come from this time off, people are free to go or return, Mas Camp also needs to streamline, and I intend to cut back on the amount of artists I write for.
18. Q. What should we expect upon the return of you, Showdown Mas Camp and the ever-popular King Dice?
Pat Aaron: Good things come to those who wait right? So will we wait and see.
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