Dactah Chando is sitting on Almáciga beach in Tenerife. It is very early and the sun has only just risen. The view is almost a mirage, an illusion. His surfboard and his “little dog” are at his side and he is happy because he has just come out of the water. Dactah Chando is a surfer with all of his soul and a child of nature.
He lives in a small house made of natural stone. The surroundings are almost jungle-like: date palms, mangos, papayas, bananas, avocados and medlars. everything is at hand. The beach is only a few metres from his house on foot and he starts every day swimming and surfing.
He looks like a very reliable, peaceful and gentle type.
Me: Dactah Chando, thanks for meeting me here, in your private idyll. How was the surfing?
Dactah Chando: We didn’t get the best waves today, but I was able to ride a few and it was really cool! (with a smile)
Me: What does surfing mean to you?
Dactah Chando: Like every morning, my connection with the sea is very profound and almost meditative. I get my strength and the creativity for my music from it. The waves are life itself, pure vibes and their strength is a gift if you understand and respect their great power. It’s almost an evolutionary act because you lie on the board, the wave picks you up with all of its force and you’re suddenly standing up like a human being and you can use its energy for a split second. A wonderful moment.
Me: Your reggae style is on the best path to becoming famous. What’s the difference between your Canary Island style and reggae from Jamaica?
Dactah Chando: That’s obvious, it’s the culture. I’m not trying to copy Jamaica, I sing about my feelings, about my life and with my feeling of rhythm, which are undoubtedly connected to the Canary Islands.
Me: How do you know Frank Dellé, Seeed and the German reggae scene?
Dactah Chando: Through Ingo, who’s also a surfer. He’s also the head of Label Achinech Productions. In turn, Ingo works with Guido Craveiro, a very successful producer on the Cologne reggae scene, who’s been a good friend for years. Craveiro produced the album “Before I grow old” by Frank Dellé, which led to the connection between me and the German reggae scene. In December 2009, Frank even invited me to Cologne to take part in his “Before I Grow old” Tour. We were on stage together and we sang “Power of love” and “Power fi chant”, so I got to know three members of the band Seeed who also formed part of Dellé’s band. I was even able to put my voice to a riddim produced by some members of Seeed: “Vengance pa ka”… which I was really proud of.
Me: Have you been able to get more international experience?
Dactah Chando: Yes. I shared stage with the Wailers here in Tenerife and I have worked in a band with Junior Marvin and Brinsley Forde from Aswad. Zion TPL invited me to Venezuela twice to go on tour with me. There are people in Cuba and Venezuela who sing my older songs. I met the young producer Toby Nambur and Pachango, the singer of the band Six Nation, on the “Surf is my life” project (First Surfers dancehall video in Spain) by Achinech Productions. We then featured for them in their album “Little humanity”. I shared stage with Six Nation at a couple of major festivals in Germany and Pachango also made a brilliant feature for my album “Palante”.
I sang with Dellé from Seeed, Luciano, Gyptian, Louie Culture and Alborosie in “Hooded Claw Riddim”.
Me: You’re about to launch your new album “Clara”. There has been great praise of the album on the international scene before its launch. Could you tell me something about the creation of the album?
Dactah Chando: I spent months in the Achinech studio with Toby Nambur and between the two of us we wrote all of the songs. After a short period of getting used to each other, we were able to work quickly and very creatively. Toby spent his youth here in the Canary Islands and therefore knows their mentality and vibe. He made up some brilliant riddims and I was able to respond very quickly with my voice and my lyrics.
We eventually sent everything we had done to Guido Craveiro in Cologne. He took the songs and ideas to a very innovative, international level. Tanya Stephens from Jamaica also featured on the track “Abusadores“, which I was really happy about. I then recorded the track “Palante” with Pachango from Six Nation and there will be another feature, although I’m not giving anything away just yet. The album has a fresh, European reggae/dancehall sound to it with a lot of bass, mixed with my singing: Dactah Chando / Canary Island reggae. It’s a mixture that didn’t exist. until now.
Me: Dactah Chando, what are your forthcoming plans?
Dactah Chando: First I’m going to Benicassim to take part in the Rototom Sunsplash Festival 2010. I’m performing twice there: first with Sargento García as the Guest Artist on the Main Stage and then I’m going to present some songs from my new album on the Lion Stage. Next year will hopefully be Dactah Chando’s year. a lot of concerts, a lot of emotion, a lot of love and a lot of reggae!!!
Me: Dactah Chando, it’s been an honour to talk to you. Thank you very much for the interview.
Dactah Chando: Thank you, one love!
Interview dated 01.08.2010, by Juan Lopez Smith
