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Hardcore and innovative aptly describe the persona of Aidonia. The year of 2006 has been a tumultuous one for Aidonia. He has seen the departure of Vybz Kartel, a close friend, from the Alliance. He himself has been the subject of controversy around the same period of time. Despite the recent events Aidonia stays steady in his course to try to take Dancehall to a higher level. We chat with Aidonia about the direction of his career and his ultimate goals.
Interview conducted by: Heike Wollenweber
Peppa Pot: Your style is very lyrical who would you say influenced you in your music?
Aidonia: It-s not really one person still, cause as you can see Bounty Killa is really my favourite artiste. We have to have ears for good music so, over the years, Baby Cham and Beenie Man to an extent as well, Vybz Kartel to an extent, Sizzla to an extent, Capleton to an extent, Lady Saw to an extent. We just take good things from these people and put them to one and form Idonia.
Peppa Pot: Do you write your own songs now?
Aidonia: Yeah.
Peppa Pot: What do you think about the music industry in Jamaica?
Aidonia: Well, compared to the rap industry then, it is kind of slow in terms of our artistes breaking out. In the US you can come with one song and you blow up massive and the ting start get right off. In Jamaica you have to be deh pon the grind, you haffi deh pon di road regularly. You can voice 20 songs and it nah go nowhere but you still have to do it, you know. The business inna Jamaica still is more of a hustle if you look at it, because more time you go so, boom, and do your work and it look to you like nutten nah gwan but on a next end someten a gwan but you don-t know about it.
Meanwhile inna di music business overseas, dem sign you. If you are talented dem sign you, put in a good work, put a good 15 or 17 songs to choose from with an album and come out. In Jamaica it-s more likely singles and then we a break an album. My view still, is that the US business is more professional. The business nah really professional out here. A man just do music and do him ting and him go a studio when him want. And music is really a 24 hours a day ting so we just need some more professional work done inna di business.
Peppa Pot: Do you have an ultimate career goal?
Aidonia: Ultimate goal. Well, you know, Bob Marley is one of the biggest artiste ever from Jamaica. We don-t really do the same music as Bob but we want to get recognized like Bob. Even sell more albums than Shaggy did a few years ago with dat special album deh. We don-t look at it just on a normal level. Sean Paul do something good for the music, Bob Marley do something good for the music, Shaggy do something good for the music. At the end of the day, I want dem to say, Idonia do something good for the music, too. At them level deh we wan look, to do something special for Jamaican music, to take it to a next level, a next step forward for the music.
Peppa Pot: I have to ask what-s going on with you and the Alliance?
Aidonia: Mi just get a call after Spectrum and dem tell mi seh mi no longer a member of the Alliance. After that mi just make the media know that I never left the Alliance so the people know mi nah switch like that.
Peppa Pot: Do you think this will affect your career and if so, how?
Aidonia: No. It will not affect my career. People know what and what go on. I am not the person to take side between Killa and Kartel so other members were offended cause everyone switch and turn against Kartel. Mi record “Addi a mi Daddy” and dem never like it. If anything it will affect my career positive and not negative. I was not wrong.
Peppa Pot: Do you still talk to Bounty Killa and Vybz Kartel?
Aidonia: Kartel alone mi talk to.
Peppa Pot: Who handles your management now?
Aidonia: Sharon Burke. Solid Agency still does my bookings. Everything still remains the same where the business side is concerned. Email This Q&A Back
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