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Archive -Entertainment

Artist profile - Michael Savy: ‘Don’t just dream but pursue it and turn it into reality' |22 June 2017

Every week the Entertainment page will try to bring you a short profile on a Seychellois artist, be it in the performing, visual or other forms of arts.

In our twentieth profile, readers will learn more about the talented entertainer and singer Michael Savy AKA Ion Kid.

He has made a name for himself in the music industry, with his various popular songs such as Monn War Ou, Mwan Ek Ou, among others.

Some years ago, Ion Kid was in the group Dezil, which made great success in Seychelles as well as in France with the hit song San ou.

Recently Ion Kid was part of a group of local singers who were in Rodrigues Island and Mauritius on a tour called ‘Sesel I La’.

 

Q: When did you start your career as a singer?

A:  My interest in music started when I was 12 years old at the start of year 2000. It was at that time that I was introduced to Ragga/Dancehall music by my cousin Mysterious (Ezy D) and developed a passion for it. The influence was so great that I brought it to school with me and introduced it to my best friend at that time (still best friend) Chicco Martino. We formed a group and named it Shock Crew. This is when we started using Jamaican rhythm (instrumental) to write our own lyrics and composing our own melody. At that time we had no opportunities to go the studio to make recording. We did not have any money to pay for studio fees and we were very much underestimated by studio producers. We started recording on a basic cassette player at home, training and developing ourselves. We also got the chance to perform a few times in our district activities in Takamaka and in the Neighbourhood Recreational Activities (NRA).

But at the age of 15 I got the chance to make my first studio recording by singing a verse on a song entitled Leker Kase alongside Mysterious (Ezy D) and Ruby in 2003, the song was a major hit and it hit first place on the radio chart at that time. This was my big break. I started performing in many events, meeting established artists and creating fans, and from there my ambition to make it big in the entertainment business grew.

 

Q: Since you started your career in the music industry, can you describe your adventure?

A:  After that first big break, everything started to fall into place. I got to make collaborations with some big artists at that time and performing on some big platforms. I became a frequent client to studios such as Cassamba and Relation studio. I learned a lot and experienced a lot and opportunities were in abundance so I grabbed them.

In 2004 I formed a group with one of my studio colleagues and one of my classmates Dj Junior and Vurna and we named it Real Crew. We created our own style, a fusion of Zouk and dancehall. We didn’t manage to record an album but we did produce two very successful singles Tou in fini and  Lazwa pour ou.

Around the time that Real Crew was active I met Jah1 and Master Emel, they had a group called GH Boyz and we became very good friends. They asked me to feature in a song that their group was producing entitled San Ou. I brought Sandra with me in the studio and that was the beginning of the 'Dezil' adventure and the beginning of Ion Kid as a household name.

In 2005 I made my first solo single ‘Mon pa anvi leve demen’ followed by my first album 'Ou' in 2009, 'An mouvman' in 2011 and 'Deborde' in 2015.

 

Q:  What’s your motto or advice you live by?

A: I strongly believe that being positive, being humble, being compassionate and caring will take you far. So I live by these simple principles in my everyday life. My motto in life is 'Don’t just dream but pursue it and turn it into reality'.

 

Q: How do you overcome negative comments from the society?                                                                                                        

A: I have been through a lot of these, but people are free to criticise on what they like or don’t, like who am I to change that. I just continue to fill their hearts and soul with positive vibes and good music as much as I can; constructive criticisms can help you to develop into something better. I turn my focus away from negative comments I prefer to focus on positive things that will bring something positive back to the society.

 

Q:  Who inspired you to go into the entertainment business?

A: My father Jimmy Savy was a member of the Waves band. They performed every weekend at different venues and events around the country and most of the time I was there. I saw how they brought joy and happiness in people’s heart when they performed or when their music played. I was inspired by that, putting a smile on somebody's face and making them forget about their problems is a very powerful satisfaction which is worth more than money and fame.

 

Q: So, what other hidden talents do you have?

A:  Besides music, I am a very good cook.

 

Q: Recently some local artists including you went on a tour called ‘Sesel I La’. Can you describe that experience of performing abroad?

 A:'Sesel i la' was a great experience and a fun adventure. It was not my first time performing abroad and in Mauritius, but it was my first time performing in Mauritius as Ion Kid. Previously I performed there a few times with Dezil. Recently in March I got the opportunity to perform in Abu Dhabi in a Beenie Man's concert. 'Sesel i la' gave me the opportunity to expose myself to the Mauritian market and I was very surprised and happy to hear the audience singing my songs by heart while I was performing.

 

Q: Do you think Seychelles artists can match up to other international artists?

A: Yes we’ve got what it takes to make it internationally, we just need more exposure and we need to create contact with the right record label and promoter.

 

Q: Which ingredient do you think makes you special and unique as a singer? 

A: Every artist is unique in their own way. I have got my own style and my own feeling, I don’t copy other artists and I try to create my own unique sound as much as I can. I firmly believe in originality and uniqueness.

 

Q: It has been a while since we have heard from you, what do we expect in the future?

A: I’m coming up with two very special projects this year…watch out!

 

Compiled by U.J.

 

 

 

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