Exclusive interview with Philip Toussaint-'All 10 songs on the album are good and no one will skip any track' |18 December 2004

While Fanm has made it to the Paradise FM Top 40, Gravite Lanmour is probably the most appreciated song and can be heard on local radio stations, in discotheques, and in every home.
Arts Page caught up with Philip Toussaint to know more about his new album. 

Arts Page: Why have you taken so long to produce a new album?
 
Philip Toussaint: The last time I produced an album - Seychelles Paradise - was six or seven years back. I firmly believe that if you want to produce a good album music lovers will appreciate, you have to take your time to do it well. If I’m not satisfied with my music, I know that the public won’t like it either. All 10 songs on the album are good and no one will skip any song. They will listen to every track.
Even though Gravite Lanmour and Fanm are very popular, I’ve taken the same amount of time and interest to produce the others. This is why I have taken so long to come out with the album.

Arts Page: What is so special about these two songs that have made them hits?

Philip Toussaint: There is a special place for love in the hearts of Seychellois and they relate to the lyrics of Gravite Lanmour.
When it comes to Fanm, it is a song that talks about real life situations where women are always at the fore-front, especially in the families. I’ve lived in communities where women have taken care of three and even more children on their own. Amid their social and financial problems, they struggle to keep their families together. Compared to men, women are stronger in character. Personal experience also inspired me to write this song. My dad left the home and my mum had to go abroad, leaving us behind with our grandmother. She treated us well and I’m very grateful for that.

Arts Page: Your reggae and sega rhythms are quite different from what we are used to here. What is exactly the difference?

Philip Toussaint: I’ve merged the more rhythmic Mauritian sega with ours to produce what’s on the album. As for the reggae style, it is quite different from that produced by the "pti menn” as we call them.  It’s a fusion of the Jamaican style and that usually played by Seychellois.
Good music comes with good rhythm created by a drummer and Mervin Nibourette did a splendid job on the drums.  When you listen to my music you cannot but move to the rhythm.

Arts Page: You are a well-known lead guitarist, but you haven’t played a lot of it in your songs. Why?

Philip Toussaint: Many artistes have sought my help as lead guitarist on their albums. Therefore, I stand out in their songs. But when it comes to my own album, the most important thing I want to put across is the message and the melody. If one day I decide to release an instrumental album, it is only then that I will show my skill as a lead guitarist.

Arts Page: Are we expecting a Christmas album from you this year?

Philip Toussaint: Over the last 10 years, I’ve produced Christmas and New Year songs. And lately, the market has been flooded with Christmas and New Year CDs so I’ve decided to come out with something different. Another thing, since the single Rosana was a success, I told myself “why not produce an album.” Interestingly, members of the public associate Gravite Lanmour with Christmas.

Arts Page: Belta and Calling Jah, two of the many albums released this year, have been very successful. Gravite Lanmour is enjoying the same success. How do you feel about that?

Philip Toussaint: There’s no special feeling because I’ve always known success whenever I produce a new song. With Gravite Lanmour it has been the same. I knew it would be a success.
I make it a must to listen to all new releases and analyse each and everyone of them. When producing my own songs, I try to improve the quality of the music so that music lovers get quality stuff.

Arts Page: Finally, how can you describe the music industry here?

Philip Toussaint: Like I’ve said in previous interviews, Seychellois musicians and singers should produce their own songs. It is time to stop the practice of taking local and foreign songs and just work something out of them. We should be more intuitive by writing our own songs. Originality counts in this business.