Jevaughn “JJ” Parsons won the July 23 Soca Monarch Competition, which came with a $10,000 cash prize. The father of one works as a mechanical inspector at the Department of Motor Vehicles and co-owns a mechanic supply store along with his cousin.
My middle name is Jubal: It’s a Biblical name relating to music. I blame my father for that: His name is Elford Parsons. He is a founding member of the Foggy Mountain Boys and a part of it for the last 40 years. I grew up in Purcell Estate. I attended school at Enid Scatliffe Pre-primary School, then went on to Althea Scatliffe Primary School. Most of my music background has been in church. We all came up in the church. I grew up in the Methodist Church and was a member of the Methodist Youth Choir and went on to the A Cappella Fellas. My background in music has always been there. In high school I did a little bit of the trumpet and played some drums in church as well.
Tell me about your transition from church music to soca.
What really started the calypso/soca thing for me was, back in the ’90s the Enid Adams schoolused to have a fish fry every other month, and Prime Time Band used to play. My cousin Greg Adams was a member of the band, and I always used to stay around late and watch what the guys did. I admired a guy called Darwin “Chick Daddy” Scatliffe. He was the lead singer of the band at that time. He was one of those instrumental in my musical career. He was the first to hand me a microphone and say, “Sing, young man, sing.” I was probably around 17 when I first sang. One night they had an event and he called me up to join them. It was a tramp in town and there were a lot of people there. It was breathtaking looking up to those people and being there performing with them. As time went by, I went on to Xtreme Band. Dirk Walters was another guy that has been instrumental in moulding me into the Soca Monarch that I am today. It took a lot of harsh criticism, but it was for my good.
What inspired you to compete in the Soca Monarch Competition?
This was my third time in the competition. I was hesitant in the beginning, but a couple people in my camp nudged me to do the show and I just gave in. The first show, I wouldn’t say I was 100 percent prepared. The second time around, I was a bit more prepared, with dancers and stage props. The performance went exceptionally well. That year I didn’t place either, so I took a little break from it all. I ventured out to the USVI to play with Daddy Jones and the Crew. I took a break, refocused and came back this year.
Your song this year, “Colours,” focused on unity in the region. What inspired it?
When I finally decided to do the show, it was more about tailoring my song for the time we are in, and I couldn’t think of any song more perfect. The BVI is what we call a melting pot: We have everyone from every colour, creed, race and nationality, and that was the idea behind it. Without the people from all walks of life, the BVI would not necessarily be what it is today. That was the idea behind it all. United we stand, divided we fall. No matter the race, we all are one.
The Soca Monarch Competition is a relatively new addition in the VI. How do you think soca is faring in the territory?
Soca has always been one of our biggest things throughout the years. We’ve had individuals from the Virgin Islands that have done soca music and have been successful to some extent. It is still a struggling battle because the genre — Virgin Islands soca, as we would call it — is not necessarily recognised on a world scale, but I think we’ve been doing fairly well. As more individuals decide to go solo and perfect the craft, find the right producers and get the right sound, we should be where we need to be in a year or two.
How are you perfecting your own craft?
I am working with guys that have more of an international outlook and sound. The group of guys that I’ve decided to work with are remarkable. This year has been a good year for me thus far, and I think it’s going to get a lot better. Now that I’m Soca Monarch, the work doesn’t stop. I will probably get in touch with my St. Croix counterparts and do a track for the festival in December/January. I don’t know where next year will take me, but I would like to touch base in Trinidad.
What is life like for you outside music and your job?
Apart from the music, I am busy with the mechanics on a daily basis. Other than that, it is family, fun, music and more work. My idea of fun is good company and social life. Sometimes I’m a clown. I meet up with a few family members and friends and we just relax. It doesn’t happen too often, but when it does it’s a good time.
Interview conducted, condensed and edited by Ngovou Gyang.
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