Herald Café: There have been many rumours behind the name,
the most popular one being the one about it being attributed to your hair. What
is the complete story though? Is there more to it than just the hair?
Shaggy: Yes, I was nicknamed after the Scooby Doo
character, ‘Shaggy’ because I wore my hair like Shaggy Dog.
HC: Are there any parallels that you can draw between Jamaica and
Goa, given that they are both similar geographically, and to an extent,
culturally? How did Goa become part of the tour?
Shaggy: Jamaica and Goa are both known for their beautiful
beaches, warm people, music and great cuisine. That makes us so connected.
India is great and I’ve always wanted to see different parts of it. The
promoters had Goa on their list, as they wanted to test the waters. Although
I’ve never been to Goa before, I’m really excited to feel the energy of the
people. I want to see how the crowd reacts and which songs they connect with.
HC: It is a little-known fact that you served time as a marine.
Did that in any way help you shape your career?
Shaggy: Being in the marines actually helped me with my
career. I think discipline is what you need, more than being successful. You
see a lot of artistes who might not be immensely talented out there; but the
fact that they have good work ethic ensures that they end up making it. You can
have ten per cent talent, and ninety per cent work ethic, and make it.
HC: What was the difference in your musical journey, before and
after the release of Hot Shot?
Shaggy: I went through a lot of phases and different
emotions before Hot Shot was released. You know when you know that a
record is going to be a hit. I just knew this one was special.
HC: You’ve always said that Bob Marley was somebody you looked up
to from a musical perspective. Would you club yourself in the same league as
him now?
Shaggy: I respect Bob Marley’s work, but I’m constantly
trying something new because it’s a new generation we’re working with right
now.
HC: You have gone on record, in the past, to say that the Grammys
don’t matter. Why?
Shaggy: It’s a question of individual motivation. I
work for the rewards – not the awards.
HC: Will this concert feature any material from the new album?
Shaggy: The concert will feature a mix of everything.
But I’m not letting on at the moment, as I want to surprise the people of Goa.
HC: Goa has music artistes that don’t often make it as big as
they could/should. If you could offer them one piece of insight from your
journey, what would that be?
Shaggy: I’ll come back to the point that I made earlier:
you can have 90 per cent talent and 10 per cent drive, and nobody will know you
have 90 per cent talent because there’s no drive to further it. If you have 90
per cent drive and 10 per cent talent, then people think that your 10 per cent
is 90 per cent talent, because your drive is so dominant. It boils down to your
passion. That’s the secret to success.
