Interview With Donny Yardas

Donny Yardas had the streets buzzing in 2006 with his hit single Bullet featuring Mr. Easy, Noah wid di Powah & Ricky Blaze on the Wipe Out Riddim. A certified club banger with a grassroots buzz that started in the streets of Brooklyn, New York with the help of Steelie Bashment’s Waah Gwaan Radio. The Streets had spoken thus earning the single spins on Hot 97 and Power 105 the two top stations for Hip Hop & R&B in the New York Tri-State area. The momentum continued thru 2007 where Donny performed in packed dance clubs throughout the New York Tri-State area and went on tour in the US Virgin Islands as the opening act for Reggae star Sizzla. Fast forward to June 2008 where Donny is creating waves with his self titled debut album which is available on Apple iTunes. He recently opened for Sean Kingston at Jamaica Day 2008 in NYC. Stay tuned for more feel good and conscious music from Donny Yardas as he progresses on his musical journey.

Jud’s Interview with Donny Yardas is as followed:

Jud: Who is Donny Yardas?
Donny Yardas: A human being, a father, a son, a brother, a husband, a creative old soul i feel like i’ve been here before (earth i mean)

Jud: Where in Jamaica are you from?
Donny Yardas: Manchester, Jamaica

Jud: What were some of the major obstacles you encountered growing up and how were you able to overcome them?
Donny Yardas: Obstacles i would have to say nothing major. I enjoyed my youth growing up as a country bwoy.

Jud: Have your family been supportive of your music career?
Donny Yardas: Yes. They support me a lot; however my mom still always says she wanted me to be a lawyer

Jud: Who or what motivated you to pursue a career in music?
Donny Yardas: It kinda happened naturally and gradually.  I was a curious child, i discovered a big box of records, 45s and lps at my grandmothers house. I started to play them on my grandma’s component set, i loved it so much i started to go to the record shop and buy records of my own with my lunch money — i think i was around ten then. However i never started to write lyrics until i was seventeen. So there wasn’t really one major event that happened where i said yes this is what i want to do for the rest of my life. i just love the fact that music is unending, i never get bored with it…no matter how much songs i write or music i make the creative source is infinite.

MUSIC:

Jud: What is your motivation in this music industry?
Donny Yardas: Just to make good music from my unique perspective and and hope it makes some form of positive contribution to humanity.

Jud: A lot of artists say that they have a “formula” for writing music. What is your formula and how does it make you different?
Donny Yardas: I don’t really have one set formula really i just make myself available to the creative source. its like the songs are all written already. for example its like a fedex delivery somebody have to be home to receive the package. In this case your mind is the home u have to leave the door open to receive the song.

Jud: I have heard countless reggae artists’ promise during interviews to “revolutionize reggae music” or my favorite “take reggae music to a different level.” Unfortunately, not many artists have lived up to their claims. That been said, where do you plan to take reggae music?
Donny Yardas: Personally speaking, i feel like what im doing is making a contribution to my music and to my culture and only time will tell how significant of a contribution it is or will be. like me look pon reggae like a beautiful painting where each artist get an opportunity to splash on their own unique paint pon the canvas. for instance, the great Bob [Marley] tek up the microphone (the paint brush) and paint a big beautiful section inna red green and gold which open a lot of people eyes across the world and mek dem more concious

Jud: If you could perform on stage with another dancehall/reggae artist; who would it be and why?
Donny Yardas: right now bwoy mi nuh know mi woulda haffi say Gargamel Buju banton cause he is able to trod that thin line where he is able to do both culture and hardcore dancehall so every show him have a message but still him have fun

Jud: Do you recall the first time you were the opening act for a major dancehall/reggae artist? Who did you open for and how was that experience?
Donny Yardas: the first major artist was Capleton…the energy did crazy…very motivational for me jus being backstage with the crew

Jud: It is a normal occurrence in life to make mistakes sometimes. What would you do if you suddenly have a stage malfunction during performance?
Donny Yardas: well it has happened before and u jus carry on as if nothing happened cause a lot a time when u working on stage a lot of stuff is spur of the moment so if you as the artist don’t make it obvious that something went wrong most people probably not even notice

Jud: “Dancehall music is both directly and indirectly contributing to the increase in crime and violence in Jamaica.” What are your thoughts about such a statement?
Donny Yardas: i don’t agree with that statement 100 percent , yes the music is very influential because nuff a the youths dem music a dem religion but anybody who say “yo is a song mi hear and it motivate mi fi do a crime” them probably was already criminal minded or them not in touch with reality or not in their right mind.

Jud: What do you think artists need to do in order to lift the negative stigma attached to dancehall music?
Donny Yardas: i think the fun and positive side of dancehall is greater than the negative and that’s why so much people around the world love dancehall..a mean artist definitely have to be careful with the message they put out there cause the youth dem a like sponge

Jud: A few months ago you released a music video with dancehall singing sensation Mr. Easy. What were the circumstances leading up to that collaboration?
Donny Yardas: well I’ve know Easy for years, this is not the first time we have collaborated on a song however the previous track was never released by the label we recorded it for. i just called him up and say “brethren i got this new tune and i need somebody who can sing RnB but also understand dancehall style” and him say “a no nuttin family” and him fwd and lock it in like half an hour

Jud: Is there any other collaboration that we should look out for in the near future?
Donny Yardas: in the future im not sure but i have another wicked collabo on this album with dancehall icon Wayne “sleng teng” Smith

ALBUM AND FUTURE:

Jud: You recently released a self titled album; what can we expect to hear on it?
Donny Yardas: feel good music, party music and some conscious tunes for the youths…you definitely wanna have this one in your collection cause the music is only gonna get better

Jud: What is your favorite track on the album and why?
Donny Yardas: nostrand and Maple due to the fact that its like therapy for me…every lyric in that song is like autobiographical

Jud: My favorite song on your album is “Nostrand & Maple.” What inspired you to write that song?
Donny Yardas: going thru ruff times in this industry was the motivation behind that song and I wanted to let the people get a clear picture of who i am as a person.

Jud: Where can we purchase your album?
Donny Yardas: the best and easiest places right now are itunes.com and rhapsody.com…. just log on to their sites and type Donny Yardas in the search field. also check your local retailer

Jud: What can we expect to hear from Donny Yardas in the coming months?
Donny Yardas: other singles from my album to be released like “your eyez” and “sexy”

RANDOM SIDE INFORMATION:

Jud: What is your favorite Jamaican dish?
Donny Yardas: ackee and saltfish

Jud: What is your favorite Jamaican restaurant?
Donny Yardas: in New York Hugo’s on flatbush and Ditmas in Jamaica jerkys in Mandeville although technically jerkys is not a restaurant

Jud: Do you cook (without microwave)? If yes, what is your specialty?
Donny Yardas: ummm my specialty ginger stew chicken trust me the girl dem want marry me when dem taste that

Jud: “Girls should pay for the second and/or third date.” Is that wishful thinking?
Donny Yardas: no dem can pay pon the first date too….we are living in a modern time however mi old fashion so mi always a spend…DAMIT!!!!

Jud: What is your favorite Movie?
Donny Yardas: THE HARDER THEY COME WITH JIMMY CLIFF

Jud: Which device would you consider; Sidekick, Blackberry or I-Phone?
Donny Yardas: TRY ALL A DEM ALREADY IPHONE HANDS DOWN

For booking:

Tel: 917-407-0133 - Email: donnyyardas@gmail.com
http://www.myspace.com/donnyyardas - http://www.youtube.com/donnyyardas

big thank you and shout out to Mark mi family and the entire WeJamaicans staff…continue on your journey of greatness

Credits: Editor - Mark Dixon