Now Things: Exclusive Q+A with De Tropix

Words by Jesse Serwer—

Yesterday we brought you the world premiere of The Skyward EP, a five-song project from the newly reunited De Tropix, the U.K.-based duo consisting of vocalist Cherry B and producer/vocalist Damon Bowen (a/k/a DJ Instinct). We suggest you M.I.A. fans listen closely, you might just hear the seeds of your girl’s next project: Cherry is a longtime hype gyal/dancer/backup vocalist for Maya, and it’s no secret that some of Ms. Apulgrasam’s hypest tracks have Cherry’s handprints all over them.

We spoke with Bowen about the group’s multi-year hiatus, reforming, the darker, moodier sound of The Skyward, and how being Vincy (Cherry grew up in St. Vincent, while Bowen is a Brit of Vincy extraction) influences their music.

LargeUp: You took a several years’ hiatus from this project-how come? What were some of the things you were doing in the meantime?

Damon Bowen: We never intended to have such a long break, but there was a lot going on. I became a dad, Cherry was building her house in the Caribbean and touring with M.I.A. Me and cherry didn’t speak for over a year and, at one point, I was ready to find a replacement or scrap the project altogether, but after a long talk and an airing of views, we managed to stay friends and get back to the music. In fact, I think we’re stronger now than we ever have been.

In that two years, Cherry was doing some shows with M.I.A and even managed to record the hook for her single “XXXO” and “Teqkilla,” which was a great look for her. I started a record label, A2B Records, with a business partner, putting out music we liked and thought people needed to be aware of. I also had a single out called “Lingerie” [and recorded] with Alabama3 frontman Larry Love on a project which will hopefully be coming out soon, started working on some development projects, the first being a female vocalist and songwriter called Jodie Deanna. I’ve also put out a few underground African house mixtapes. I’m loving the vibe of that stuff right now.

Read Part 2 of the interview here.

LU: You had an LP slated to come out in 2010, with Elly Jackson from La Roux and M.I.A. guesting. Are these songs from that or brand new? What happened to that project?

DB: The LP in 2010 got shelved after mine and Cherry’s falling out, which was a shame. But I always say, everything for a reason. We’re good friends with Elly and Mya, so it would be cool to someday get to work with them.

LU: The music on the new EP seems darker and moodier, more “comedown” type music than dance music, or songs we heard from you the first time around… Why would you say that is?

DB: I guess that’s a representation of the kinda time it’s been for us both the last couple of years really. Lots of emotional stresses i think. I reckon it’s been the most emotionally testing time of my life. I don’t speak for Cherry but i know she’s had her fair share too. We didn’t really plan to make the EP that way, it’s just kinda how it happened. We never really set out a sound for a project, it’s just whatever comes out in the studio. But don’t let that fool ya, we’ve got quite a few upbeat singles lined up that will def get the crowd jumping.

LU: You’re both Vincy. Does that figure into your music in any specific way, or is it more just a general Caribbean thing?

DB: We both have Vincy roots and love the vibrancy and rawness that the Caribbean offers. I think it’s just a natural vibe that emanates from our music.

LU: How has the music scape in the UK changed since De Tropix was last active? Does UK pop and dance music have less of a Caribbean accent?

DB: I think the music scene since we first came about has definitely changed, the mainstream charts are now dominated by dance orientated pop records which all sound very similar. We just try and do what feels natural to us at the time, and if that means doing a dance record, then so be it, but we try not to follow trends and would rather pave our own way musically, regardless of what the mainstream is doing. An now that you mention it, yeah, there seems to be very little Caribbean accents in the U.K. charts but hopefully we’ll change that.