Sean Paul won’t keep silent about the posers in our midst. On November 25, the Jamaican dance hall artist will perform at the free music festival Beats on the Beach on Abu Dhabi corniche. But as he watches more and more outsiders — ahem, Justin Bieber — attempt to capitalise on dance hall music without understanding its deep Jamaican roots, Paul is reminding the world who did it first.
“I enjoy bringing authentic dance hall vibe to all genres, especially now that so many non-Jamaicans are sampling our music and culture and mixing it with pop, EDM and hip hop,” he told Gulf News tabloid!, months after he called it a “sore point” that musicians like Bieber and Drake fail understand the genre or credit its origin in 1970s Jamaican.
In the early noughties, Paul helped usher in a new era of commercial dance hall. He gave us Get Busy, Like Glue and Gimme the Light, a perfect trifecta of Jamaican dance hits.
This year, Cheap Thrills, his cross-genre collaboration with Sia, was his first No 1 hit since Temperature came out ten years ago. Paul told us why he didn’t see that coming.
You’re returning to Beats on The Beach six years after your last performance at the festival. How much has changed since then?
A lot and nothing ... I’ve been steadily making music and touring a lot as usual. I just signed to Island Records after being independent for four years. My hero Bob Marley was on Island Records so that’s pretty cool.
What do you have planned for your set in Abu Dhabi this year?
Lots of energy! I really vibe off the crowd so once they feed me with screams I’ll bounce the energy right back at them. I have some new hits and some unreleased tunes I’m gonna treat them with too.
Sean, I once met a fan of yours who joked they hadn’t washed their hand since the moment you shook it. What kind of things do fans say or do when they meet you?
All kinds of crazy stuff, they ask me to sign on their body, sometimes even try to follow me to my hotel. I’ve had fans cry and scream when I stop to take a pic with them. It feels great to know my music has such an impact on people.
This year has been big for you, particularly with Cheap Thrills, which has been a huge hit. What made you want to collaborate with Sia?
I’ve always thought she had an incredible voice and her songwriting is amazing so when the chance to work with her came up I grabbed it. The collab felt really natural.
Did you expect people to love the as much as they have?
Honestly, I knew it was a catchy song as soon as I did it but I wasn’t sure it would be an international number one the way it has been. That was kinda surprising.
Earlier this year, you signed with Island Records. Can we expect a new album soon?
Working on it now. I’m planning to drop a bunch of singles first ... the one that’s out now is Crick Neck ft Chi Ching Ching — he’s a dancer turned artiste from Jamaica.
Crazy enough, it’s almost 2017. What do you think will be your New Year’s resolutions?
Ha ha, I don’t really believe in New Year’s resolutions. I mean if you want to change something just start now. Why wait until January 1st?
And finally, what’s next for Sean Paul?
More music ... Always.
Don’t miss it
Sean Paul headlines the free Beats on the Beach concert series on November 25 at the Abu Dhabi Corniche. Other artists performing that night include Esther Eden, boy band The5 and rising star Adam Nabulsi.
