CASTRIES, St. Lucia, Feb 22 2015, CNS – Marley Mervin “Mongstar” James was named after Jamaican reggae icon, Bob Marley. Born into a musical family, his father is acclaimed Reggae artiste and musician Ras Bonte and includes his uncles Prosper, a popular calypsonian zouk and soca artiste and the inimitable Reggae performer Ras Africa.
He started singing around the house and neighbourhood of Faux- a- Chaud in Castries, Saint Lucia before getting his first taste of the stage while attending the Babonneau Secondary School.
In 2010 Mongstar auditioned for the first ever Piton Soca Starz competition in Saint Lucia where he performed the original song “Corn”. He would go on to win that contest and begin a professional career that included hit songs “Glo Ko Ko” (2011), “Saint Lucia We Love” (2012) and “Nationality” (2013).
In addition to the Piton Soca Starz title, Mongstar is also the inaugural winner of the All For One Caribbean musical competition based in Martinique. He won the title in 2013, beating out competitors from eight other countries including Barbados, Trinidad, Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
Mongstar has also toured extensively in the United States, Canada and the UK as well as the Caribbean islands of Martinique, St Croix and Guadeloupe. His 2011 song “Glo Ko Ko” is also featured on the Don’s Kollector 4 compilation out of France.
An energetic performer, Mongstar has performed at the Opening of the Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival, Independence Activities as well as Carnival events in Saint Lucia including “Piton Soca Starz”, “Colour Me Red”, “Sexy In Black”, “Cooler Fete” and “Wet Fete.” As a result he has shared the stage with a number of soca greats including Machel Montano, Denise Belfon and Kerwin Dubois out of Trinidad as well as Skinny Fabulous of Saint Vincent and Mr. Killa from Grenada.
- What do you love most about the Caribbean? I love the people, the atmosphere and beaches
- What brings you the greatest joy? When I am in my musical space, whether at home or in a studio working on music, I feel my greatest joy
- What was the happiest day of your life? The two happiest days of my life were when I became a father to my sons Nyhim and Diego
- What was the saddest day? Two of my saddest days were when I failed my fans, not winning the Groovy Soca Monarch titles with two of my biggest songs to date, “Glo Ko Ko” and “Saint Lucia We Love”
- What is the best advice you’ve been given? Always be humble, true to myself and fair to others no matter what
- What is on your bookshelf? Books and papers with my song lyrics, I have been writing since I was a teenager
- What charity do you support? I don’t belong to a charity but I believe in and always give back to the community and schools all over the Island through performances that raise funds and make my younger fans happy
- What is on your bucket list? To continue helping up-coming artistes find success in the music industry and how ever I can be an ambassador for my people and country. I also want to be a mega soca star like Machel Montano so I can keep growing and pushing the soca industry in my country
- What is on your perennial to-do list? Studio
- Who are your Caribbean heroes? Invader, Ras Africa, Williamson “Ras Bonte” Francois, Mr Killa, Bunji Garlin
- Who has had the greatest influence on you up to this point in your life? Jay Z, Lil Wayne, Eminem, Shaggy, Ludacris, Vibyz Kartel, Bounty Killer, Movado and lots more
- Who is on the guest list for your ideal dinner party? My girlfriend, Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj, Mariah Carey, Spice and my Manager Carmy Joseph
- What quote do you live by? “Love life and keep your heart open to others”
- What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you? I am a good cook. In fact, next to diving and music, cooking is one of my favourite things
- What is one thing you wish you knew when you were younger? I wish I understood and took advice a lot more when I was younger because in some instances I would have made better choices. At the same time though, everything was a learning experience I am grateful I had
- If you had to live your life over again, what one thing would you have changed? I wouldn’t change anything because I am happy with life the way it is – good or bad, I love it because what I went through is what keeps me going day by day and makes me strong
- If I were to ask someone who is fair and objective to describe you, what would they say? This guy has a good heart, is very humble and has lots of patience – Mongstar is safe and irie J
- What qualities would you say set you apart from everyone else? The love I have for people and all things, my musical sound which is my own because I am me and being me is something no one else can do, I am one in a million…hellooo…lol
- What would you want to say to the Caribbean about any one of these: Agriculture, Arts & Culture, Climate Change, HIV/AIDS, Tourism? We need to go back to the land, find new ways to make agriculture feed the country and ourselves. As somebody who fishes, I really appreciate how natural resources we have like the sea and land can sustain us if we are smart and take care of it. Also, as somebody involved in the Arts, I cannot tell you how important it is for us to get financial support to encourage creative people. We have so much talent, especially among “ghetto youth” who don’t see themselves having any opportunities for success and music and the arts can be that avenue for them. We need studios and museums and classes and support
- Any final words? Helllooooo
