New York alt-R&B songwriter Tomás Doncker has released his new single, Wha-Gwaan!, featuring guest drums and vocals rom Frank Benbini of Fun Lovin' Criminals and UB40. We asked Tomás the BIG questions . . .
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Tomás was a member of the early 1980s No Wave and Punk Funk bands The Contortions and Defunkt, and has toured and written with Bootsy Collins, Meshell Ndegeocello, Madonna, The Specials and Patti Smith. He has also fronted his own band The True Groove All-Stars.
Speaking about Wha-Gwaan!, he says, "The legendary Nigerian Godfather of Afro Beat, Fela Ransome Kuti, once said: 'Music is the weapon of the future'. Well...The future is most definitely NOW!
"Wah Gwaan is a Jamaican patois greeting that means 'what's going on?' or 'what's up?'. The lyric is a modern day riff on Marvin Gaye's classic What's Going On?, through an Afro Beat /Funk-Rebel music lens.
"It was designed to be a wake-up call response to the seemingly increasing presence of social injustice in the world today. The hypnotic dub-funk groove is brought to the boiling point by the legendary Frank Benbini (Fun Lovin' Criminals/UB40/Uncle Frank), who I'm thrilled makes a guest appearance on drums and hype vocals."
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
I don't eat okra. I’m born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. I still don’t eat okra.
How would you describe your music?
Good, honest, soulful… and really good on some days.
Who are your musical inspirations?
There’s too many to list - I’m inspired by different people for different reasons, in different situations. That being said, here’s my shortlist (in no particular order of importance): Curtis Mayfield, The Beatles, Johnny "Guitar" Watson, Chris Whitley, James Brown, Albert King.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
The Jackson 5ive at The Westbury Music Fair. We used to watch their cartoon on Saturday mornings. Needless to say - it was incredible!
What was the first record you ever bought?
It was two albums, actually - and it sums up how I hear music. The Jackson 5ive - Get It Together (with the song Dancin’ Machine) and The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper’s. I’ve never been interested in genre exclusivity, or anything that doesn’t bring people together. It’s counterintuitive to me, besides, it’s just not fun.
What’s your favourite song right now?
I’m a huge fan of Meshell Ndegeocello’s work. I really feel that she’s at the forefront of a lot of things… art, culture, positive power, and of course…music. Her latest album No More Water: The Gospel Of James Baldwin is transcendent.
Favourite lyric of all time?
Well… Today, it’s Bob Marley’s Zimbabwe. The first line of the lyric is: "Every man’s got the right to decide his own destiny. And in his judgment there is no partiality." A perfect example of the majestic power of The Word. Marley is truly a genius!
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
That’s easy… It would be my mother’s rendition of Mahalia Jackson’s If I Can Help Somebody. The sound of her sitting at the piano, and singing that song lives in my head, and heart.
Where can people find your music/more about you?
My website.
Alan Corr
