Spotlight Interview
This interview was from a Much Music show called Spotlight. The show still
goes on, but they never show the Snow one anymore. This interview was done
by a few people, back in 95.
MuchMusic: Did the success of Informer, almost become a
passport to places you never thought you'd get to?
Snow: Exactly, even into clubs I thought I'd never be able
to get into. Yeah, places like Japan, and all these places that I dreamed
about going. Not really dream cause I thought it was too far fetched. I've
been going there and getting advice from people, so it shows you a lot.
MM: For someone with obvious talent, why was that dream so
far fetched, if you could do the rap, you've got soul beat too, why did
you think it was so far out of reach?
Snow: I didn't think I was going to be a singer. I just went
to New York and met up with Shannon and he introduced me to my managers,
and I was in the studio for fun, hangin around doing some songs and it
blew up. So I thought I must have some talent there, but I don't think of
myself as a talented person.
MM: So it was the belief of your friends, rather than your
family that almost did it?
Snow: Like when I told my mom "I'm going to make an
album" she's like "Oh, really, that's pretty good" and my
mom bought me a cake, it had a gold disc like a gold album on it and this
was a long time before, sayin its a dream if you get a gold album, so the
cake came true.
(they show Informer video)
MM: Now the music scene in Jamaica is developed at such a
small level, like the family of musicians down there, and they're almost
sacred about anyone that can make good tunes, and being part of the group.
Did you see yourself seeping up some of that good vibes?
Snow: When I first went there I did Sun Splash I was kind of
nervous I was like here we go, cause I didn't know how they would react.
But Ko Ko(?) said "Don't worry they like you down there, he went on
stage with me and helped me get through it." But now I do the awards
in Jamaica and they're like Snow, Snow. They appreciate it because I'm not
trying to steal their music or take their music and act like I'm the best
reggae singer, I'm not, I go to Jamaica to learn from them, they're like
its good that our music has reached to white people in Canada and around
the world, they like it.
(They play Girl, I've Been Hurt video)
MM: Well you are currently banned from the US and its a huge
market, do you think you will have problems obtaining success when you
can't do promotions in the US?
Snow: Of course it's going to hurt me but my album isn't
banned there, I can still do press there, I did Details magazine, they fly
out and see me, I do phones, I'm still there. I'm going to appeal the
charge and get across, maybe in a few months, maybe I'll be over there.
MM: So you think this can be resolved?
Snow: I think so, yeah.
(They play Runway video)
MM: Record companies want to use a person's past, or past
exploits, as a marketing tool. Do you think your run ins with the the law
has been used to sell records?
Snow: Not really, I can't see people sayin "He's been
in jail, how long's he been in jail, I love his album" not really...
MM: But wouldn't you get street credibility of some sort?
Snow: We didn't do it for that, we did it cause... it was
going to come out anyways, that I was in jail and what not. I did it cause
I'm sayin, I've been in jail and it ain't a good place to be. I can tell
the kids it's not a good place to go and they believe me cause I've been
there. So it's not a fact of sayin "I've been in jail, and I'm a bad
guy" It's not like that. I can preach them and they'll listen like my
uncle. I listen to my uncle he's been there. He preaches to me sayin no,
no, don't do it no more he's my ex.. What do you call it? Advisor?
MM: Yeah, your mentor too?
Snow: Yeah I can listen to him cause he's been there you
know.
(They play Anything For You video)