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07th
August 2010
INVADER
Section by Section
Stan Bishop
 Four-time
calypso monarch Invader may be able to hide
certain things behind the mask he wears. But
the veteran performer can only go so far in
being enigmatic. In fact, if one really gets
to know just who the man behind the mask is,
one would soon realize that there is no mystery:
Papa is just the regular down-to-earth craftsman
with a flair for anything vintage.
The VOICE sat down recently with an unmasked
Invader (real name Ignatius Tisin) who was still
riding high on his recent success at capturing
the 2010 Calypso Monarch last month.
SB: So, tell us, Invader, how long has
it been since you first entered the business?
Invader: I’ve been involved in this business
since 1983 – twenty-seven years now. I’ve
been on the competitive circuit throughout my
career, except for a few years in the eighties
– ’88, ’89 and ’90 --
when I went to New York, when I did “Walk
and Wine.” Of course, the history of “Walk
and Wine” speaks for itself, it being
a major international hit. I returned home in
’91 and re-entered the competition in
’92 and was able to capture the first
runner-up spot and the Road March.
SB: What was the name of your Road March
song that year?
Invader: It was “Vye’ Nomn Sa La”.
SB: Tell me about the successes you’ve
had over the span of your illustrious career.
Invader: I won the calypso monarch in 1985,
1986, 1993 and 2010. Between 1999 and 2003,
I won two soca crowns, three additional road
march titles (which brought my road march titles
to a total of seven), and one Kings of Kings
title. I am the reigning “Buy Local”
king; the last competition was held in 1995.
I also won the extempo monarch in 1994. So,
although it’s been 17 years since my last
kaiso win, it hasn’t been seventeen dull
years.
SB: But surely 17 years may seem quite
a long drought, given a man of your talents.
Wouldn’t you agree?
Invader: Somebody told me that they found seventeen
years was a long time. I told them I didn’t
find it was. Personally, I found it was only
a matter of time. But, all in all, it hasn’t
been an easy journey but it has been an interesting
one. Along the way, I got to meet a lot of people
and experience a great deal of things. Right
now, I view things from a totally different
perspective.
SB: Apart from being a regular on the
local calypso circuit, you also tour overseas,
right?
Invader: Yeah. As a calypsonian, that should
be part of your agenda because touring is key,
in that it is one of the ways by which you can
get out into the Diaspora. That is where the
opportunities lie to meet promoters, producers.
I always take touring quite seriously; I always
try to be sure that at least once or twice a
year I get to perform in one of the metropolitan
areas. This year is particularly interesting
for me because one of my lifelong dreams was
to perform in New Orleans and that’s happening
for me in November of this year. My ultimate
dream, though, is to perform Broadway-style
in Las Vegas and the way things are looking,
there can only be good reports in the near future.
SB: This season was a special one for
you, no doubt. Were you a bit skeptical about
how things would turn out on Finals night?
Invader: Being involved in competition for so
long, you tend to realize that you can never
really predict what’s going to happen
on the night. Certain things can go wrong and
that was quite evident this year for a few of
the competitors. For example, Menell; I think
the rain really was to her detriment; she never
would have thought that she would have to perform
through that kind of condition. So it’s
unpredictable. Look at the “bounce back”
that Herb Black gave with the two new verses
to his song. So, like I always say, it’s
wide open and I never go into a competition
believing it’s a straight win.
SB: Would you say you had an edge, though?
Invader: I was pretty lucky this year in that
the song “Stay In Your Section”
was able to create an immediate impact. People
fell in love with the song and, automatically,
fell back into love with me, which made the
journey a little easier.
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SB:
Your songs – “Leave My Beaches Alone”
and “Stay In Your Section” –
they focused on topical issues. Your stage props,
too, especially for “Stay In Your Section”,
was out of this world. Any “big ups”
you want to give to anybody for that?
Invader: Without the kindness of the many sponsors
and my back-up team who came to my assistance,
I doubt I would have been able to pull it off
but hats off to them for ensuring that we pulled
it off.
SB: You managed the Soca Village Tent
for some years and then disbanded it about two
years ago. Was there a rationale behind the
move?
Invader: I gave up the tent for a number of
reasons. First of all, I believe there are too
many tents operating on the island. That tends
to filter the quality. It’s an easy bandwagon
to jump on, so every Tom, Dick and Harry put
four lines together, sing a melody and they
become a calypsonian immediately. I feel that’s
too easy and we have to set things in place
where one needs to qualify to perform on the
big stage. Secondly, I thought that I was making
too many sacrifices and that got in the way
of my performance.
SB: Why did you choose Take Over Tent
as your new home?
Invader: I looked around and in my mind, TOT
was the best-organized tent and I did not make
a mistake in my judgment of that. They proved
to be quite a bit of assistance to me personally
and I want to thank them.
In the past, due to all the stuff I had to deal
with managing a tent, I often entered the competition
as a tired duck. This year, I entered as a swan.
SB: Now you performed at number one
in both rounds of the Finals. Were you at all
worried that that in itself placed you at a
disadvantage?
Invader: I think it contributed to my winning
the crown. Some people believe that going in
at number one has its disadvantages which, of
course, it does. But, also, going in at number
one, if you’re well-prepared and riding
high on the charts as I was, you can use that
to your advantage by maximizing on your performance.
And that’s what the camp decided: we dipped
for our numbers and I dipped the number one
spot. Of course, I said a little prayer before
I dipped, so when I got number one, I knew that
was a blessing in itself. So I approached it
from that angle.
SB: After receiving the trophy on the
night, I remember the press having a hard time
getting some photos taken of you, let alone
hooking up an interview. Would you consider
this win your best, given the excitement we
saw you were consumed by?
Invader: I would consider it a good win. A good
win in the sense that it showed the public and
myself that one should never stop trying. Be
persistent, be productive and things will happen.
My best win would have been my first double
crown in 1985 (calypso monarch and road march).
That in itself was an experience.
SB: In terms of the newcomers to the
game, whom are you particularly impressed by?
Invader: I’m impressed by Sarah Lee. I
think she is very, very promising. Also, Double
C. I think he has a bright future if he continues
along the lines that he is right now. There’s
also Lady K; she’s very promising, too:
great stage presence and good projection. Another
artiste I believe can be a fierce competitor
in the years to come is Nintus. He is a dynamic
vocalist and performer.
SB: What would you want to say to your
fans?
Invader: Like me, I think they felt early on
that my win this year was going to be. They
were with me all along, giving me courage, pointing
out the fact that they know I have difficulties
sometimes in retaining my lines. A lot of people
told me that they prayed for me. Some even told
me they lit candles for me. And I really appreciate
the fans for all of their support and they will
always be dear to my heart.
SB: Tell me about your plans for next
year.
Invader: Next year, I will be defending the
title, of course. My camp will be starting work
from very early, thus making it very difficult
for the competition. The advice I would give
to the other calypsonians is that in 2011, just
be sure that they are ready because de Papa
will be ready.
Discuss
Story
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