Notes of a cricketer

Cricketer Dwayne Bravo speaks to Prashanth Vidyasagar about his love for music and pursuing a career in it.

Many might know Dwayne Bravo as the 32 year old Trinidadian cricketer from having watched him play for West Indies or the Chennai Super Kings, doing a fine job of being an all-rounder. But not many know that he is passionate about music as much as he is about sports and is also working parallelly on creating a name for himself in the world of music.  

There is not much difference between Trinidad and India

Back in 2011 he in collaboration with the Grammy winning dancehall superstar Beenie Man released a track called Beenie Man & Bravo, which spoke about cricket among other things. “I was in the studio playing around and recorded a couple of tracks with a friend of mine Beenie man and things have been good since” says Bravo. His love for music stems from being surrounded in a culture where music plays a big role. Soca music which predominantly blends funk, fast rhythm & beats and dance music is big in Trinidad and Bravo as a kid was mesmerized by it. “Soca is big in Trinidad and there is Chutney Soca (fusion of East Indian tunes, African instruments and fast beats) which is more Bollywood kind of music and reggae music that comes from Jamaica which is what I was listened to while growing up, there is not much difference between Trinidad and India, honestly lot of Bollywood styled music” saysBravo.

You actually don’t have to win a trophy or a gold medal to be a champion

Bravo released his first single Go Gyal Go a couple of years ago, which can be considered as his actual first innings in the world of music. The influence of Soca on Bravo is clearly reflected in this peppy and beat centered track. And fans of Chennai Super Kings were elated when they saw Bravo’s cameo in the song Yenda from the upcoming Tamil movie Ula, where he has not just danced to some koothu steps but has also sung in tiny parts. Bravo’s (as DJ Bravo) latest track released early last week (also the World Cup Anthem) called Champion is for all his cricket fans. Bravo is happy he is able to reach people all around the globe with his track since music as a medium has endless possibilities and opportunities. “Champion as a song does not speak of any one person, you actually don’t have to win a trophy or a gold medal to be a champion. Chris Gayle, Lara and Barack Obama are some of people who at some point in my life have inspired me and I even speak about them in the song. You can be your own champion from within, that’s what the track tries to convey” says Bravo.

Can you make me work with SRK, like DJ Bravo and SRK, can that happen?

Bravo who has never been to vocal training classes considers himself truly blessed for being able to pursue the things he loves, with music he wants to see where the journey takes him. When asked if he has met fellow Trinidadian rapper Nicki Minaj, he optimistically says not yet, but would like to work with her someday. His musical inspirations are Beenie Man, Machel Montano, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj and Bunji Garlin among others. When asked if there is something that not many know about him he says with a laugh that “I actually can dance better than I sing and I don’t drink alcohol, smoke or gamble.”  As far as his immediate music goals are concerned he seems to be mighty keen to take a dive into Bollywood, he leaves me with a bouncer as he asks “Can you make me work with SRK, like DJ Bravo and SRK, can that happen?”