On Wednesday December 7, 2006, we were fortunate to have in our studio a young shining star, Darry Delinois, commonly known as Don Q. Don Q is not at all new to the musical scene; in fact, he has written and composed great music with some of the greatest Haitian super stars, including the talented, Alan Cavé. The following is a summary of our interview with Don Q:
Edrys: Today, we are pleased to welcome in our studio here at Haitianite.com a young talented Haitian artist, Derry Delinois. Mr. Delinois has been traveling throughout Haiti this past summer promoting his new album, entitled, "Tell me where you’ve been" "Di’m ki kote ou te ye". Based on our independent research, this single is very well received by the public at large. Mr. Delinois, welcome to Haitianite.com.
Don Q: Thank you for having me. First of all, I would like to greet the listeners, New York City in general and mostly, you Edrys, who are doing a wonderful job in our community.
Edrys: Thank you. Tell me, do you have an artist name or a stage name that the public in general would hrefer to?
Don Q: Absolutely. My stage name is Don Q.
Edrys: Don Q! Is that short for Donald? What does Q stand for?
Don Q: Well Don Q really has nothing to do with Donald. It is a name that’s hreferring to Don Quihote, Don Quihote de la Mancha which was an oeuvre written by a Spanish Writer, Miguel de Servantes, that I really like. I have always said that I would have named my son Don Quihote and then I decided to claim it as my artist name.
Edrys: Great! I can therefore call you Don Q, correct?
Don Q: Of course, of course.
Edrys: Well Don Q, I notice that every artist has a story to tell, like when I was a child I used to do this, I used to do that, what’s your story? Can you tell the audience, especially your fans, a little bit about growing up in Haiti and how was your life influenced by music?
Don Q: Well, Don Q was born on March 22nd, March 22nd between two musical seasons; I’m talking about carnaval and rara. So, Don Q has music in his blood. Thus Don Q is music and music is Don Q.
Edrys: What is your background in the music industry? What’s your experience?
Don Q: Professionally speaking, I started to sing since 1991 during my High School graduation ceremony where I interpreted the US national anthem, what we called the Star Spangle Banner. Right after my performance, a number of people approached me and offered their congratulations and others were wondering whether or not I was part of a musical group or a professional singer etc…And ever since, I started to think about singing professionally.
Edrys: You mentioned the Star Spangle Banner, seeing that I am very ethnocentric, was the Star Spangle Banner chosen for you to perform or was it your choice? Why you did not choose to sing La Dessalinienne?
Don Q: Well without a doubt, since I was in an American school and there weren’t that many Haitians in the school and it was what I was asked to perform, then I had no choice but to sing it. However, if it was up to me, if it was my choice, I would, of course, have chosen to sing La Dessalinienne.
Edrys: Very good, very good. Like I mentioned earlier, you were in Haiti this past summer promoting your new album. Do you write your own songs? Or do other people write your songs?
Don Q: Well, the album will have ten songs on it and all of them are currently written and inspired by Don Q. Since Don Q is not a selfish artist, my doors are open to other artists who want to collaborate with me. In the musical background, I have other talented artists such as Chedly Abraham, Marc Arriose, Gabriel Laporte and so many others.
Edrys: Rumor has it that you have written and composed some musical pieces for other Haitian artists, including one of the hottest and most admired artists, Alan Cavé. Could you shed some lights for the public?
Don Q: Don Q has been writing for sometimes now and I have met a great Haitian artist (interrupted)
Edrys: Without it doubt, you’re talking about Shoubou?
Don Q: (Laughing) (: (: Shoubu is without a doubt one of the greatest artists, but I’m talking about Alan Cavé. I met him in 1995 and we’ve been working jointly ever since. For example, when I’m composing and I got stuck, I would call him, sometimes in the middle of the night, and he would help me and if it occurs that he is composing and he got stuck, he will also do the same and call me for help. And yes, on his second solo album, Sepa Pou Dat, in 2001, on this album, Don Q has a music entitled "Menm Jan"
Edrys: If I understand you clearly, you’re saying that both Alan Cavé and you do help each other when it comes to music. Well, do you feel that Alan promoted that album in such a way that people would know who you are?
Don Q: I think he did all that he could, a lot of people may not know me, you know this question of "bootleg", if you have a "bootleg" album, you would not know me but if you have the real thing, you would see my name on the back of the original CD. And if I go to a show, Alan would make sure that the audience knows that there is an artist there. Thus I believe that he gave me all the credits that I deserve.
Edrys: Let’s change the page a little bit. I have a 7 year old daughter, as you know, parents are very much concerned about the kinds of music that their children are listening to. Are you making music for all ages? Who are your fans?
Don Q: Don Q writes music for everyone. If a child can understand, he would be able to listen to Don Q. Don Q has music for all ages, young and old. Like I said, there will be ten songs on the album; none of them has any inappropriate languages. And remember, Don Q’s music is a Compas Love. For Don Q, it’s all about love.
Edrys: When will the album be available? Would I be able to buy it for my daughter for Christmas?
Don Q: Don Q has been working on the album for over a year now. Unfortunately, it will not be available by Christmas but I figure it should be out by late March 2007.
Edrys: As a young artist, looking at you, I see the next Belo. As you know, Belo has just proudly won the International Prize of "Concourts RFI "Decouverte de l’annee 2006" in Cameron. Our congratulations to Belo and a prize well deserved. For me to think of you as the next Belo, I must ask you, what are your immediate and long term goals in the music industry?
Don Q: Well, Don Q is in it for good. It is not a game for Don Q. It is this album that will give Don Q a name for himself and besides that, Don Q will continue to work years after years after years.
Edrys: In order to achieve these goals, you must strive very hard to be successful. How would you define success in the Haitian music industry?
Don Q: Success is something, well one album alone can be a success but you cannot be successful with one album. For me, this is an introduction, an introduction that I know everyone would appreciate.
Edrys: What image, if any, do you think your music would convey to the public?
Don Q: Like I said, when you look at Don Q, or you heard people talking about Don Q, you see love. So far, I have had people comparing me to Alan Cavé, Don Junior, even though I belong to this category, Don Q is unique. Don Q is not a copy cat. Don Q is very original, Don Q has his own identity and to answer your question, Don Q is a singer of Compas love.
Edrys: On your new album, "where have you been", as I listen to this song, I find it very inspiring. And I always say had I come up with that song first, a lot of women would have fallen for me. Who inspired you to write that song?
Don Q: Well, a love song is not something like this like that. That’s the way I see it. You can’t just say that I am going to write a love song, especially one like "Where have you been". You must have someone in your mind, someone dominating your mind to inspire you to come up with the words and expressions. That is, yeah, no doubt it’s a woman who inspired me.
Edrys: So this is a real story. If it’s a real story, do you permit me to ask you, does the person appreciate the song?
Don Q: Oh yes, yes, no doubt. In fact, the same night that I wrote the song, I called her and started to sing for her, she went crazy, oh my God. I love it. I love it, it’s great.
Edrys: Quite a story. As we’re approaching the end of the interview, if there is one thing that people should know about Don Q, the one thing that would make you different from the other artists, what would it be?
Don Q: Like I said, Don Q is an original artist, he does his own music and I would say it again, my doors are open to everyone who wants to work with me and it is an identity that I am seeking and I believe once the album is released, I will find the identity that I am looking for.
Edrys: As we’re ending our first interview, any last word for the public? And do you promise that Haitianite.com will not have to chase after you for an interview when you become the next Belo?
Don Q: I don’t think that Haitianite.com will have to chase Don Q because Haitianite.com is my home and Don Q will never be a super star for Haitianite.com. And I will tell the fans to stay tune because the album is coming out soon.
Edrys: Don Q, on behalf of the staff of Haitianite.com and your fans, I congratulate you on your new album and thank you for coming.
Don Q: It was a pleasure.
Edrys: This was artist Don Q who was here with us at Haitianite.com studio and I thank you for listening and don’t forget that Haitianite.com is there to promote and uplift Haitian values. Haitianite.com, c’est rassembler et promoter les valeurs Haitienne. Thank you.
