Arts & Culture: Drastic

Born in Antigua surrounded by music that his father, a church choir and music leader, brought home with him, Drastic began his professional music career in 2007 when he won the Virgin Islands Idol competition. Over the past few years, Drastic has collaborated with other notable musicians such as Sean Kingston, Spragga Benz, Destra, Surwayne Winchester, Honorebel, Jemere Morgan, Patrice Roberts, Ricardo Drue, Richie Loop, Shal Marshal, and Jah Cure, a Jamaican reggae star. His songs and music videos have received a number of awards and chart appearances in the Caribbean and beyond. In 2015, Jah Cure’s album The Cure, in which Drastic wrote “No Friend of Mine”, was nominated for a Grammy in the recording industry’s most prestigious awards. Jah Cure’s album Royal Soldier was also nominated for a Grammy in 2019, seeing Drastic receive his second nomination for penning the title track in addition to “Brighter Day”.

As well as performing in international carnivals over the last couple of years, he reached the finals of the Antigua Groovy Party Monarch competition last year. In January this year, Drastic released his highly anticipated 15 Grams Mixtape. A lot of additional exciting projects are being cooked up for the rest of 2020, like the recently released single Show Up in collaboration with internationally renowned musicians Wyclef Jean and Noah Powa.

I hear music in my head. I hear the instruments. Then I’ll hook up with a musician and tell him what I’m hearing instrument-wise. We put the song together piece by piece like a puzzle. Sometimes it takes three months. Sometimes an hour.

As a songwriter, musician, producer, athlete, husband and father, two-time Grammy-nominated artist Art Philip AKA Drastic forms part of a group of talented musicians that call themselves Them Island Boyz.

This Iz Drastic

Photocred: Brass.Angel

I’m still trying to do my part by putting Antigua on the map. Everyone knows the music of Jamaica and even the Virgin Islands, but I want them to know what Antigua is all about. And I feel I can do that.

This Iz Drastic | Antiguan Artist

Photocred: Brass.Angel

What does music really mean to you?

Music is a part of me and a way of life. I cannot imagine life without it.

How would you describe your music?

My music can be described as a fusion of Caribbean and mainstream musical elements - melodies and grooves that will lift your mood and make you feel inspired, motivated, happy or even sad depending on the story being told. With every song comes a different mood. My music is versatile.

Who are your musical influences?

Rock City, Papa San, Akon, Sean Paul, Bob Marley, Chris Brown, Rihanna, Lauryn Hill, Kanye West, 50 Cent and Lester Lewis.

Your music – and music videos – have won several awards and your song writing has even been nominated for a Grammy. How important are accolades to you?

I’m grateful because God gave me a gift, and I’m able to do what I love for a living. I owe it all to the creator and to my parents for exposing me to music and arts at an early age. The accolades are just a bonus. I don’t let the titles and awards get to my head. I’m simply dedicated to my craft and enjoy doing what I love doing.

How does Antigua inspire your music?

Antigua & Barbuda is one of the most beautiful places on earth and I was blessed to grow up here. Everything about life in Antigua serves as some sort of inspiration one way or the other and eventually is manifested in my music. For instance, in some songs I may not be singing dialect, but you’ll definitely hear my accent. I’m from the land of 365 beaches. That’s inspiration for every day of the year.