Phone interview recorded from Radio Solar on 19th June 2000.

Paulo Matos - For the first time inna Reggae Show in Portugal we have Alpheus - Studio One artist talking with us.

Paulo Matos - Greetings Alpheus, how are you ?

Alpheus - I'm not to bad, how you doing Paulo,  It's nice to be in your show.

Paulo Matos - I'm gonna start asking, where and when you born and when you've started in music ?

Alpheus - I was born 1967 in Kensington, London and i started really serious in sing music for Studio One in 1997.

Paulo Matos - What about influences, any special artist or band ?

Alpheus - well off course, there's so many... but one that have stay on my mind a most, he has an excellent voice, he can sing a song so smoothly, is Sam Cooke, and the Reggae singer off course Mr. Dennis Brown, excellent people holding my mind.

Paulo Matos - Like you've said you born in England but you've reached your proposes in The United States, right ?

Alpheus - Yes that's right.

Paulo Matos - Your first project called "Quality Time" have been produced by Sir Clement Dodd, how it started your association with Studio One ?

Alpheus - Yes, i was in Florida, i have a friend that plays on a radio in Florida, his name is Godfather, he know's that i sing a little bit from when i was on school days, so he asked me to go into the studio to do some Jingles for him. When i was doing the Jingles Tony Brevette of the Melodians, you know who they are Paulo, don't you ?

Paulo Matos - Yes, off course The Melodians.

Alpheus - Yes he's a great guy, he came from Studio One and also from Duke Reid, he heard me and told me, when you come to New York call me and then yunno, maybe we can do something serious, i didn't know he would take me to see Mr. Dodd, but he did yunno, he took me to Mr. Dodd, that was in October 97.

Paulo Matos - Ok, what you feel when you sing on rhythms made more than 30 years ago, those rhythms that helped artists like Dennis Brown, The Heptones, Larry Marshall being known even today, what you feel ?

Alpheus - I feel so good Paulo... I tell you Paulo, it feels so nice sing on rhythms that are real, no computer, real Bass, real Drum, it feels so nice that Mr. Dodd's of Studio One would let me ride these rhythms, everytime i hear it i want to sing every minute, i feel so good.

Paulo Matos -  They are classic Rythms, man.

Alpheus - Classic, classic Paulo.

Paulo Matos - Yes.

Paulo Matos - Talking again about your first project, did you write all the songs of the album, i know that "Equal Rights" is an Heptones Song, right ?

Alpheus - I wrote 90% of the songs, like you've said "Equal Rights" is an Heptones song, an excelent song, i thought if i would sing a cover it had to be a song that make sense, had to be a very good song to everybody, so i sung that one, but the other songs have been written by the engineer at Studio One and  myself, he's name is Randy Phipps.

Paulo Matos - I can tell you that my favourite track on the CD is "We Shouldn't Have To See This", what's your favourite song and why ?

Alpheus - Wow, it's very hard to say... but i think one of my favourite songs is number 6 wich is called "Love Game", wasn't writed by myself, was writed by Randy Phipps the engineer, i like a lot love songs yunno Paulo ...

Paulo Matos - Me too...

Alpheus - Off course, because we love ladies and we love life, that's my favourite song, because i know a lot of people going through exactly what is been said on the song, but "We Shouldn't Have To see This" is a great song, i enjoy very much that song too.

Paulo Matos - You are in England now right ? Taking an holidays before of the Tour that is coming up ?

Alpheus - That's right, we go in Tour next month (July) with Everton Blender in the United States.

Paulo Matos - Yes, great artist Everton Blender...

Alpheus - Yes excellent person.

Paulo Matos - But you gonna make a Tour with Everton Blender and one more artsist, i think is Richie Spice ?

Alpheus - Yes that's a new artist that gonna release an album on Heartbeat on July 18th, he also be on the Tour, Richie Spice. 

Paulo Matos - Now that have passed more than 6 months from the release of your album, what about the audience, the people have enjoyed the album, what you think ?

Alpheus - Yes, excellent reviews from every major media, the airplay have been good in most countrys, like the U.S.A, your country off course Paulo, i'm very happy actually, and this give me vibes to do more work, you know what i mean ?

Paulo Matos - Well i don't know if you know but when i have received the CD in October / November have been number one at Reggae Portugal webpage...

Alpheus - That have been my first kind of number one, man !!! I'm so glad that you've like it !!!

Paulo Matos - I have enjoyed very much this CD, yes.

Alpheus - Thank you very much.

Paulo Matos - Finishing this interview, any special message for the listeners of the show ?

Alpheus - Yes, is just really, we have to believe in everything we do and stand focused man, you know what i mean, cause nothing can stop you nothing will set yourself, so stay upfull, all believe in love, you know what i mean ? 

Paulo Matos - Ok Alpheus, for me have been a pleasure making this phone interview with such a nice person as you, all i can tell you is good luck for your career and continue making good music. Big Respect From Portugal.

Alpheus - Big Respect and take care of yourself Paulo and big up all the listeners, big them up.

Paulo Matos - Thank you.

NUFFF THANKS TO ALPHEUS AND ARNO, RESPECT EVERYTIME.

Released 1999 on Heartbeat / CRS  Label

 All Rights Reserved © Reggae Portugal 2001, 2002