“We are the hands that must carry this world. We are the hands of the future… These hands must sow together” — “Hands” written by The Water Street Boyz and performed by Sir Ruel
Barbadian calypsonian Chad “Sir Ruel” Bowen rules the stage with his awe-inspiring vocals. But there were always tell-tale signs that his musical calling would be realised. As a child, he would ecstatically turn everyday objects, like his sister’s skipping rope, into a makeshift microphone. He would even watch Pic-O-De-Crop competitions with his mom Yolanda Holder, and confidently tell her, “Someday, that will be me.” These seemingly mundane acts were subtle signs of the inevitable – Chad was destined to perform.
For Chad, this pivotal moment arrived during a NIFCA Performing Arts show in 2014, when he claimed second place with a song called “Go Light Your World.” He revealed that this achievement was profoundly moving, especially as a first-time competitor who’d been accustomed to singing with CD tracks. “When I sang with the band, that’s when I said to myself, ‘I was born for this.’ When you’re singing with a live band, the chemistry between the music and the audience is different. It’s an out-of-body experience,” he said. Evidently, that was a thrilling impetus to strive for more, as the following year, at the tender age of 15, he entered the Junior Calypso Monarch competition.
With a song aptly titled “Making A Difference,” Chad’s career as a calypsonian began. Eerily dream-like experiences followed this bold move, such as an exciting opportunity to collaborate with his long-time idol, calypso veteran, Red Plastic Bag. Chad said that RPB’s guidance was crucial to his success.
“I remember the year that I saw him, he penned a song for me. That was in 2007. The song was called “Give Me the Answer” because I was asking the question how to win the crown.
“I remember telling my mom I would love for him to help me. I don’t know how we got hold of Bag, but he was in my house with a guitar, and he was part of my presentation. And the year that I won, he wrote that entire song for me – it was ‘A Party Song.’ My most memorable moment was when I won and Bag shed a tear,” he shared.
Since his Junior Monarch victory in 2008, Chad now has a growing respect for the artform and its powerful social impact. For this reason, he does not take his platform nor the genre for granted. “That was the year I knew that I could be a force to be reckoned with in calypso. Because I remember going on stage that night at the tent and giving a first-class performance…
“I think from then is when I knew that I loved calypso and I wanted to continue. My love grew over time. I love the fact that sometimes there are so many things that you would really like to say, and calypso gives you that forum to vent, to talk about anything that is bothering society. To me, you are society’s newspaper – you become the voice of the voiceless,” he said.
Chad said he made history when he became the first Junior Monarch winner to transition into the Pic-O-De-Crop competition, which sees seasoned calypsonians fiercely vying for top spots. Even more impressive, he placed fourth on his first attempt, and subsequently made it to finals several times. In this year’s Pic-O-De-Crop competition, Chad performed “Hands,” which has joined the repertoire of songs that give him chills. Although he did not make it to finals this year, his voice remains a vessel for inspiring change. Music even has a powerful impact on his personal life; he said, “Music was always my ‘get back up and go again,’ and sometimes writing about your experiences helps a lot too because that is therapy.”
Music as an outlet
“They used to tease me, criticise me, make me feel like I was nobody, want to break my hope and put me low. They tried to stop me, discourage me, nuff of dem walk over me, and a voice would say: You got to stay strong, you got this on lock down, let them see you can achieve – if you just believe” – “Superstar” by Chad Bowen
Though Chad’s upbringing with his mom and siblings in Station Hill, St Michael was wholesome, he faced many challenges as he matured into adulthood. Hurtful experiences inspired the emotionally vulnerable lyrics of his song “Superstar,” which he penned at age 17.
“It was talking about how anybody could become successful. It’s a song about embracing who you are, celebrating yourself. The lyrics are powerful, and I can tell you why the lyrics are powerful,” he said, pausing to take a breath, “This moves me every time.
“I was with a friend of mine in Saint Lawrence Gap and this guy came up to me and said ‘I want you to know that I was in prison, and your song gave me the strength every day to be somebody despite how difficult things were.
“There was a girl who told me that she was suffering from mental health challenges and the song stopped her from going on that road of suicide. I heard stories about the impact it had on people, and I think that as an artist, we are responsible for the kinds of songs that we write.”
Chad remains grateful for opportunities music has afforded him, such as travelling to faraway places like Addis Ababa in Ethiopia to perform. The loving support of both his mom and godmother, Elanor Small, also drives his pursuit of excellence. While Chad welcomes further success in calypso competitions and is always ready to command the stage, he sees his ability to uplift people as a meaningful and rewarding win:
“It feels emotional when people tell me that my music has touched them and inspires them, so sometimes it would give me a tear too. I feel as if that is your ultimate goal as an artist – to touch people with your music. I think that once you’re doing that, that half of the job is done.”
