Lushan Dennis - Music connects People through Messages and Musicians are the Messengers!

Apr 7

Apr 7 Lushan Dennis - Music connects People through Messages and Musicians are the Messengers!

PP: When were you introduced to music?

LD: was first introduced to music before I was even born. My mum has always been a steel pan teacher and even while she was pregnant with me she would teach pan at CSI steel band and at local schools in the area. Music has always been a big part in my family for years, rooting all the way from grandparents to me. My grandma was a Lovers rock singer and my grandad was a producer. My dad then became a singer and a pan player at Ebony steel band. My mum also became a player at Ebony steel band which led them to meet and have me. While growing up I was introduced to all types of music such as; Soca, Reggae, Lovers Rock, Latin music, Hip-Hop, R&B Etc

PP: What was the first musical instrument you played?

LD: The first instrument I got and played was a black juniors Yamaha drum kit at the age of 2 for Christmas. At this age I didn’t know what to do with it really and didn’t realise how much it would have an impact on my life. I remember vividly the first beat I would try to replicate and it was an iconic rhythm from the song ‘I want candy’.

PP: When were you first introduced to the steel pan instrument?

LD: I was first introduced to pan since birth but I started playing at the age of 5 in the Ebony Steel Band Cubs which my mum created. This was the pivotal moment that I didn’t even realise would change my life.

PP: What made you want to start playing pans?

LD: All I’ve known from young was pan, pan and more pan, so when I would be at either stages side practice or panorama practice dancing and having the time of my life in the pan room it slowly made me realise that pan always felt like home and I always felt comfortable around it. I then became one of the beginning members of Ebony Steel Band Cubs

PP: When did you start playing pan?

LD: I started playing at the age of 5 in the Ebony Steel Band Cubs which my mum created. Ebony was what I’ve always remembered as my starting point of my pan journey

PP: What was the first steel band you played for?

LD: I first played for Ebony steel band.

PP: What steel bands have you played for?

LD: All the bands I’ve played for are Ebony Steel Band Cubs, Ebony Steel Band, New Generation Steel Orchestra (Juniors and youth) and Mangrove Steel Ban

PP: When was your first public event and how did you feel performing to a public audience? ‘

LD: My first performance would’ve had to be the 2015 Ebony steel band Christmas concert where I was a member of Ebony Steel Band Cubs.

PP: If you could play for any band in the world what band would you want to play with?

LD: I would 100% play for Desperadoes Steel Orchestra in Trinidad because of their versatility in their music and pans because I’ve seen they have pans such as the 12 bass and the ‘rocket pan’ (6 Cello). I find inventions like that so interesting and I love the way they utilise these ranges in the best ways possible. If I had to pick another band, it would definitely be Tropical Angel Harps because I watched a documentary about their journey to 2023 panorama (’Sounds Like Steel’) and it was so amazing how much they care about their youth and its amazing the most of work that they put into their art.

Lushan playing ay New Generation Steel Orchestra’s Concert.

PP: What steel band competitions have you taken part in?

LD: In 2016, I competed in the School-O-Rama, In 2019, I was playing in New Generation Steel Orchestra on NHC, In 2022 I played percussion for Mangrove Steel Band at Panorama, In 2023 I played 3 pan in Ebony Steel Band at panorama, I also competed and won the pan clash under 16s soloist competition in both 2023 and 2024. I then played tenor for Mangrove Steel Band at Panorama in 2024.

PP: How many tours have you completed and where did you travel too?

LD: With me being a member of New Generation Steel Orchestra it has allowed me to play in all sorts of places such as Nice in the south of France in both 2023 & 2024. We have also travelled all around the UK. For example Suffolk, Windsor, Wormsley, and many more.

PP: What was the most challenging thing you have done to do with steel pans?

LD: The most challenging thing I’ve done that involves steel pan is definitely meeting new people. I am a very quiet person when it comes to talking to new people and I think that it has led me to not be as recognised and I think it has also led me to not speaking up about a lot of subjects in pan that really affects me. For example pan politics. I have done so much research into the history of pan and I have read about the dark ages in pan where it became a form of violence in Trinidad, and I feel like especially in the UK we’re just going back in time to something that is just unneeded. I have always believed in ’Pan before Band’ but I find it so difficult to watch people go at each other and forgetting why pan was made. Pan is meant to be a sign of freedom between Caribbean people and it was meant to be a rebellion against the people oppression is not each other

PP: What’s been the most inspirational musical moment in your life?

LD: The most inspirational musical moments of my life have been me watching the people that do the things I aspire to do in the future. For example, watching and listening to some of the world’s best arrangers has helped me in so many ways and it has changed my perspective of music as a whole. People like Andre White, Marlon Hibbert & Clive Bradley who take a technical and jazz inspired twist on their music really inspires me to have that knowledge and use it in my arrangements. I am also inspired by the ‘Theatrical story tellers’ who are Duvone Stewart, Jit Samaroo and Chris Story. They inspire me to take a more film esc and storytelling approach to my music. I also am inspired by the drummers that have been there for the years I’ve played for panorama. The first year I was really paying attention to what goes on in the pan yard around panorama was 2019 with mangrove steel band, I watched Leon “Foster” Thomas drum for the first time for. It was one of the most amazing experiences I’ve had, I even got to go to Wembley Drum Shop with him and try out some drum kits with him. He is a true inspiration to me because not only is he one of the most powerful and clean drummers I’ve seen, he is one of the best steel pan players I’ve seen too. Another thing of his that is inspiring is his humbleness because one thing that I am really big about is people being humble. Another drummer who I played alongside to was Sheldon Waites from New York in 2022. This was the year I decided to really devout my life to drumming and pan because this was also the year I arranged my first song with NGSO which was Mash up by BLAXX. Sheldon was the best push I had into wanting to be a drummer for a band. Another drummer I watched was Leason Jacob’s in 2023. For pan drummers I believe that Leason is the ‘godfather’ of pan drummers because of his precision and his power while playing. One fundamental of being a drummer is keeping time and watching how Leason did with Ebony in 2023 was amazing. And that’s what has lead me to be the drummer I am today. Another group of people I am inspired by is the “UK Pan tuners guild” (Aubrey Bryan, Tony Charles, Toussaint Clarke, Dudley Dickson, Grafton Yearwood). I am especially inspired by Dudley Dickson and Toussaint Clarke because they are people I’ve watched while growing up. Late 2024 I began to get trained by Dudley Dickson, he has taught me how to sink, groove and tune pans. Recently I’ve learned that the art form of making pans is something I would love to make my full time career.

PP: What is your role in New Generation Steel Orchestra? Can you let us know what is the importance of your role?

LD: At New Generation Steel Orchestra I am one of the arrangers, drummers, captains and soon to be their pan maker and tuner. While at practice I am very resourceful when it comes to stands, cases, sticks etc. I have fixed at least 5-10 stands while there. I would do this be either finding screws from broken drum stands or zip ties or even just a bit of duck tape would do the job. If there is any technical problem with pans, the drum kit or sticks, I would be the one to fix them. I have also arranged 3 songs for the band with one of them being scored all by myself with no experience in doing stuff like that.

Lushan playing drums to his own musical creation with sister, Romaya supporting him.

PP: What are the important qualities/skills that an individual must possess to perform the role that you do in the New Generation Steel Orchestra?

LD: For someone to do what I do at NGSO they would need to think fast, have a well-trained ear and find the finer details in things. As an up and coming arranger they would need to be quick with their teaching and they would need to know if anything needs to be changed to fit in a certain time frame or if a piece the music is too hard for the band. Also they would need to have a sense of handy work because as I’ve started to be trained by Dudley Dickson who is a master in the art of making pans, stands, racks, sticks etc. I have began to do these roles for NGSO.

PP: Can you describe your musical experiences playing with all the different steel bands that you have played for?

LD: I have had very different experiences with each and every band musically. Playing with NGSO obviously has to be the best experience because it’s the only place where I’m allowed to express my musical knowledge with others in the band and out. Growing up I’ve seen a lot when it comes to people wanting to express ideas but they aren’t recognised or heard, but with NGSO it’s my home really and I with the knowledge that I have right now and the knowledge I aspire to gain I really see new generation as the band I would run in the future. Playing and growing up with Ebony really showed me how pan is meant to be played, from their technique to even arrangements. I will always know Ebony to be my first home and the place where I have learnt most of my knowledge technique wise. Even when it comes to quality of pans I will always know that Ebony have the best and its all thanks to Dudley who is now training me to become a master of the pan making art. From Mangrove I learnt how to stay humble and that’s especially from people like Andre White. Andre is probably my favourite arranger because of how humble but logical he is with his music. I one day aspire to be the man he is in the future.

PP: What advice would you give to a new player?

LD: For a new player I would definitely advise them to stay true to themselves and not fall into the wrong crowds. I would also advice them to stay humble because it is not a good look having a big ego. Last thing is to practice, practice, PRACTICE!

PP: What is your favourite steel pan to play?

LD: I have played many of pans but out of a whole orchestra my favourite pan to play would have to be 4 pan because I just love playing countermelodies and even on small sided gigs its nice to have some creative freedom with coming up with melodies in songs.

PP: Who are your inspirations both to do with steel pans and musically?

LD: In pan my inspirations are Andre White, Marlon Hibbert, Chris Storey, Samuel Dubois (my uncle), Andy Narell and Dudley Dickson. Musically I’m inspired by Reshon Ramsey, Leon “Foster” Thomas, Ebow “LOX” Mensah, Sheldon Waites and Leason Jacobs. I’m also inspired by people like Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder for their musical knowledge.

Lushan at Pan Clash 2024 where he retained his title!

PP: What are your hopes for steel pan in the UK and globally?

LD: My hopes for pan in the UK and globally is that it becomes recognised. Pan has been around for over 80 years and is still an underground instrument. I want pan to be seen the same way a regular symphony orchestra is seen. When I was younger me and my best friend from school and pan were sort of embarrassed that we was involved with pan because it is seen as a joke to people. Even now people say things to me such as; ‘go and play your tin of beans’ and ‘its not that hard to hit a bowl with a bunch of dents in it’ referring to pan. I sometimes get hurt by things like that because no one is aware of the history and significance of pan in general. One of my goals in life is to try and make pan as respected as any other instrument.

PP: What is your vision for steel pan in the future in UK and globally?

LD: My vision for pan is that it becomes one of the main instruments played in schools, festivals etc. I have realised that pan has never been taken seriously especially when on gigs I notice this. When I see people just take sticks out of pans and hit it or when people place things in pans or even when people push and swing pans it makes me think… what if we were just a normal pop band? Would you swing someone’s guitar? Would you place your bag on someone’s drum kit or lean on it? No. So I just wish that pan was shown and appreciated more.

PP: What are your musical aspirations for the future??

LD: In the future I aspire to become a full time pan musician, arranger, tuner and maker. I want to do anything that involves pan, whether it’s drumming, arranging, playing, I am more than happy to be a part of the UK pan scene in the future.

Lushan being interviewed by Bid Bad Tubbs at Pan Clash 2024.

PP: What do you think needs to happen in the UK for the steel pan instrument and its culture to be more widely recognised on all musical platforms?

LD: I think that pan needs to get more traction from big artists in the UK for it to become a more widely known and recognised. There have been a few artists that contained pan in their music and it made a small impact on the spread of pan but it has never been enough to make it as popular as other instruments. One thing that does need to change to make the pan culture more inviting is the people that are involved in it already because as a collective pan players have to be together for it to become a more welcoming setting to be around. Pan politics is a huge part to play in this because it has made pan unenjoyable for some. Pan has never been all sunshine and rainbows but if we want it to change and become respected we have to do it together.

Lushan with all the winners and participants of the Pan Clash 2024 competition.

PP: Please give a quick overview of yourself, your musical career and involvement in your communities in promoting, performing and assisting with the steel pan culture.

LD: As of September 2024 I began my musical journey at The Brit School. I have began to work on the construction and theory of songs. At Brit I am also being taught how to mix, master and produce songs for live or studio settings. There I am able to utilise my talent in all types of ways. I am a multi-instrumentalist that primarily focuses on drumming and developing my skills in pan. All I do is pan and I hope for it to be a career in the future.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=3811926202429086 - Lushan performing at Pan Clash 2024. He was the Winner of the under 16s category.