I use to refer to him as "De Farmer Fella" but in the soca arena he is know as Farmer Nappy. After having him as my neighbour for about two years, I demanded (nicely) that he have a chat to Trinibeat's Access Granted. It took another two months before we could have that chat as Farmer Nappy flew overseas to fly the flag of Trinidad and Tobago high. But finally here it is, Access Granted to Darrel Henry "Farmer Nappy".

First thing first, you does keep your car nice and clean, but I feel you need to do over your sound system, my brother music sounding a little more refined.
(Laughing) Yeah boy! Your brother music on, it real on. I feel I blow a speaker or two but doh worry I fixing it.

But you take a lot of pride in your car, I never see anybody but you washing it.
(Excitedly) Well I does take pride in everything I doing. My music have to be right up and my car must look clean; when I home down south I does do my own landscaping, that is just me.

This farmer Nappy name, where it really originated?
My father’s name is Nappy, so back home in Siparia I was called "Nappy Son". Just plain Nappy is a childhood name, the farmer part really came up after I wrote Music Farm.

Ah boy Music Farm, tell we about that
(With an air of contentment) That sound created history. That is the only sound that every member of any soca band had a part to sing. It came out so smooth and natural, easy on the ears with a good rhythm. I haven’t seen anybody top that. If you play it today, right now, it sounds like it fresh and now release.

So is like a Michael Jackson song, it can’t go out of season?
(Grinning) How you mean? That song on for life dread.

How this whole thing started. You walking down the entertainment road?
(Rocking back on my couch) Well, that is one of the strangest stories ever. I was home; a lil boy on the block playing cricket in the road down Siparia. I was batting; I could "rel" bat you know...

(Sean interjects) I could play better than them fellas who shaming we in West Indies colours now yes. We better go up for screening.
(Farmer standing up, gesticulating excitedly) Sean boy, if you going up I will go with you. Both ah we go open the batting, we go score all de runs and "call that George".

(Laughing) Cool yourself nah man Farmer. I cyar open, I is a bowler... but back to the story?
(Slowly sinking into the couch with a smile) So I had a skateboard, a wooden board that I make, country thing nah; and this fella went and sit down on mih board and I tell him come off and he just sit down and refuse to get up. So as I hit the ball, instead of running to the other wicket, I head straight for the fella to hit him a bat. Then I hear this man call me, “aye no fighting stop that”. The man then ask me to come and do a small moving wuk. I say no problem.

That man was Machel father. From then on I was part of their family and you know the rest.

Not really yuh know partner, I really don’t know the rest?
(Thinking look) I started to play tamborine, percussion; I could have always drum, I born with that. I also did a little background vocals. It was the birth of the band, the Pranasonic Express. Prana Homes is the area where Montano and them were from at the time, so that is how we got the name. The first gig was at a place called Lou and the Lynx. We got a hell of a pay day, Ten Dollars (TTD 10) for the entire band for the entire band.

So you started with Machel and the crew from an early age, and after all these years you are still apart of the crew. What is like working with one of the biggest names in the business?
(With a look of contentment) Sean boy, I does always say we is family. As a matter of fact, is not I alone does say that. The whole band is family Zan, Kernel, Patrice, Machel, them is just names you will know off hand, the other members you don't know we are all the family.

You had some hits. From Music Farm to Belly Dancer?
(Excitedly) What people don’t know is that I have done more writing than solo hits. From "Riding on the Big Truck" which Machel sang, "Footsteps" with Wayne Rodriguez, "Pump De Iron", Water Flowing", to "Chipping Down the Road". So I have a nice resume.

What is your inspiration?
(Serious faced) That is my mother, and the Almighty, They are my strength.

Any upcoming collaboration?
Look out for me and Anthony B, Look out for me and Red Rat. That is just for now. You will hear more in the next interview. Farmer Part Two. (Grinning)

Who do you most admire in the business?
(A look of contentment) To tell you the truth, brother Machel. The man has an electrifying performance and could entertain the masses. He is a stickler for perfection.

When you not performing, what Farmer does really be doing?
(Grinning.) Well you know I like to clean and detail mih car. But apart from that, I love to do my lawn; I does take real pride in that. I will lime on de block with mih friends back home; bare back of course and a slippers for the most, but mostly bare feet. I could also cook up a mean wild meat. When them fellas have "guana", they cyar pass my house. Is in my pot one time. I also have a studio. I like to play there and do all my experimenting. I started to dabble up in real estate lately too. I have a mean house for you down Siparia you go like it. Is country, no crime and real quite and nice, you want it? Come down next weekend ah go show you it.

If I move to Siparia I go have to buy a RX 7 or Subaru?
(Pensive looking) Why?

To cut travelling time nah, all of my interest is in POS?
(Laughing) Sean boy, Arrive Alive.

So what is in the future for Farmer?
I am writing some really big songs. You will hear about them very soon.


Any closing words?
Just want to say thanks to my friends, and fans, most of all thanks to my family. Thanks to the Montano clan for making me part of the family as well. Now you could drop me in the airport? I have a gig in Barbados tonight. (Grinning)

(Laughing) Doh worry, you will reach in 15 minutes, and we will Arrive Alive.


Sean's Footnotes.
Yes I plan to go and check out the house in Siparia. The price sounding nice, I just have to find a job on that side now.