5 Questions with ... Echo One and Five Star General
Published:Friday | May 19, 2023 | 12:14 AM
The Magnum Sound Clash is just a day away, and the streets are buzzing with excitement as to who will be crowned the Magnum All-Star Sound Clash champion. Sound systems are an integral part of dancehall culture and a big part of that has been the ability to create and mix dubs from popular existing songs which are used to generate excitement among partygoers.
The Magnum Sound Clash began on March 3 with eight sounds battling for the top prize. From the start, Five Star General was out the blocks, blazing ahead of the pack securing the win in their very first warm-up round and every round following. Echo One followed closely behind, decimating their challengers in the various rounds, which landed them in the finals.
Both sound systems have been operating for more than 15 years, providing world-class entertainment for many communities across Jamaica. They are eager and ready to please their audience come Saturday night, and promise nothing short of an entertaining time.
Selectors Andrew Pang from the St Thomas and London-based Five Star General and Fire Wayne from the Portmore and Clarendon-based Echo One both shared insights into their lives and titbits about being in the Magnum All-Star Sound Clash in this week’s Five Questions.
1. How did you get started in the sound system industry?
Fire Wayne: My parents were party promoters, so I grew to love the music and sound system. At around age five, I knew that this is something I’d want to do for a living, so when I was old enough, I decided I wanted a sound system of my own. I followed my dream and since 2004, we have been dominating the entertainment scene across Jamaica.
Andrew Pang: It started when a close friend of mine had a sound, King Stitch, and we used to go around them when they were rehearsing and brainstorming. We used to follow them everywhere they played and that piqued our interest in it, so we decided that this is something we want to do. It has been 15 years now and we are better than ever!
2. Why did you decide to join the Magnum All-Star Sound Clash?
Fire Wayne: It’s a competition that we’ve always wanted to enter but it was never the right time. We were always reaching out to the promoters of the event and it always proved futile, but this time around they saw us putting in the work and decided we were ready for the competition, reached out to us and here we are now.
Andrew Pang: We’ve performed at many events, weddings included, and we have dubs for days, so we thought why not a sound clash? We made a few calls which led to the promoters reaching out to us.
3. How do you prepare for each clash?
Fire Wayne: A big part of preparing for any challenge is studying. We study our opponents tactics, strengths and weaknesses ahead of each clash. That way we have the advantage and are able to bring our A-game .
Andrew Pang: For us it’s just a regular routine, we don’t do anything special. The team members just link up, cook food and play music. We don’t do a rehearsal, this is just our regular routine.
4. How do you remain motivated week after week?
Fire Wayne: Definitely the love for the culture and the fans. We have some [die-hearted] fans who do not want to see us lose so we have to go hard for them.
Andrew Pang: Our fans are our biggest motivation. They are always telling us that we have it and that we can do it, so we keep on pushing and doing our best each week.
5. What would it mean to you to win the Magnum All-Star Sound Clash?
Fire Wayne: It would mean everything! It isn’t even about the million dollars, but more so the title. We have to do it for the fans. We represent both Portmore and Clarendon, so we need the trophy and the title to make all of our supporters proud.
Andrew Pang: It would mean the world to us. Not just me but the team. This is our dream and we have been working very hard towards it, so it would mean the world to us.