In the USA and the UK Baha Men recently broke the charts with the song "Who let the dogs out". Do you have a dog?
Small: I used to have a dog, like all the Baha Men used to have one. I think, most of the people from the Bahamas love dogs. But now as we are on the road it’s hard to keep pets at home.
Throughout "Who let the dogs out" we hear some dogs barking again and again. Doesn’t that go on your nerves, when you perform the song?
Small: No, that’s not annoying. It’s great to make a song, that can penetrate the barriers of language. So everywhere in the world, where we have concerts, we have the full participation of the audience, when we play "Who let the dogs out", no matter if we are in Spain or in the UK. And I’m also sure, the Germans gonna sing it with us.
Do you like Germany, I think, here it’s a bit too cold for you, isn’t it?
Small: Oh, it’s ok with me. Of course we’re used to the sunshine and the heat. But personally I don’t mind the change of wheather at all. I’m fine with the cold sometimes. And I like Germany and I like to learn as much as I can about Germany while I’m here.
When I hear the songs of Baha Men, it seems to me, that life in the Bahamas mostly is a big party. Is it like that?
Small: Yeah, the Bahamas is a very free-spirited and high-spirited country, especially the time in the year, when all the people join for our main festival, which is Junkanoo. It takes place twice a year as a parade on the streets, starting very early in the morning and ending until dawn. Then everybody comes to watch and dance – it’s a big party.
And Junkanoo is also the name for a kind of rhythm?
Small: Yes, the primary instruments are goat-skin drums, cowbells, whistles and horns. And it’s a certain kind of rhythm, and a special ‚bahamian‘ sound. It’s a very pulsating rhythm and when you hear it, it’s like you got to move to it. Every Bahamian knows it.
Until now Baha Men is the one and only really successful band from the Bahamas?
Small: Yes, certainly. We have made quite a bit history especially this year, when we got platinum on the US-market. There has never been a Bahamian band, which had this kind of success. Now even the government supports us and supports the whole direction we took. And now we do expect, that soon a few entertainers will follow us, but giving their music a more popular and commercial touch.
At the moment, I believe, all radio stations in the Bahamas are playing your music.
Small: Yes, we have seven stations in the Bahamas and they play our music, but they generally play about everything. American Pop, American Rock, Rock’n’Roll, Reggae, Soca and so on. At least all this styles you also can find in our songs.
As a ‚Baha-man‘, you became a star not only in the Bahamas, how does that feel like?
Small: It’s like a dream came true. I think every artist would really love to get his music heard. It is a very good feeling, to have the own music not only played but also accepted. This is the best for a musician, it’s great.
What do you – as a musician – think about Napster?
Small: I like the whole idea of Napster, however I do not like, which problems Napster causes concerning musicians and their records. I wish, that Napster could reinvent itself, so that musicians can be paid. I like the idea of having the ability to go online and download songs, you don’t have to go to the store. But we must incorporate a system of payment to justify musicians and artists. Otherwise it would be totally unfair.
If live was a cartoon, which role would you play?
Small: Robin Hood.