Here is another exclusive interview brought to you by Bashment Link Up. Recently, your girls Leisa and Candi Bashment had the opportunity to briefly interview Voicemail. Enjoy!

BLU: Introduce yourself for Bashmentlinkup.com

Voicemail: I’m Craig Jackson - October 15 Libra; I’m Kevin Blaire - November 27 Sagittarius; and I’m Oniel Edwards May 8, Taurus.

BLU: What do other combat expect from Voicemail at the end of the year?

Oniel: “Ready to Gal”, “One Live Good”, “Just Start Feeling Good”, “Get up under the Renaissance”, and the “Cry Baby Riddim”, and I’m ready for the things that are out there. Your probably familiar with some of them, and probably you didn’t realize that is us. We have other songs that are different from dancing songs and some of the other songs dem sing, so it’s totally different from the usual Weddi time like some people dem know.

Kevin: To answer that question, there is a new dance track that we have coming out called “Dance for Ourselves”

BLU: Who inspired Voicemail to come up with the Wachy-Dip?

Voicemail: Bogle inspired us to having idea contributing or showing our appreciation to him. Ding Dong was the one originally came up with Wacky-Dip. He was like “I have a new dance called Wacky-Dip”, so the song created from there. Ding Dong started it, then you have Voicemail, then linkup with Don and Cool Face and we just have the song and that was it.

BLU: I know Voicemail have quite a few videos in rotation, which is something a lot of new artist don’t really have an opportunity to do. We at BLU have been wondering how Voicemail got that chance and who directed the videos?

Voicemail: Well the 1st and 2nd video was with Nadia Sampson. The 3rd and 4th video was with Jason Williams and Daddy Leon. For “Weddi Time” and “Ready To Party”, the producers that dish out pay was the one who was instrumentally value the cost of that, because we did the part by singing it and promoting the song. We just took the next step of getting the song to the next level and were always fortunate enough to have producers who want to take the song to the next level, same thing with Wacky-Dip. Ourselves and Don the producer will pay for the video. With the song “Feeling Good”, it’s the same thing with us and Burch.

BLU: Who was the first person to give Voicemail a bly (a break)?

Voicemail: The first person was Jerry D. He was the fist person that ever played anything that Voicemail ever did. It was like drops, and it was strong. It was this guy by the name of Luke Williams who introduced us to Judith Barley who gave us our first radio interview.

BLU: How did Voicemail meet?

Craig: Voicemail was originally five members (who are not in the group anymore). Kevin knew the other two members (Robert Manning and Leonardo Grant). There was an audition held and Kevin draws the two of them. He never goes there to sing, just carry them to do the audition. Until somebody said, “Kevin you never used to sing,” and Kevin said “Yes, he used to do a couple of things.” So, he hummed a few notes and apparently they needed a group. Robert, who is no longer in the group, joke and say “Yo! We are a group.” So mi say what is the name of the group, and Robert said “Voicemail”. So I (Craig) said, “Oh so Nice” and that was it from there. We need a base singer so I called Oniel. So mi say to Oniel, “We have a group you know”. Then Oniel say, “mi nah inna the group thing” and hung up the phone. He called me back laughing and he was like OK I’m going to come down and listen to unno, and Voicemail formed. It formed fun and exciting way and we just continue that way. Three years ago, the other two members want to do something, but we’re going to still do our thing.

BLU: “She Wants It”, one of my favorite songs, which was written by Wayne Dully Ranks which was the second collaboration. Can we expect anymore?

Voicemail: That was the 1st one that spark the fact, that Delly has a nice Chemistry. Delly and Oniel is always on the phone. When ready to write the song, Oniel call Delly and that’s how we get involved and work from there. We don’t know how the future is set up. Right now, Voicemail is just about Voicemail. The album is coming out. Two releases, one in Japan the first of January and VP going to do their release in early February. Were trying to groom the name and the group, a lot of people is hearing Voicemail but not seeing Voicemail. We want to take Voicemail out there and say alright here we are. We want people to get to see Voicemail and view our performance.

BLU: Is it true that one of you guys have a relative that is formerly known as the “Scare Dem Crew”?

Oniel: Alozade is one of my bigger brothers. Scare Dem is the group, that influence me to come into the music business. I was there following them up and down, and decided to say if him can do it, mi can do it to.

BLU: Any other family members in the business?

Oniel: My dad was a singer/producer back in the 70’s. He produced a lot of well-known artists, ah what we called “Vintage” Artist like Gregory Isaac and Dennis Brown. My father name was Rupee Edwards.

BLU: The ladies want to know is any of you guys single/married?

Oniel: Music is my wife
Kevin: I don’t see no ring, so she’s not jealous. That’s good. She understands what’s up
Craig: Laughing

BLU: “Never Really Want To Let You Go”, is like almost 100% R&B. The song really fits you guys.

Voicemail: We really started out singing R&B. That’s how we were influence. Jamaica is a country, that never appreciate our own music, until late. Every group that came out of Jamaica always started singing R&B. Dennis Brown used to sing R&B, that’s how they were influenced. Dancehall reggae, that’s where we’re at right now. Everything is alright. That what’s up!

BLU: Does Voicemail have any rituals?

Voicemail: We pray, nothing beats that, heavenly Father praise us first before we do anything. Voicemail aim is bigger than anything we achieve so far. It’s not as easy as everyone thinks. It has a whole lot of evil in it; you have to be really strong. All of us have the same aim and that what keep up together. Prayer most def. Big up to Tek-9.

BLU: What can we expect from Voicemail in the 2006?

Voicemail: Voicemail not going to change anything. We’re going to continue what we’re doing. We love what we’re doing and we keep our hearts clean and fans happy. Irie television has a thing that we are going to schools and promote safe sex. AIDS Awareness. The AIDS epidemic is taking over the Caribbean.

Thank You for taking the time to talk to us.

This has been another Bashment Link Up Interview. Keeping you up-to-the-time in Dancehall.