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Multi-hyphenate creative Craig Parks, better known as ‘Leftside’, or as his really good alter ego, ‘Dr Evil’, continues to live his best life, whether in or out of the studio. With music in his DNA, it’s not surprising that he became interested in playing the drums from an early age, and later stepped from behind the drum set to perform on stage as one half of the duo, Leftside and Esco, and also as Dr Evil. Additionally, as the owner of Keep Left Records, his production credits are long and impressive. This week, 5 Questions With ... managed to grab Leftside – although there were some jitters along the journey – for a quick sit-down.
1. As the son of the legendary Lloyd Parkes, was it a given that you would follow in your father’s musical footsteps?
Being the son of Lloyd Parkes, where the music is concerned I would say it’s a destiny thing. He just got up one day and saw me playing the drums. There was no pressure at all it was just something I was destined to do. And likewise my siblings. We couldn’t escape it even if we wanted to.
2. You were first introduced as a drummer, but since then you’ve mastered many other facets of the music business. What aspect do you enjoy best?
It’s kinda hard to say which one I prefer because I used to play sound as well. Everybody knows that Leftside and Esco started off as selectors. And, playing at parties and dance allowed us to see the kind of music that people like and the vibe. So that did kinda help me in producing the beats that get the people moving and dancing. It also helped in songwriting. When you talk about preference, you talk about what offers you satisfaction, and I get satisfaction from all of them. Being a producer, writing songs for other people and seeing it work, it’s the same satisfaction I get from me producing my own songs, writing the lyrics and singing them.
3. How did you get the name ‘Leftside’, and will ‘Dr Evil’ ever be resurrected?
I got the name Leftside from the late Arif Cooper. When I used to play on Syndicate, I was very technical with the turntables with scratching and doing some very technical stuff with my left hand only and Arif saw me. He taught me how to do some of those technical stuff and he saw me doing it with one hand only; so big up to Arif. Where the Dr Evil character is concerned, bwoy I have been getting so much requests from fans saying that they want back Dr Evil. Wayne Marshall and I did a performance at ‘Frinally’ in April and when I draw the Dr Evil song dem it was over. We looking into do some stuff with that alter ego.
4. You have a new collab with Sean Paul titled ‘Tek Yuh Time’ that is getting traction. How did this come about? And tell us a little about your history with Sean Paul and your music moves for this year.
That’s actually single from my album out now titled Gemini. I made the beat for the song and I was listening to it and seh ‘Yow, Sean woulda sound good on this and I sent it to him’. Sean and I go way way back in the day, from Stage One album. I used to be his DJ at one point on his shows; I used to play his tracks for him. Everybody know that we have good music and good chemistry. And every song that we have done has been a major success. I’m just going to continue putting out good music representing the authentic dancehall culture that the world loves. Keep doing collabs with overseas producers from all over Europe, in the Latin community, and just spreading dancehall globally.
5. What would you say have been your three greatest musical accomplishments so far?
I would say my first official song Tuck in yuh Belly that went number one and that was unexpected. It went number one in Trinidad, England, all over the place. Second is doing music with Sean Paul cause is a youth who mi rate from long time. So being able to get a song with him is one of the greatest accomplishments. Finally, me get a song with Bounty, not just producing , but performing. Bad Chick everybody can check that out.
BRAWTA:
What would people be surprised to know about Leftside, and tell us five songs on your playlist.
This is something that is going to be surprising to people. Over all of these years people didn’t know that Leftside is a twin. I have a twin sister her name is Rochelle Parkes. Top five songs on my playlist are Heat – Chris Brown, Ghetto Gal Wine – Leftside ... there’s a remix out now with Charly Black; Gimme di Light – Sean Paul; Rise to the Occasion – Sizzla Kalonji, and Jammin’ – Bob Marley.
English (US) ·