Less than two years after an advantageous rebrand, Infusion XL now sits at the top of Anguilla's band scene. À la their latest album, the band has indeed leveled up after sweeping Bandclash for the second time in a row and securing their first-ever Road March win during Anguilla Summer Festival 2017. Here, they reflect on their early feats as a team, the weight of their trophies in the face of their history as underdogs, and why the real work starts now.
From the time we started, we were winners. If we had given up, we wouldn't be.
Kamoi "Wiggy" Carty
Shanice Davis: What was the driving force behind the merge between Infusion Band and The Band X?
Kamoi "Wiggy" Carty (Vocalist & Drum Machine): It was a long time coming. We've known each other from separate bands, and it was a vibe we were looking to create for a while so once the opportunity presented itself, we ran with it.
Darren "Biggest" Hamilton (Keyboardist): We always worked together. We worked out of the same studio, so we've helped each other with music and shared ideas in the past, so it was a family from the beginning. It was in the making for a long time, and we just decided that this could work and finally pulled our members together to make one big team that could dominate Anguilla. It's a really, really good team. In 2016, we took over Bandclash. We were a big Road March contender last year and in 2017, we took the whole shish kabob (laughs). Wiggy and Prick are two of the best in Anguilla right now in terms of producing. I think we're a force to be reckoned with, and you can't stop us.
Take us back to your first year as Infusion XL. You secured four trophies when you were just getting started in the 2016 season. Why do you think that was possible?
Biggest: The musicians in both bands had a lot of experience beforehand, and we had already worked with each other so we knew how to gel with each other, so it was more like upgrading from a cubicle to an office. You have a bigger computer, but it's the same work. We're running with two hard drives--Prick and Wiggy--and a lot of RAM (laughs).
Quinson "Biggz" Gumbs (Guitarist): We were all a bit skeptical trying to make sure that everything fit. We didn't want to just put this together and hope for the best, so we still had a few kinks to work out as a team, but after the first year we were seamless. We knew each other's sound, we knew what we wanted to accomplish, and everything started to fit together perfectly as if we had been together for years.
Kamoi "Wiggy" Carty (Vocalist & Drum Machine): It was a long time coming. We've known each other from separate bands, and it was a vibe we were looking to create for a while so once the opportunity presented itself, we ran with it.
Darren "Biggest" Hamilton (Keyboardist): We always worked together. We worked out of the same studio, so we've helped each other with music and shared ideas in the past, so it was a family from the beginning. It was in the making for a long time, and we just decided that this could work and finally pulled our members together to make one big team that could dominate Anguilla. It's a really, really good team. In 2016, we took over Bandclash. We were a big Road March contender last year and in 2017, we took the whole shish kabob (laughs). Wiggy and Prick are two of the best in Anguilla right now in terms of producing. I think we're a force to be reckoned with, and you can't stop us.
Take us back to your first year as Infusion XL. You secured four trophies when you were just getting started in the 2016 season. Why do you think that was possible?
Biggest: The musicians in both bands had a lot of experience beforehand, and we had already worked with each other so we knew how to gel with each other, so it was more like upgrading from a cubicle to an office. You have a bigger computer, but it's the same work. We're running with two hard drives--Prick and Wiggy--and a lot of RAM (laughs).
Quinson "Biggz" Gumbs (Guitarist): We were all a bit skeptical trying to make sure that everything fit. We didn't want to just put this together and hope for the best, so we still had a few kinks to work out as a team, but after the first year we were seamless. We knew each other's sound, we knew what we wanted to accomplish, and everything started to fit together perfectly as if we had been together for years.
Your 2017 album is titled Levels Up. How would you say you've grown as a band since last year's Rehab?
Biggz: For lyrics, we turned to a lot more people who've been there and done that in terms of winning road marches and other crowns for guidance with writing. Our approach to the stage also changed. We took more control of our performances this year, and we didn't just rely on the hype of the moment or the crowd, and I think the judges saw that as well.
Casey "KC" Reid (Vocalist): We've grown a lot. From last year to now, we gained a better understanding of the music. We have the ideas in our heads, and we just go get it.
It's been a decade since Infusion Band's debut album and just one year since Infusion XL's first project. How does it feel to now be Road March champions?
Wiggy: It feels great, but everybody in this band has been a winner from day one. From the time we started, we were winners. If we had given up, we wouldn't be. From day one to the crowning, it feels very good. Exceptionally welcoming. It's like being in a palace. We're well recognized now. People know you. People see you. They did before, but not like they do now. We're liking it.
Biggz: For lyrics, we turned to a lot more people who've been there and done that in terms of winning road marches and other crowns for guidance with writing. Our approach to the stage also changed. We took more control of our performances this year, and we didn't just rely on the hype of the moment or the crowd, and I think the judges saw that as well.
Casey "KC" Reid (Vocalist): We've grown a lot. From last year to now, we gained a better understanding of the music. We have the ideas in our heads, and we just go get it.
It's been a decade since Infusion Band's debut album and just one year since Infusion XL's first project. How does it feel to now be Road March champions?
Wiggy: It feels great, but everybody in this band has been a winner from day one. From the time we started, we were winners. If we had given up, we wouldn't be. From day one to the crowning, it feels very good. Exceptionally welcoming. It's like being in a palace. We're well recognized now. People know you. People see you. They did before, but not like they do now. We're liking it.
"Over Here" is the record behind the big win. What was the studio session for that fan favorite like?
Wiggy: In terms of singing it, I had some hiccups because I didn't do the writing. I had to get the melody right, and when you're working with Daddy Prick, you have to say every word clearly. Sometimes you get vexed throughout the process, but it was pretty much mas doing this track. Mas.
It goes without saying that you turned some doubters into believers this year, but have you ever perceived yourselves as the underdogs of Anguilla's band scene at any point in your journey?
Wiggy: All the time. Still do.
Kerwyn "Prick" Goddard (Keyboardist & Drum Machine): We have been for quite a while. The ranking system, street wise and respect wise, is an obstacle here in Anguilla. The fanbase is very hard to come by. It's a very small place. Regardless of the Road March, we'll still get looked at as the underdogs to some extent, but we still get respect from people who've grown with us over the years. It feels good to win Road March, but it was more of a history thing for me because for the past few years, it's either been Pantha Vibes International or Exodus HD. Us having a clean sweep and winning Road March is like a whole turnover for Anguilla right now. We made history, and that's something no one can take away from us. We've been striving this year, and the results were expected.
Wiggy: In terms of singing it, I had some hiccups because I didn't do the writing. I had to get the melody right, and when you're working with Daddy Prick, you have to say every word clearly. Sometimes you get vexed throughout the process, but it was pretty much mas doing this track. Mas.
It goes without saying that you turned some doubters into believers this year, but have you ever perceived yourselves as the underdogs of Anguilla's band scene at any point in your journey?
Wiggy: All the time. Still do.
Kerwyn "Prick" Goddard (Keyboardist & Drum Machine): We have been for quite a while. The ranking system, street wise and respect wise, is an obstacle here in Anguilla. The fanbase is very hard to come by. It's a very small place. Regardless of the Road March, we'll still get looked at as the underdogs to some extent, but we still get respect from people who've grown with us over the years. It feels good to win Road March, but it was more of a history thing for me because for the past few years, it's either been Pantha Vibes International or Exodus HD. Us having a clean sweep and winning Road March is like a whole turnover for Anguilla right now. We made history, and that's something no one can take away from us. We've been striving this year, and the results were expected.
Now that the crown is yours, what's the vision for Infusion XL in the year ahead?
Prick: Saving the culture. For the past couple of years, Anguilla has tended to compare itself to other islands that don't always recognize us, so I want to put more emphasis on our culture through the music.
Biggest: The work just started. We were working towards getting Road March, so getting it was more of an accomplishment than excitement for me. I know next year is going to be worse for us because we have to defend every trophy in our bucket and everybody's going to be after us like ants on sugar. 2018 is going to be a lot of work for us. I'm hoping we'll be able to travel a bit and take the music outside of Anguilla as well. We look forward to defending our titles next year, and we ain't losing nothing. I'm telling you from now.
Alright now. Speak it into existence. Any message for your fans before we close?
Wiggy: Thank you guys for supporting us throughout the years. We look forward to your support in 2018 and onwards. Keep sharing the music. Once you have it, get it out. It's levels up with us. We over here. From Infusion XL, we love you guys.
Prick: Saving the culture. For the past couple of years, Anguilla has tended to compare itself to other islands that don't always recognize us, so I want to put more emphasis on our culture through the music.
Biggest: The work just started. We were working towards getting Road March, so getting it was more of an accomplishment than excitement for me. I know next year is going to be worse for us because we have to defend every trophy in our bucket and everybody's going to be after us like ants on sugar. 2018 is going to be a lot of work for us. I'm hoping we'll be able to travel a bit and take the music outside of Anguilla as well. We look forward to defending our titles next year, and we ain't losing nothing. I'm telling you from now.
Alright now. Speak it into existence. Any message for your fans before we close?
Wiggy: Thank you guys for supporting us throughout the years. We look forward to your support in 2018 and onwards. Keep sharing the music. Once you have it, get it out. It's levels up with us. We over here. From Infusion XL, we love you guys.
Follow Infusion XL:
Facebook: Infusion XL
Instagram: @infusion264
Twitter: @infusionaxa
Soundcloud: InfusionXL
YouTube: Infusion XL
Purchase Levels Up here.
Facebook: Infusion XL
Instagram: @infusion264
Twitter: @infusionaxa
Soundcloud: InfusionXL
YouTube: Infusion XL
Purchase Levels Up here.
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