Multi-talented performer and music producer Bryan “Benny-Demus” Boulai has been the nucleus of the Virgin Islands music collective that has helped to craft the current sound of the region with the likes of Verse Simmonds, Pressure Busspipe and current Grammy award-winner Theron Thomas, half of the superstar brother duo R. City. Yellow Cedar correspondent Kwaniqua Monsanto caught up with Boulai in Dubai while on tour with mega-star Akon. After serving as Akon’s DJ and tour creative director for 21 years, his eclectic and captivating stage presence has become a fan favorite to thousands of fans worldwide. The legendary showman who was recently awarded the “Keys to the City” for his continued service as a Virgin Islands ambassador, discusses his Frydenhoj upbringing, tour life and love for crosswords puzzles among other things.
1. Where are you right now and where are you headed?
Right now I’m in Dubai with Akon. I first went to India for the Cherry Blossom Festival in Meghalaya, India then flew to Abu Dhabi to get on a cruise ship for a day to perform for an Indian wedding (they rented out the whole Ship for this wedding) and then we docked into Dubai so we could catch our flight to Kuala Lumpur for our next show. It’s been a whirlwind, needless to say, but we’ve been touring the world for the past 21yrs straight so it’s all part of what we do.
2. Where on St. Thomas are you from and what was it like growing up?
I’m from a neighborhood named, Frydenhoj. That’s F-R-Y-D-E-N-H-O-J…..I know alotta people don’t know how to spell it so I always make sure I spell it out for them. Growing up there was amazing for me. As a kid I would venture off into the woods in the back of my house just exploring for hours, climbing trees, having cookouts, playing in the gutter when it rained really hard and the gutter water flowed. I didn’t know playing in gutter water was frowned upon in other places, for me and my friends on Gold Hill in Frydenhoj, this is where we went to dream and explore. I learned how to DJ in Frydenhoj, I learned how to play the Saxophone in Frydenhoj, I learned how to Break Dance in Frydenhoj, I broke my virginity in Frydenhoj.
By the time I got to Junior High School at B.C.B. I was already a very popular kid for all the things I had already accomplished, being Carnival Prince, being a DJ, a dancer, dressed really fresh, became Mr. Benetton and eventually “Benny-Demus” as I’m known more so as today, but it all came from life growing up in Frydenhoj. Man I love that place, anytime I get the chance to fly back to the Virgin Islands I try to drive out there on the basketball court and remember my times growing up there.
3. Frydenhoj is historically considered to be a tough area to grow up. How did you avoid getting caught up in the wrong crowd?
Well, I don’t think I avoided the wrong crowd, not by a little bit. I was deeply into the “Wrong Crowd”. I was into everything my crew was into, but I think I just always had a different way of thinking about it, going about it, so when some of my friends wanted to do things blindly, I would come up with a plan of execution and get things done. I was always a thinker. I loved crossword puzzles, I loved putting puzzles together with my younger sister so I was always thinking of how things should go verses just doing things blindly, so although I was doing most of the same things my friends were doing, I was just a bit more cautious and calculated in my approach. Two things can happen at the same time. I could follow my crew, but I could also make up my own mind to how I wanted to go about doing things, but yeah, I did my fair share of dirt growing up in Frydenhoj, I think I just knew when to stop or when to slow down or when to go in another direction by thinking a bit more about what the outcome would or could lead to.
4. Was there someone outside of your immediate family that played a role in inspiring you to become the star you are?
My best friend, Leonard Mills, is the one that got me into playing the saxophone so I always credit him for that. My older brother Francis, is who taught me how to DJ but my inspiration to do more with DJing came from four different DJs, all indirectly. DJ Pete of Deathzone and DJ Commodore from Tortola were the first two. As a kid, every Carnival season DJ Pete would be set up and playing Hip-Hop, R&B and dance music in Emancipation Garden. That was my favorite place to be, to see some of the island’s best dancers and to see DJ Pete DJing as smoothly as he did. It was extremely captivating and inspiring to be watching all of this, I was a sponge soaking it all in.
And then DJ Commodore use to put out these mixtapes and blow my mind. I didn’t understand how he was able to have 4 different records all being blended at the same time. Keep in mind, back then I only was able to hear this on a cassette tape, so my imagination had to figure out the process of what I was hearing. He was so good at what he was doing. I later on found out he was using a four track machine to make his mixes, but it really was cool trying to mimic what I heard him doing.
The next DJ is Funk Master Flex in New York. I first heard him on the radio in the summer of 1994 when I had a stint in the Bronx. I would listen to him on the radio doing mixes, scratching and talking. I wanted to be just as good or better – that was really inspiring for me.
And lastly, DJ Poppy Pops. I met Poppy Pops at Insomnia Night Club where I was the opening DJ along with Tony T. We opened for Poppy Pops who would fly over from St. Croix to DJ on Friday and Saturday nights. When I found out that the owner, Louis Turnbull, would fly DJ Pops to St. Thomas, put him in a hotel, pick him up to bring him to the club and he got paid for all of that, I was like wow, there are different levels to this. Here is someone that’s DJing just like I am, but they paid for him to be here. I wanted that, so I started trying to learn the business of all of that which led me to the man I am today.
5. Theron Thomas of Rock City recently won the Grammy for Song Writer of the Year. He’s the first Black man to earn the distinction. You are critical in his success as a mentor. Why is it important for VI creatives and Virgin Islanders to support each other?
Well first of all I want to say that even without me being in Theron Thomas’ life he would have still won that award. The guy is truly amazing and I’m extremely lucky to say we are friends, best friends, colleagues and more.
I think we pushed each other to be better at what we did. Our musical crew is Benny-Demus, Theron and Timothy Thomas, Verse Simmonds and Pressure Busspipe. Imagine all five of us were a crew on St. Thomas and all five of us made very big moves in our lives and careers. It happened by us always pushing each other. Yes we did help each other to get into other situations, but we pushed each other to do and be better every single day. The cool part is how close we all are still up to this day. A win for any one of us is a win for all of us. Applaud your friends, push for them to get more opportunities. There is enough for everyone. Some people feel like if I don’t get into the door first then nobody else can make it. That’s not true. Sometimes your role was to hold the door open so everyone else can get in. Yes the door closed once they got in and you were left outside, but be happy that your friend or friends got in. Another time someone else will be holding the door open for you to get in, and when you do, come back for your friends. That’s how this thing goes.
6. You’ve been a VI Ambassador before the term was ever popularized. How does it feel to be awarded Keys to the City?
Honestly it’s all surreal. Getting the Key To The City in my mind is the highest honor your territory can bestow on you. This means your community has seen and recognizes your impact. This is not an award to be taken lightly, because it tells everyone that this person has done some extraordinary things to be here. I am humbled. I’ve never been the guy throughout my career to gloat on what I have done or who I have done things for. I cherish the relationships I’ve built throughout my career and I value time and recognition. It means so much to me to get phone calls or to go have lunch or dinner with people that just want to pick my brain about how they can get better in their own careers or how they should go about a certain thing. Remember when I spoke about me always being a thinker, now I understand how important that was because now I can give that knowledge to others. I do that type of stuff in the background, not seen, not awarded, not spoken about publicly, so when my community did actually see the things I’ve done and feel the need to reward me with an award of recognition for those things I’ve done, I’m really happy about that. And the fact that my wife, my kids, my mom, my brother, and my friends can all be here to see it happen – all I can say is thank you to my community.
7. What would you tell a young Virgin Islander who wants to make an impact beyond these island shores like you did?
Stay dedicated. Study. Watch what you say to someone today, because you never know where that person will be a year from now. Someone mopping floors today can be the GM next year, it happens that fast sometimes, so be careful how you treat other people you deem to be below you, and please for the life of me, study your craft. Try your best to be the best at what you do.
8. Did you ever dream that your talent would take you this far?
Absolutely not!! I had no idea when I first started DJing that any of this could happen. Like I said, when I learned that DJ Poppy Pops was being accommodated for DJing the way he was, it clicked for me, I knew there were other levels to it, but I didn’t think there was the level I’ve been able to get to. I have been around the world and back so many times. I’m telling my friends about different countries they’re just thinking about visiting, I probably have been there five or more times. I’ve been able to be on TV shows, Award shows and in movies. I’ve played basketball with National teams in different countries, met with Presidents, Ambassadors, global superstars, given advice to people you wouldn’t believe me if I told you. I could have never dreamed about any of this, because I never knew any of this existed. I’ve lived an amazing life.
9. What would you say is the biggest road block and obstacle to attaining success?
Yourself. I’ve seen so many people either doubt themselves so much that they can’t move forward and I’ve seen so many people change for the worst after achieving a small bit of success and it stops them dead in their tracks to getting to the next level. I think people themselves are their own biggest obstacle – not knowing how to adapt or be so great at what they do that people have no choice, but to give in to them. Don’t let yourself be your biggest obstacle.
10. You’ve been giving back to the VI for years with events like your annual Kick Ball tournament. What’s next for Benny Demus?
Yes I absolutely love giving back to my community. I created The DEMUS Foundation as a way to make sure that I can help and inspire others to help and inspire. Helping to elevate your community or your team is what this thing is really all about.
Next up for Benny-Demus is……
Leave a Reply