Bud is best known in Soca music circles for his 1998 hit Mad Ah Bad Man. Since then the talented Reggae songwriter and performer has periodically dabbled in Soca, which resulted in hits like Fire Me Yup and Wine For Me on the Soca Bluetooth Riddim.

SN: You are known to the public as Bud, but what name were you given at birth and where were you born?

Bud: My name is Wayne Ramsay and I was born in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

SN: How would you describe yourself?

Bud: I would describe myself as a simple, not too complicated person that loves music too death.

SN: What is your favourite dish?

Bud: Ackee, Saltfish and dumpling.

SN: When not working, what do you do for relaxation?

Bud: Write music, play practical jokes on others.

SN: What is your worst nightmare?

Bud: My worst nightmare is not being able to work on my music (knock on wood).

SN: What is the most embarrassing experience that you have ever had?

Bud: Beginning my singing career as a young youth, I forgot the words to a song while everyone stared at me waiting.

SN: If you leave the country you are currently living in, where would you go to live and why?

Bud: I would go back to Jamaica to live with my family because they have a strong foundation when it comes to business and I’m all about working.

SN: How do you see the Soca industry in the year 2010?

Bud: I can see the Soca Industry doing more songs pertaining to the world issues as opposed to everything being all about festival. Don’t get me wrong, I do see those advancements currently but it would be on a greater scale in the future.

SN: How important is technology for you as an artist? What do you use to communicate with your fans? (e.g. Blog, myspace, hi5, email etc)

Bud: Technology is the vehicle for music to be heard and it cuts the work load of bringing music to people in half. I communicate with my fans via myspace and email.

SN: How long have you been singing?

Bud: Professionally, I have been singing for 15 years.

SN: What/Who are your musical influences?

Bud: My music influences come from people that have talent in the music business and that doesn’t mean you have to be a veteran to be relevant but if your talent hits me it encourages me to do more great music. My other influences are issues going on my life and community and the pretty women, of course.

SN: What do you think you bring to the industry?

Bud: I bring genuine talent, inspiration to people that appreciate good music and excitement. I was the youngest Jamaican artist to crossover into the Soca genre of music as a singer, so I helped artists of other islands too see that it is possible break down barriers.

SN: What would you like your musical legacy to be?

Bud: I would like my musical legacy to be a singer that cares about what he does and a singer that

SN: How does singing/performing in front of a crowd feel?

Bud: Performing in front of a crowd makes me feel as if I am the King of all Kings.

SN: How do you choose the songs you sing?

Bud: I sing a song based on what kind of benefit it can have on someone else’s life.

SN: Out of all the tracks you have ever recorded, what would you say is your favourite?

Bud: One of my favorite songs ever recorded is titled “Cry”.

SN: How do you approach composing a song and where do the ideas come from? Do you write with anyone in particular or use a particular writer? Why?

Bud: I begin by writing the chorus first because I feel like that foundation of the song and what people will remember if they forget the words of the verse. My song ideas come from everyday life. I usually write my own songs but when I collaborate with another writer I mainly work with Marlon “Sock-It” Clarke.

SN: Do you think music has the power to influence everyday life and events?

Bud: Music is based on everyday life and events…..Music is the fruit of life and it has been proven time and time again that people can sympathize with music to get through their difficult and happy times.

SN: There has been an increase in soca videos over the last 5 years. Do you feel that it is imperative for an artiste to have a video?

Bud: Yes, it is imperative for an artist to have a video because it is a way for the public to see you if they don’t know what you look like and get a vibe of who you are. Videos also help to express words in a creative way.

SN: Can you describe the process of turning your songs into a video? Do you have a lot of input?

Bud: I try not to be a jack of all trades, so I develop a concept and meet with a video director and listen to his/her input on how to express the music in the form of action.

SN: What do you think of piracy? Help or hindrance?

Bud: Piracy kills the money that the artist would have earned from records sales.