An honest conversation on growth, purpose, and building a life in music
Shelly Alfred has been on stage for most of his life. From competing in Junior Calypso Monarch at 12 to forming Signal Band as a teenager, music has always followed him, even when he did not see it as a career. Over the years, he has grown significantly, moving through calypso and bouyon while building a name across Dominica and all over the Caribbean. In this interview, Shelly speaks honestly about the early days, the lessons along the way, the people who believed in him, and what lies ahead.
You started competing in Junior Calypso Monarch at age 12. Did you ever imagine that music was going to be your sole career?
No. In my teenage years, I was a scholar, and my career dreams shifted many times throughout my educational journey. It was really based on the activities and subjects I enjoyed at any given time. When I enjoyed my science classes, I saw myself becoming a doctor; when I enjoyed being in the debate club, I saw myself becoming a politician; and, somewhere towards the end of high school, I was fascinated by design and how buildings came together, and saw myself becoming an Architect.
In the end, music was the only constant – the thing I always enjoyed but never saw as a career path. I know it is because of the Caribbean stigma that a job in music and the arts is not a “real” job – plus, I was excelling academically, so the only thing I, and the people around me, saw was the traditional path of graduating and finding the best 9-5. One of the first people who believed in music being my sole career is Jerlani, my best friend from high school to now, who is currently the Manager of Signal Band.
At 14, you formed Signal Band. Can you tell us the story of how this band was formed and why?
The story of Signal Band’s formation can be traced back to the summer of 2010, when most of us were in high school. An older peer and schoolmate, Mosiah Challenger, suggested that we form a band. At that time, a few of us used to hang out on the porch of my childhood home in Goodwill, Dominica, just drumming on the table and singing. Mosiah used his connections, made arrangements for a band house and connected us with other musicians. The journey started off pretty random, to be honest. I would be lying if I said there was much more purpose beyond just spending the summer days doing something interesting with peers, but looking back, I can say that great things can indeed come from unexpected places.
What was the first song the band performed, and what do you remember most about that very first show?
I remember all summer we would show up and rehearse classic Soca songs religiously. Pump Me Up, All Aboard, Wet Me by Krosfyah, Nah Going Home by Biggie Ire, Wrong Name (Kim) by TC, and Balance Batty by WCK, to name a few. Towards the end of the summer, we started to explore some originals until our very first show at the end of August.
Which Signal Band song marked the moment when you realised the group was truly taking off, and why do you think it connected so strongly with audiences?
Two songs did that: firstly, Ani Ba Yo Love, which dominated every single radio station and household daily – it was our domestic breakthrough. This song resonated with audiences because the topic did.
This was post-Hurricane Maria and the message of unconditional love was needed. The tempo was slower than the average Bouyon sound of the day, matching the emotion. The other breakthrough song was On My Way (Side Life) and this one really did the regional damage. The topic was relatable, the melodies were infectious and familiar. This was the springboard for Shelly & Signal Band’s touring of the Caribbean.
Signal Band has grown with you over the years. How has leading the band helped your growth in the music industry?
It’s all one; leadership and growth go hand in hand. Leading the band has made me realise that every great team needs not only one, but a team of good leaders – this is what gives Signal the edge as a high-performing unit. There needs to be vision, direction, and motivation, fostering an environment where everyone feels empowered, connected, and accountable.
After finding success in calypso, you moved into bouyon. What told you the
timing was right for that diversion, and what motivated it?
The change happened at a time when Signal started thinking beyond the band, and towards the “brand.” The brand’s growth called for a reputable image – I spent the first 3-4 years as the band’s rhythm guitarist and was motivated to step up and lead alongside our vocalists at the time. By that time, I was already a crowd favourite from my success with junior calypso and was familiar with the front of the stage. Bouyon, at that time, was heavily consumed by chanting and sexualised lyrics (even prior to the Nasty Business era), so, after some reluctance, I said, hey, this may be the moment to be light that I want to see. I came into Bouyon wanting to be the messenger of relatable lyrics, the singer of infectious melodies, and the performer who connects with the audience beyond the beat.
You have worked with many artists across different spaces. What collaboration will you say was the biggest for you?
I value all collaborations, and working with different artists brings out a different element of creativity each time. Every experience is different, but I do agree that some of the songs do better than others, as with solo singles. Based on performance and analytics, RAGS, with Trilla-G and Skinny Fabulous, is up there.
The 3 December was six years since your father’s passing, and you honoured him through performance. Without reopening painful moments, is there a core memory of him that has influenced your music career up to date?
My father made some early investments in my music career, such as purchasing my first electric guitar and being instrumental in my first regional performance in St. Thomas. He was also the biggest PR personnel I ever had; he told EVERYBODY about his son, Shelly – the calypsonian, the guitarist, the singer.
You performed three times on the UberSoca Cruise. How did those performances expand your audience and your confidence as an artist?
UberSoca Cruise was a great experience, it was definitely a great environment to connect with the wider Caribbean diaspora. I noticed it was especially important for them to put a face to the name. They know some of the songs and had a genuine “oh, he sings that?” moment seeing me perform. Thanks to Farmer Nappy and Trilla-G for bringing me on their sets for those two other performances.
The Cooking Kompa remix with Farmer Nappy and Band North has been gaining attention. Why this collaboration?
The Farmer Nappy collab was a long time coming. I’ve wanted a Farmer Nappy collab for a while. Signal Band hired Farmer in 2018 for our signature carnival J’Ouvert troupe, Lumi-Nation. But the timing was right now – I’ve been doing a lot more intentional singing in Creole and this was a perfect opportunity to execute that.
Even without speaking Creole fluently. How were you able to deliver the song so naturally, & was it difficult to sing in that language without second-guessing your pronunciation?
My single just before, Le i Bon, with French artist Krys, and this Cooking Kompa remix made it clear to me that I was able to sing Creole better than I can speak it. Ha! But I have been consciously learning the language. Dominica is one of the few Caribbean islands in this unique space of English-speaking/Creole-speaking. It’s part of our culture, and I would hate to move forward with my career not being able to sing or speak Creole fluently.
On 28 March 2026, you will be part of the Bouyon Invasion Trilla G birthday celebrations at The Twilight Lounge, marking your first performance in Canada. What does this moment mean to you, and what should fans expect?
I’ve been looking forward to performing in Canada. Inquiries have come in, but never worked with the schedule. I know this one is going to be special for the fans, and once it’s special for them, it’s special for me. They have had to stomach the view of the Shelly/Signal effect in other countries via social media. Canada – I’m ready to give you your turn!
While pursuing your Master’s degree in Architecture, how did you balance academic life with recording, touring, and live shows?
Looking back, this segment of my journey feels very fictitious. I don’t even understand in detail how I did it. Architecture school was very demanding; yet, I still made time to do the work and do the music. I know it wasn’t time management (I’m not that good at it), but I do know the end goal was to get these degrees out the way while not allowing them forget who Shelly was, keeping the Signal alive.
If you aren’t doing music, what do you do?
Just making a conscious effort to catch up on other life-things. Most workdays come with a sense of disconnection from family, loved ones, and myself. So I use that time to be Sheldon again – catch up, watch TV, go out and have a craved meal, play video games, do a fun indoor/outdoor activity.
Looking ahead, what do you hope the next five years bring for your music & career?
Not the “hope,” but the “plan” for the next five years is to keep building a scalable career. This will mainly involve getting the music and the brand into new territories, rooms, and markets. What I really hope for is that my team and I are able to remain open-minded enough to gauge when we have countered one market and when it’s time to expand and scale. This will bring true success and fulfilment.
Are there any new songs we should look out for, or any new collaborations?
Always working so sure! Just stay tuned.
KEEP IN TOUCH WITH SHELLY & SIGNAL BAND:
Follow Shelly on Instagram @shelly_alfred, Facebook OfficialShellyShelly.
Follow Signal Band on YouTube Shelly & Signal Band, Instagram @signal_band and Facebook Signal Band.
