It was a night of celebration for a genre that had helped to propel Lucian Carnival into the huge attraction that it has become —Dennery Segment.
D’Vibes, a concept of the Carnival Planning and Management Committee (CPMC), brought together the biggest players, past and present, on one stage at the National Cultural Centre on Wednesday. It also celebrated fallen pioneers like producer G-6, Messi and Drizzy.
One man who was present on the night to receive his flowers for his role in promoting Dennery Segment far and wide was DJ Cleus.
MC Scady, Moto and other performers praised his contributions. St Lucia Times spoke with the DJ following his set, about his journey and his passion for Dennery Segment.
“I have been in the business for almost 30 years playing all genres of music, but I also love to promote what is Saint Lucian,” Cleus informs us. “From the time Dennery Segment came out, I immediately felt the beat and thought that this was something that would move people. I have always believed that once the beat and the rhythms have a vibe and move people, then that’s a good thing,” he says.
Breaking barriers for rural artistes
According to Cleus, he received a lot of push back at the start for playing Dennery Segment, known for raw and sometimes crude lyrics and blend of English and Saint Lucian Kweyol.
“They almost fired me already for playing Dennery Segment on the radio.
When I used to play on some of the carnival trucks in the past, some of the band leaders used to caution me about playing it too. Yet I still kept on playing it and the people got into it.”
The DJ feels that artistes back then faced discrimination because many of them were from rural communities and ghettos.
“Despite all the backchat I would receive, I remember playing songs in the early days by Blackboy, Freezy, Marthelly, Subance. I was the first person to start playing their songs on radio,” he recalls.
Cleus revealed that the first Dennery Segment song he played was Buy Gas by Exodus which was released more than 15 years ago. That song is the inspiration behind one of the popular Dennery Segment songs for 2025, The Car by Dezral.
Cleus says that over the years, he has not only promoted Dennery Segment by playing their music, but also offered a platform at some of his own events.
Ambassador for Lucian music
For him, it has always been about putting country first. “When I started as a DJ, I travelled to participate in competitions and winning competitions all over – London, Barbados, Tortola, St Kitts and of course Saint Lucia. And everywhere I went, it was not just about me but promoting Saint Lucia and bigging up my country,” he says.
Cleus quickly became one of the most travelled DJs and a household name among the diaspora particularly in London, the New York City tri-state area and Toronto.
He says he is happy with the growth of the art form in Saint Lucia as DJs are now recognised as entertainers. Once quite shy when it came to using the microphone, he says that this is a skill he was forced to develop to keep up.
During this carnival season and in general the veteran DJ is encouraging others to play more of what is ours.
“During the carnival season, I do not think we play enough of our own music, both old and new. When you look at Dominica, they play strictly Bouyon during their carnival and I think we have enough of our own music here to do the same,” Cleus says.
He rejects claims that Dennery Segment is fading, noting strong demand abroad.
However, he stresses that artists need more opportunities and airplay.
Closing with gratitude, he thanked CPMC for D’Vibes and hopes it becomes an annual fixture, ensuring the genre’s legacy continues to thrive.
