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local Thursday 2 March 2023

Jair Dijkhoff ‘Casper’:

“Aruba needs to unite in music, support
each other, show respect and show love”

(Oranjestad)—He is a of 13 or 14, he joined the dio Jam Artist of Carnaval
young man whose talent brass band, which became at Roadjam.
in the last few months sur- a part of his life to this day. “I always loved soca and
passed expectations when At 20 years old, he volun- it’s one of my favorite music
he made both young and teered in different activities genre, and this crazy idea
old dance to the phrase in order to build a base to became a reality thanks
“Feeling good…feel- do many things. He cur- to my Mighty Campo ta
ing nice”. Our reporter rently works at WEB in the helped me: Sergio Barros,
sat down with Jair Dijkhof Receipt Department. Jeronim Lampe, Hubert
‘Casper’, the king of Aruba Thiel,” he said.
Caiso and Soca Monarch He further told our reporter
2023, Winner of Roadjam that he joined the radio When he got up on stage
2023 and artist of the year industry, where he hosts a for the first time to perform
according to several me- radio program called “Jai- the song that everyone
dia outlets. goo’s Groovyhour” from now asks radios to play, Jair
5pm to 7pm every day. In expressed that he felt very
Jair Dijkhof, better known 2022, he decided to partic- nervous: “My heart was
as Casper, is a young man ipate in the biggest a music beating out of my chest,
raised in several neighbor- event on the island, which but once I got on stage
hoods in Tanki Leendert, was the “Caiso and Soca and saw the audience, my
Noord, Madiki and Dakota. Monarch”. It is here that nerves went away and I
From a very young age, his origin story in the soca got real excited.”
Casper started his singing world started. This year, he When Jair won the win-
career. Then he played won the honorary titles of ning title at the Caiso and
baseball and by the age Rockie of the year and Ra- Soca Monarch, there were
certain opinions that noted and it doesn’t faze me, be- from him again this year:
that Caiso and Soca is a cause I don’t focus on the “We will be releasing two
genre of San Nicolas. This negative, but the positive.” or three new songs this year
caused uproar online and Moreover, he affirmed that God willing.”
certain people in media young people have more
even addressed this. of a chance now to “ex- To finalize, Jair would like
About this topic, Jair had pand our carnaval and to relay his message: “In
this to say: “I got a lot of Caiso and Soca Monarch. order to keep supporting
criticism from big-named I don’t think we should tear each other, show respect,
people known at San Nico- each other down, but Aru- show love—not to just ex-
las that see me winning ba needs to unite in music; pand our carnaval, but our
as bad, but everyone has we can accomplish bigger culture too, I hope to see
their opinions. I respect ev- things instead of criticizing more young people willing
eryone and I will keep the each other.” to achieve their dreams in
same charisma and love life, or to chase any cra-
for everyone, as well as the Now that the carnaval sea- zy idea they may have. I
respect for different opin- son has passed, Jair informs hope to see a united and
ions. They have the right to that he will be pursuing blessed Aruba, with many
make their own decisions other projects in mind and successes in the future for
and to express themselves, that people will be hearing everyone.”q