Where did the name Bambu Station come from?
Before I even started a production entity & band, I wanted to find a name that captured the essence of what I was thinking and feeling. I thought and vibed on many names but when I got to Bambú Station, it made sense and the energy was right. Bambú was my nickname as an infant given to me by one of my Aunts. For me it represented starting at my own root, my origin, so it was a vibe to affirm the music that is core to my heart and my passion to present it to the people. Bambú also infers the Bamboo plant that is strong yet pliable, adjusting to pressure when it has to. It is used to build, cut, shelter, feed and provide balance so it gave substance and meaning to the word and hence the band. “Station” refers to an entity which transmits and in the band’s case, it would be used to transmit messages and information to the people via many means. Records, cds, film, poetry and just sharing. While it is a rootical entity in the reggae tradition, Bambú Station strives to produce and perform good music regardless of genre so the name cannot be pigeon-holed too easy.
What made you decide to pursue music?
It was a respect and acknowledgement that this is part of my life’s journey. To offer my life experiences in song and to help others through the inner and outer challenges that we face as people. It got to a point where I couldn’t function in a 9 to 5 job, songs would be running through my head and I had to write them down. I would walk down the street singing at the top of my lungs as ideas filled my head. It was just vibes and “vibes is everything…” Not growing up with my father or really knowing his substance and that side of my family, I didn’t grow up around musicians. I grew up listening to music on radio and records. As an adult I came to learn of the many talented musicians and singers on my father’s side. Everyone sings! Everyone! Blew me away. So I reflect now and realize I had no choice, it really in man bloodline deep and acknowledging it has shifted my life into full purpose and great clarity.
Which artists influence your music?
Artists that have impacted me greatly as a youth have been The Wailers (Bob, Peter & Bunny), Jacob Miller, Mutabaruka, Third World, The Last Poets and Steel Pulse, Roots Radics, and Earth, Wind & Fire. There is more for sure, but that is just a sample. More recent influences in my adulthood have been, Augustus Pablo, Public Enemy, Lauryn Hill, Sarah McLachlan, Sade, Midnite, Tuff Lion, Buju Banton and Phil “Pix” Merchant to name a few. I respect a lot of what these artists have done, or how they did it. Some I have worked with, some we reasoned, others I was drawn to their substance. Sade and Sarah McLachlan are some intense writers for ones being in the pop and commercial field at the level they are at. “Girl you are rich, even with nothing… you know tenderness comes from pain…” Penetrating lyrics for me, but you wouldn’t think Sade right, but to me, that is the majority of her vibes, substance. Ones like Tuff Lion and Phil Merchant are amazing musicians whose reasonings with me and tasteful application of their skills helps me to appreciate the mantra, “less is more.” So these are a few of the more recent influences, but for sure there are more, easily.
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Describe your music style.
My music style is whatever feels good to me. It could be what is called Reggae, R&B, Soul, etc. I compose on inspiration, I don’t sit down to compose a song. If it ain’t on my mind, I don’t compose really. As far as writing songs same way. For the most part, most of the lyrics are about positive energy, positive things and what I view as helpful songs. Overall, it’s filled with clarity of thought and music that makes you feel one way or the other, no in between. The style is meditative. Most times we use a lot of frequencies that help ones to be reflective, but we are not limited to that because there is a range of emotions to deal with. Lots of percussion from mainly African origin. I guess I can say natural sounds because we want to imitate life in our sound so that is can be related to. It’s simple really, vibes, keep it simple.
What message do you try to advocate in your music?
Yea advocacy is a must in these times. Can’t sit back and linger so we advocate a lot of messages of responsibility, conviction, purpose, passion. They are all common themes with me. I do write with the purpose of informing, inspiring, motivating and helping others to rid themselves of misery, oppression, abuse etc. That is my advocacy and it always finds it way to the youths. As a youth, a lot of people looked out for me. My peers, my elders, even strangers, helped me to stay out of big trouble and problems and see to it that I had a chance to do something with my life so that’s why much of what I do and aim to do is an effort to give youths a chance to live and love. Mindful, aware or ignorant, there is a spiritual war going on, and everyone is on the battlefield whether they know it or not. A lot of youths, by the time they come to a strong realization, a lot of opportunities have passed them by and we feel defeated or overwhelmed so we settle for ‘gabbage’ and mediocrity and failure is common to us, our companion. Ones can sit back and criticize easily. Suck their teeth or just ignore what’s going on, but it ain’t about any political party, governor, president or policy, it is about what is important to us and what we are willing to do. What are we willing to give. What are we willing to speak up for. It sounds simple, but many of us are silent and so our communities are basically reeling constantly. Economics is used to divide us, keep us struggling and competing against each other, we too tired to have time to meditate and discern things. We are living concrete lives on an island, out of touch with the pulse and balance of the earth so guess what, we constantly reeling. So advocacy is a must in these times. I would love to write pure love songs, happy songs, but that ain’t our reality. We are at war with a system, reeling from the infrastructures, mentalities and constructs that colonialism, despotism and racism put into play and so advocacy, yes is a muuuust. In 2004 I created the Bambú Station Foundation to help me facilitate efforts in helping youth in our VI community and around the world. It is still growing to a place that it can assist in greater ways, but it is an attempt to make the music more involved and focused and committed. Advocacy is a must, this is how man live, how man write.
What goes into creating a song/album?
For the most part, the musicians get together and start jamming and whatever spirit comes forward that is impacting we roll with. As the principal songwriter, I vibes on what we are playing and the abundant feeling end up being the direction the album goes in. I also write a lot on my own, composing music and writing songs and then introduce them to the band to see what they vibe. There have been tunes I didn’t feel strong about, but when the musicians dealt with it, it came out in a powerful spirit. It’s always been about collaborating for me because that’s my strength. Discovering the greatness of others and letting them flow, getting out of their way. I can create an album of all of my ideas but that hasn’t appealed to me much as yet. Maybe a project with all my ideas is in the future, but for now, working with some of the greatest talent in the VI has blessed my spirit and life to date and the vibes of the Bambú Station.
Because of your positive and uplifting messages most consider you a role model, what advice would you give up and coming artists?
Practice. Practice. Practice. Learn the business of your business. Learn to read, learn to write. Be honest. I repeat these same things because they are huge in helping artists to enjoy what they are doing and to become successful. There is no magic formula, it requires work, timing, work, luck, work, faith, work, courage, work, tears, work, talent and finding your niche. If you do something, there is someone that will like what you do, the thing is to find those people that like what you do and let them know you exist and where to find you. The internet helps greatly and there are so many ways to get your products out to market.
Who would you say paved the way for you?
Well in 1979, Ras Abijah released the reggae album, “Ras Abijah vs The Beast” and since then, there has been many vocalists and bands doing things, but with the timing of technology to record yourself in big studio quality, Midnite was able to open some doors to the world after ones got to hear their music and Rasta penetration. As people’s ears were piqued, they wondered from where this band come, and then they find a barrage of action bubbling in our little isles from Mt. Nebo Records and IGrade Records, Sound Vizion Records and SPM Records. Lots of music from these humble studios and entities putting forward some of the most penetrating music to come through this genre of roots music in decades. So now the world all over is taking notice and the big boys now coming through to take of our fruit and present through their means and sound, but it’s all blessed because one thing with the spirit of the V.I., the positive energy is maximum among the artists. More heights to come, this ain’t no event, this is a tradition in itself. Watch our youths in 15 – 20 years armed with the knowledge and ability of ones before. Check it.
“We are the Bambú Station broadcasting live…and signing off, until then. Jah bless”
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