Check out Surforeggae's interview with the Minas Gerais band Rasta Joint!

 First of all, I would like to congratulate you on the excellent work the band has been doing, and to say that it is a pleasure to be able to interview you. The first question is: How long has Rasta Joint been on the road?
Bulldog: I would like to thank you for the compliments and the opportunity, and send a shout-out to the reggae nation that follows Surforeggae and Rasta Joint. Well, Rasta Joint will complete 9 years on the road in November.
Charlin: Since '93.

 Who chose the name Rasta Joint? What was the inspiration?
Bulldog: When we envisioned the band, myself and two other members who are no longer with us, we played reggae as well as funk by Jorge Ben, Tim Maia — influences we brought from Rio de Janeiro (the three of us are cariocas). That way we wanted to highlight RJ in the band's name. After a year, the band began to become conscious and dive headfirst into reggae, take it seriously, and that's when we discovered the true meaning of the name: a gathering, a meeting of Rastas, a Rasta Joint.

 Has the band lineup been the same from the beginning, or have there been changes?
Charlin: There have been several changes. The band was formed in Viçosa, a university town here in the interior of Minas Gerais. People come to study and earn a degree; then they go to work or continue studying elsewhere. That way, various drummers, keyboardists, backing vocalists, guitarists, percussionists, the horn section... have passed through. From the first lineup, only Bulldog and I remain.
Bulldog: From the original lineup only Charlin and I remain, but Fernanda and Claudião have been with us for over 5 years.

 At your shows, there is a strong vibe from the crowd. We associate that with the fact that you talk a lot about God, worship music and such. And we notice you speak a lot about Jah. In reggae, as with Bob Marley himself, there is a strong presence of Rastafarianism in the music. How do you view Rastafarianism?
Bulldog: The vibe at our show comes from our experience in reggae — we don't play out of trend, we truly live reggae. Charlin's stage presence also helps a lot; it's a privilege for us to have him as our vocalist. As for Rastafarianism, I deeply respect it despite not following it. Reggae wouldn't be what we know without Rastafarianism. Before, reggae spoke of love, and with Rastafarianism, reggae became devotional and political, becoming the voice of the periphery, just as the hip hop movement is today in Brazil.
Charlin: I see it as the religion of a people that has its own way of life, beliefs and habits. I don't practice it, but I admire it greatly, as it cherishes freedom and peace, keeps a people's roots alive and fights Babylon.
Fernandinha: One of the paths to spiritual evolution.

 Tell us a bit about Rasta Joint's first CD. How long ago was it released, how many copies have been sold?Bulldog: It was a very memorable experience, because we did it ourselves and managed to make something out of nothing. For me especially, as the album's producer, it was very rewarding. I even consider it a groundbreaking CD: We were the first to use sitar and tamboura (Indian instruments) in reggae, samples, dubs, an interactive track... Later I saw other bands using them and felt gratified. The CD was released in December '99 and about 4,000 official copies have been sold. Pirates...

 What is the forecast for starting the next project? And do you already have some songs ready?
Bulldog: We've already started the composition phase for the new project, but there's no release date yet. Maybe by the end of this year.
Charlin: The next project is being carefully developed. As I mentioned, lineup changes are frequent and that affects us. We have songs ready, but it's very important to keep composing.

 Where does the inspiration for the songs come from?
Charlin: From daily life, from the struggle, from nature, from Jah.
Bulldog: From our everyday life, from our country's political and social situation, and from Jah who always inspires us.
Fernandinha: From within, from the void.

 Any label proposal or will you remain independent? 
Bulldog: We've already received proposals from some labels, but none came through. I believe that with advances in technology, today it's much easier to record a CD. I myself have a home studio where we plan to record our next project. Nowadays the biggest difficulty we face is CD distribution — getting the CD to the audience. Maybe that's why we've only sold 4,000 copies despite knowing that piracy and mp3 already have far more than that. But I think that's part of it; I don't think our CD has to sell in American stores — the work isn't aimed at that.
Charlin: We remain independent until an interesting proposal comes along.

 What's your opinion on what happened at Tributo?
Charlin: There was an invasion by the reggae crowd and the venue wasn't big enough for so many people. Tickets ran out, others were forged, and the police somehow made things worse. Everything fell apart.
Bulldog: I think it was indicative of what reggae can (or cannot) become — pop music and media fodder. I know there were many true reggae fans there, but there were also many people drawn in by the event's media coverage who wanted to be part of a big festival. I think it got out of the organizers' control; it was the first mega reggae event in the country, and that's where you could see how reggae has been growing in Brazil.

 Still on Tributo, the so-called "mainstream media," which never showed up to help at any point, took advantage of the chaos and was opportunistic in speaking badly about the event. Even Gugu showed images of the conflict between the public and military police on his show. How do you view reggae's entry into the mainstream media?
Charlin: I believe the mainstream media is fake, dishonest and afraid of reggae music's joy. It doesn't deserve reggae.
Bulldog: I find it somewhat dangerous, for several reasons: The media can destroy cultural movements, as it did with Black Music, the Hippies, the Punks, among others; The media serves the great enslaving machine that has been installed in Brazil for 500 years; Mass promotion leads to the emergence of many reggae bands, most without content, without commitment to reggae culture and the movement, singing "marley, oi oi oi, ganja, Jah...", and those are the ones the media picks up, because they're politically weaker and easier to seduce and manipulate, they say anything on TV and radio, ridicule the movement and it loses strength, bringing down years of struggle and awareness by bands and people fighting for a greater cause. Honestly, I prefer "anonymity."
Obs: I'm not saying new and genuine talents aren't emerging; I can mention Unidade Punho Forte (RJ), Jahcareggae (DF), etc...

 What do you think of Brazilian reggae and reggae in Brazil?
Charlin: I think Brazilian reggae is very good. We have excellent bands like Edson Gomes e Cão de Raça, Tribo de Jah, Cidade Negra, Walking Lions, Unidade Punho Forte and various others out there or emerging at every moment, proposing to make genuine reggae. As for reggae in Brazil, I think it's being heard and spread more and more. There's still a lot to conquer, but Brazil is a country that has received reggae very well. We have artists like Gilberto Gil, A Cor do Som, Luis Melodia etc., who use this rhythm very well.
Bulldog: Reggae arrived in Brazil the right way, with the music, culture, customs, and thus identified with the Brazilian people, because of content very close to our reality. But nowadays I see the emergence of "university reggae" just as happened with forró, stripping a whole culture, customs, content, to become a youthful musical style, serving the media, collaborating with the system. I believe in genuine Brazilian reggae, committed, conscious, with Brazilian musical influences, as Edson Gomes and some others do.
Fernandinha: I think that like all musical styles, there are many good and genuine things. I think it could be a great vehicle for awareness, prayer and spreading positive energy.

 To wrap up, we'd like you to leave a positive message for the fans who enjoy Rasta Joint's work and visit Surforeggae, of course... lol!
Charlin: To all of you who visit Surforeggae and enjoy Rasta Joint's work and all the bands out there, committed to Jah's message, a big hug and stay in PEACE. 
Bulldog: Always seek more information about reggae and about the truth of our history; inform yourselves so you won't be puppets of the system — we don't deserve that. Reggae is transformative music and a way of life, a direct channel with the Creator, a voice against the system, a return to our origins. May the Peace of Jah always be with you.