Ziggy Marley swaps reggae for pop on his first solo album!

He is an animal. But he is currently going through a process of ambulatory metamorphosis. "I would like to be a dragonfly."

The words are Ziggy Marley's, who was born the son of a big fish and goes around dreaming of having wings. The most famous heir of Bob Marley (who had 11 "official" children) releases in May his first solo album and well accompanied. It is called "Dragonfly" and has two surprises: almost no reggae and no Melody Makers (the group that has accompanied him since the start of his career and is made up of Ziggy and three of his brothers). Instead of family, the album features names from beyond reggae, such as Flea and John Frusciante, of Red Hot Chili Peppers. In other words, there is plenty of news in Jamaica's skies.

"This album is like a personal adventure, I don't want to be tied to anything" - says Ziggy, speaking (between long pauses to think) by phone from Miami. "I've matured a lot and I want to broaden my horizons. I haven't forgotten reggae, I just showed where my roots come from. I just wanted to be true to myself."

The title track has an ecological message. This story of being true to oneself is described in one of the best songs on the album, the delicious bubblegum pop "True to myself", which could very well be on an Eagle Eye Cherry or Ben Harper album. Produced by Ziggy and the "outsiders" Scott Litt (who has worked with R.E.M.) and Ross Hogart (who produced Metallica albums), "Dragonfly" shows the prodigal heir of the Marley family spreading his wings toward soul, r&b and pop. It is a good album to consume stretched out on the couch and also recommended as an anti-stress remedy on the walkman or car radio. Besides the two Red Hot Chili Pepers members, the album also has as guests the veteran American musician David Lindley and DJ Chris Kilmore, who usually plays with the metal band Incubus.

"It was great working with people from other areas, with other points of view. What united us was the passion for music. And Flea loves reggae" he says, before joking and singing snippets of "Give it away", by the Peppers. Real reggae on "Dragonfly" only lightly, in the song "Shalom salaam", which calls for peace in the Middle East and pokes at the open wounds of a world led by an emperor who seems to have stepped out of the pages of "Mad" magazine.

"Peace is all we want. Living in fear is not living. It is not possible to export or cultivate fear as a way of life. We have to live in peace, regardless of our religions."

In another song, "In the name of God", Ziggy goes deeper into the subject: he criticizes the improper use of His name ("In the name of God you kill/In the name of God you conquer") and, radicalizing, even calls for the end of all religions. It is not clear whether he includes there the end of the Rastafari sect as well, of which he is a fervent adherent, as was his father.

"Of course this song can be addressed to George W. Bush and any other politician who uses religion to foment war" he protests. "What divides us is this illusion that one religion is better than another."

Speaking (badly) of wars, how does Ziggy think father Bob would react if he were alive, witnessing yet another conflict? "He would sing his song "War" and say, as in the lyrics, that "Until the philosophy which holds one race superior to another is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned, everywhere is war."

Back to the album, the title track shows Ziggy fighting on another front, the ecological one. The green "Dragonfly" has lyrics written from the point of view... of a dragonfly, flying around and seeing the damage caused by man. "It is a vision of animals about us, human beings" he explains. "They become intelligent and we become unthinking animals, which is not far from reality. In fact, the song is about ecology, but it is also about equality. We are all children of the same creator." For the "Dragonfly" tour, Ziggy Marley will fly around the world without the Melody Makers and accompanied by a band that, according to him, is still being formed.

"I'm gathering a new generation of Jamaican musicians and some guests" - he says. "Just as it was good to record the album with musicians from other areas, it will be cool to tour with new people. That broadens the mind." Before hanging up the phone and flying off to another interview, the dragonfly-man sighs a little and says:

"We need peace."