EXCLUSIVE! Surforeggae team interviews Englishman Pato Banton, one of the most acclaimed reggae singers in the world!

Maintaining the tradition, the Surforeggae Team represented by Rafael Costa, was present at another unique moment. It is with pleasure that I describe here moments lived last Thursday, January 8, 2004. We managed to go very far. We recorded from Pato Banton's arrival at Salvador International Airport (video), to the rehearsal that took place in a city studio, with a backing band that was a true gathering of highly professional and selected musicians, such as members of the exceptional band Red Meditations. But it did not stop there. It was still possible to record an EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with Pato Banton for Surforeggae, talking about very interesting subjects with which he showed much wisdom and confidence. Below is the interview given by Pato Banton after the rehearsal that lasted approximately four hours.

THE INTERVIEW

 Rafael: Pato, how do you feel in Brazil? How do you see the vibrations of the Brazilian people? Pato Banton: I love Brazil. I think Brazil is one of the best places in the world, and the people's vibrations here are very good, people are warm. Very good expressions, very warm.  Rafael: We know you have been in Brazil several times. Is there any city in Brazil that reminds you of your country? Pato Banton: Any city in Brazil that reminds me of England? Maybe Curitiba, and also some parts of São Paulo. But I think the one that reminds me the most is Curitiba, because the temperature in winter, just like England, is quite low. It gets very cold.  Rafael: Could you tell us something about the image of Brazilian Reggae abroad? Do you know Brazilian bands? Which ones? Pato Banton: Yes, I know Tribo de Jah, Cidade Negra, Natiruts, Dread Lion, and others. The impression outside Brazil is that there is good music, good production, good roots. There are many excellent roots reggae bands here. I think the most famous is perhaps Cidade Negra. Many people listen to Brazilian Reggae. There is a lot of quality music here.  Rafael: Could you define what style of Reggae you make today? Pato Banton: I think that now, on my most recent album, “Life Is a Miracle”, I made a mix perhaps of Hip-Hop, with Reggae Roots and a bit of Ragga. But from now on, I am walking back to Reggae Roots. My next album will be very Roots.  Rafael: We like that a lot around here. Pato Banton: Laughs  Rafael: What do you think about the legalization of “Marijuana”? Pato Banton: I think marijuana is an herb, a natural resource of our planet. And it has many possible uses: for fuels, paper, in medicine, food, it is a very good resource. And it is very easy to grow in a hot country like Brazil, so I think it should be legal for everyone, so that everyone could learn about this plant. I think that sometimes the Government thinks that “marijuana” is only for “smoking and meditating”. Yes, marijuana is for “smoking and meditating”, but beyond that it has many other resources, and that is why I think “marijuana” should be legalized.  Rafael: When did you record your first hit? Tell us a little about how you started. Pato Banton: My beginning was with my father, he was a DJ. He had a Sound System(better known as Radiola in Brazil), I was only 8 years old and helped him carry records, speaker boxes, so I grew up and started being a DJ and grabbing the microphone, singing, in short facing music in a more serious way. Then I began to do several parties, and people said: Pato, grab the microphone... And when I grabbed the microphone and sang everyone got very excited. From that, several people came to me and told me that my future was in music, that I should think very seriously about it. I never faced music as a business, I love music and I only think about growing and growing, and continuing to record the songs that I like so much.  Rafael: Do you like the fusion that new generation artists are doing? Pato Banton: Yes, I like it. There are many different styles in music, and I think music must always change, because each generation is different... different vibrations, different melodies. So, the music for the next generation will be different. I think the music of now is good for this generation.  Rafael: We know you have a project in Birmingham that consists of giving opportunities to children who want to get involved with music. Are we about to have any revelation of Reggae that you are monitoring and teaching? Pato Banton: Yes. In England, I work with Education in a big School of Music, and I have my own Studios, two studios, so I work with a lot of new people. We have many good.... we have a new guy called “Glamah”.... “Glamah Wayne”, he is an excellent artist, and we also have a girl, “Iasmine Aleksandra”, very good roots singer... jazz – reggae, good combination... and much more, much more, in the future the promise is of very good artists. Laughs...  Rafael: Do you follow any Religion? Which one? Pato Banton: I do not follow any Religious Institution. I believe in Jesus Christ, and I follow Christ, you know? But I do not follow Christianity, because there is a lot of Human Philosophy, so I follow Christ, and his words, that is my life.  Rafael: Please, send a message to your fans in Brazil and all over the world. Pato Banton: My message to people is that for me, we are all a family, and God is our creator, the world has many problems, so now we need to be closer to God, the closer we are to Him, the more we will love people, and that for me is the most important. One God, one people.  Rafael: Thank you very much for the interview, we hope you have a great stay in Brazil, and that you come back many and many times, right? Pato Banton: Always! Maximum Respect, blessings.  Acknowledgments: Pato Banton, Geraldo Carvalho, Red Meditation, Milan.

EVENT IMAGES

 Click here to see the interview photos.