Read the interview with Semente da Paz, one of the leading bands of the new Bahia reggae generation!

The band Semente da Paz is currently considered one of the great forces of the new generation of Bahian and Brazilian Reggae. This prominence has earned strong praise from the media and the public, as well as appearances at major events alongside other national and international acts in the Bahian capital. In this interview, a relaxed conversation with Daniel Pontual, one of the leaders and vocalists of the group.

THE INTERVIEW

 João Carlos - Greetings Daniel, first of all, I would like to congratulate you on the great work the band has been doing, and say it is a pleasure to interview you. To begin with, I would like you to introduce each member of Semente da Paz and their roles in the group. Daniel Pontual: Me, on vocals and guitar, Mário Marauak also on vocals and guitar, Paulo Semente on bass, Jardel Cruz on percussion, Vicente de Jesus on drums, Milan Gordilho on lead guitar, and Gel Fyah on piano. João Carlos - What is the group's mission? Daniel Pontual: To bring the word of Jah Rastafari to the public through reggae music. We are a small portion of seeds spread around the world, capable of bearing fruit under perfect conditions to take root and live on, carrying forward the natural essence of life, to play and to touch people. João Carlos - What is your relationship with Rastafari culture? Daniel Pontual: Yes, we are rastas. Groundation (rooted) in the primitive Ethiopian Orthodox Christian culture, nyabinghi as the mother cell, in service to His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I Jah Rastafari I. João Carlos - How would you define the band? How do you define the type of reggae you make? Daniel Pontual: We are a reggae band, historically connected to the style, playing from 60s Ska to today's New Roots. So we draw inspiration from the entire evolution of the rhythm, with many branches inside one single culture; we navigate roots, rockers, rocksteady, raggamuffin, dancehall with the intention of always recreating. In the heartbeat, nyabinghi pulses life. João Carlos - Tell us about the evolution you see in Semente da Paz from the first days compared to your work today. Daniel Pontual: Like a green plant seedling that grows a little every day. Our steps in reggae music have transformed over time. Because we started playing while still young (at 18 years old in 2001), we had our limitations; the energy was always pulsing with positive vibrations and the message committed to God's word, but still limited because it was only the beginning. Researching and studying both music and the historical periods of society, we broke our limitations and started to recreate and go further, only to discover new limitations in the end. In truth, Semente da Paz started by playing roots reggae because it was the only and all information we had. Through the internet, we gained access to many sources, giving us the chance to learn the full history of the rhythm; that was when we opened our ears to new beats and played harmony in a new groove such as ragga, rockers, and new roots, which is what we are currently working on, but still and always connected to roots. Today I see the seed as a tree ready to bear its fruits, whether 30, 60 or even 100. João Carlos - Who writes the band's lyrics and songs? Daniel Pontual: Original and authored songs recreated by Semente da Paz. The compositions are written by me and Mário Marauak, and each songwriter performs his own song. João Carlos - Where does the inspiration for the songs come from? Daniel Pontual: We believe that because we experience the manifestation of Jah in our lives day by day, our inspiration comes from deep within our hearts. We are students of Christ's gospel; the lyrics portray social, political and religious problems in our society, both in the past and today, bringing the people words of comfort and hope for a just life. João Carlos - Do you think the audience understands who Jah is and what He represents? Daniel Pontual: Yes, the audience and anyone can confess and acknowledge the higher existence, but not everyone is conscious of His essence. Yet His representation as a just and merciful father prevails. João Carlos - You already have an album released. How do you evaluate this work? Daniel Pontual: "Fogo Fogo", produced at WR Estúdios by Marcelo Oliveira, our partner, brings us strong expectations in the professional music scene. We are confident in this work, believing in the evolution of reggae music and its great productions, with the presence of international artists. With danceable songs and striking lyrics in their popular language, we hope to reach the people in mass. João Carlos - The CD "Fogo Fogo" seems to have been a major achievement. What else is coming next in terms of future projects? Is anything already planned? Daniel Pontual: We are going to start a new project for a scene that is beginning and growing a lot here in Salvador. This new album will be a format we will work with in the city's nights, known as Sound System, where instrumental beats are accompanied by an improvised flow from singers and MCs. On this album we will sing new lyrics on circuit tracks, called Riddim. João Carlos - What do you think about the reggae movement in Bahia? Daniel Pontual: It has had highs and lows; I believe we are living through a moment of growth. We are having a good opportunity to see that this is the style that brings the most international artists to the state. João Carlos - What do you have to say about the project to unify the alternative movement happening in Salvador? Daniel Pontual: The idea is that it would really work like a cooperative, where members would build an alternative professional circuit. Since small events give us the investment for a single work, we invite and are invited by the movement bands that come together in this project as special guests; this way we are always present at events. João Carlos - What is still missing for you to reach success at national level? Daniel Pontual: Time, it is all a matter of time. Aware that merit is above any desire, we wait patiently, Selah. João Carlos - The internet has become a strong weapon for promoting small bands. As they grow disproportionately, they forget basic foundations such as good recording, rehearsals, etc. What do you think about that? Daniel Pontual: Like natural selection in wildlife, those who are not fit to survive in this sea of possibilities will be devoured. Everyone now has the opportunity, but how will you draw their attention? We are living a transition moment: the defeat of record labels and freedom for artists, the end of propaganda dictatorship and the beginning of a new era of promotion. Everyone can be seen, everyone can see you, on websites, in short. The evolution of communication allows us an action never experienced before. While we are still adapting, "they squeeze the orange down to the pit and fry the pig in its own fat", vocabulary used by businessmen (laughs). João Carlos - Lately there have been major collaborations among reggae artists and producers. Do you plan to record with other names from Brazil or internationally? Daniel Pontual: Truly I say to you that I want to "draw out our own sound" in our studio; we have not yet thought about recording with international artists, but we are always recording with local artists such as Ministério Público Sistema de Som, Ras Ital, Ras Diego, Moa anbesa, Nova Aliança, Red Meditation and others, but we are still in the lab preparing a new formula. Stay tuned! João Carlos - Do you think there are incentives for the rise of an independent musician in Brazil? Daniel Pontual: How will your competitor finance his business? At the very least you will weaken yourself and offer him partnership. João Carlos - What is your opinion about some reggae groups using a more religious, social and political discourse, while on the other side bands talk only about surfing, beach and love stories? Daniel Pontual: A bait, a great bait. Whoever hears the word in the house of David will not return to Babylon. May they bring more and more surfers and romantics, because we are too, so that they hear the song of King David's court, Selah. João Carlos - What do you think about piracy? Crime or just another "versatile way" of promotion? Daniel Pontual: It is a shame that these humble and honest workers, worthy of their sweat, are taking less bread home. Technology advances devouring everything! Figure it out my people, in your own way, survive, Selah. João Carlos - What do you believe can be done for reggae to reach more people? Even though it is popular worldwide, the rhythm is still heavily discriminated against. Daniel Pontual: Legalize marijuana, it is the future as Marley said, "rasta is the future"; soon, very soon, authorities will approve legalization, but as repression of possession is still active in society, we are intimidated and discriminated against. Until it is legalized, we will not be accepted. João Carlos - It was a pleasure exchanging this idea with you. Thank you for the interview, and we truly wish you much luck and success; we hope to see you performing for big audiences. The space is all yours to leave a message. Daniel Pontual: I would like to congratulate Rafael Costa and all of you who make Surforeggae happen, excellent communication work and direct information to the reggae audience. This initiative to archive and document the Brazilian and international movement will leave us a historical legacy. I believe we will still reap the effects of this work, which already brings us fruits. Information and culture to the people. The message I leave to everyone is: please, do not forget, the cure is love.

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