Exclusive interview with DAMIAN MARLEY! Everything about Bob Marley’s most original son

Few artists who are children of great legends of music or the arts manage to step out of the shadow and the comfort zone built by their parent – Damian Marley is undoubtedly one of those names. With a singular musicality and a unique, unmistakable style, he has built over the years an unquestionable career that began when he was still very young. Although he did not spend much time with his father, the great Robert Nesta Marley, Damian absorbed his message very well and knew how, within that context, to bring fresh ideas, becoming one of the most successful artists in international reggae and in the style known as World Music. It was with this music powerhouse that we had the opportunity to conduct an exclusive phone interview, in which he was very receptive and answered our questions without rushing, showing genuine affection for his fans in Brazil. Damian Marley and his magnificent band will be here performing shows in São Paulo (Espaço das Américas, March 19) and Rio de Janeiro (Cidade das Artes, March 20). Check out the interview!

THE INTERVIEW

Surforeggae: Well, Damian, first of all I would like to thank you for this opportunity and say that it is great to be in touch with you as a long-time reggae fan and also as a media professional focused on the genre. We have prepared some questions – are you ready? Damian Marley: Yes, Rafael! Thank you very much! I am ready! (smiling) Surforeggae: You were a teenager when your career began. What changed in your personality as an artist from that time to today? Did you ever at any point in your life think about pursuing a career other than singing/musician? Damian Marley: Yes, you know, I have a beard now, I have a son now, I have grown up and I am a man. I went from being a teenager to being a man, so many things changed in my life. Adulthood, responsibility, independence as a person – many significant things happened and here I am 20 years later. Outside the context of music I became interested in a few other things but never went further. At one point in my life I became very interested in Architecture and I am also a big boxing fan and there was a time when I would have liked to be a boxer (laughs). But I truly believe that if I were not an artist, I would still be involved in music in some way. Surforeggae: You blend a range of styles in your music and have recorded various collaborations with other artists such as Skrilexx, Nas, Bruno Mars and Mick Jagger. Do you believe that exposing yourself to the fans of those other musical styles helps reggae and your music go further? Damian Marley: Yes, absolutely! It helps because you are introduced to the fans of those other artists who do not necessarily know reggae or your music. I am someone who listens to many other styles of music and I really enjoy many of them. And in my case, the collaborations I do are first and foremost about liking other styles and wanting to express my creativity within them and with those artists I am a fan of. That comes first for me – I do not see winning new fans as the most important thing in those combinations. Surforeggae: Do you intend or have you ever thought about recording a strictly roots reggae album with the Wailers, for example, as your father did? And what is your relationship with your father's musical partners? Damian Marley: Yes, I have thought about recording a strictly roots album, but not with the Wailers – with my own musicians. I have a great deal of respect for the Wailers, because you know, they built the soundtrack of my father's career. I admire them greatly and respect them for the contribution they made to my family and to my father. Surforeggae: Reggae is very strong in Brazil and it is the music that brings the most international artists to the country. Since you have been here before, what are the main similarities and differences you noticed between Brazil and Jamaica? Damian Marley: Well, I have been to Brazil three times before. I think the biggest difference is the language and obviously the size. Brazil is enormous compared to Jamaica and when you go to cities like São Paulo, it is like being in New York. Jamaica has a deeply rooted culture and there is a very strong sense of nationality – people are truly proud to be Jamaican. Brazil also has its own culture and, like Jamaica, it has a major African influence and there are many common traits among the people, not only in appearance but in the way they behave as well. Brazil also has its ghettos that are quite similar to those in Jamaica. Surforeggae: What do you have to say to people who continue to discriminate against Reggae and Rasta? Damian Marley: Get over it! (smiling a lot) Get over it! I honestly do not have much to say to those people – I prefer to speak to the people who love what I do and embrace the cause, those things. Surforeggae: Do you know anything about Brazilian music or some bands? Is there any artist you would like to record a song with? Damian Marley: I am not familiar enough to tell you right now the specific name of an artist I would love to record with. But I had a great experience with Brazilian music. The last time I was there we were filming scenes for the music video of "Affairs of the Heart" and I would not have done that in Brazil if I did not like the vibe of the music, the dance, carnival and the celebration. So I had that experience with original Brazilian music. And Brazilian music reminds me a lot of music from Jamaica and the Caribbean, from places like Trinidad and others. Surforeggae: Your most recent song and music video "Is it worth it" addresses the reality of many people, especially in poor communities. Violence and corruption are some of the most serious problems here in Brazil and I know it is the same in Jamaica. What do you think people need to do to overcome these problems? Damian Marley: The first thing is to educate yourself – you have a responsibility to yourself as a person, so educate yourself. I say people should travel and have other experiences. For those people, waking up every day and living with those bad experiences around them makes them feel defeated and bad. It is important for the youth in those communities to realize that there are other options outside of them. One of my father's lyrics says "When one door closes, another opens" – so you need to knock on those doors, you cannot be knocking on the same door every day, you need to travel. I think we have to be responsible and take the lead on these things. Do not wait for the government to do it, because they never do! So let us take that responsibility upon ourselves. Surforeggae: Damian, I would like to thank you and ask you to leave a message for your fans connected here on Surforeggae and to invite everyone to your shows in Brazil. Thank you very much! Damian Marley: Yeah man! This one goes out to all of you – I will be in Brazil soon and I am very excited. I always love being there, I know the Brazilian people love reggae and it is always great. I hope to see everyone at the shows to have fun and take care, take care of yourselves until we meet. Jah bless you. Rastafari! Surforeggae: Thank you once again and I hope you enjoy your stay here and I hope you come more often, right? Damian Marley: Thank you very much! (laughs). Respect!