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Alborosie Interview
Reggae | Wednesday 16th November 2011 | Osh
Italian reggae artist Alborosiere began his career way back in 1993, now almost two decades and six albums later he’s started to mix things up, combining his unique Reggae sound with Latin and Hip Hop...
How are you? How has been the year so far you?
I am good, I am in Jamaica. The year has been good so far but I feel like it’s just started as I’ve got so much to do in front of me.
Tell us about Alborosie and Friends, and why this album is so hard to find?
Yeah well it was just a limited edition album with my friends and me, you know to bring something different on the road with us.
You are promoting your new album 2 Times Revolution. Tell us more about the title and the concept please?
Well I called it ‘2 Times Revolution’ because if the revolution doesn’t happen the first time it will happen the second time. It’s a Reggae album with a bit of other styles such as Latin music or Hip-Hop music but mostly Reggae - it’s an Alborosie album.
Has the events in the past six months especially in North Africa & in the Middle East ever inspired your music?
Not really because my revolution is more pacifist, non-violent but in a way it was good to see what happened in some of these countries, it was their time.
I really like the first single Respect with Junior Reid. Do you think that Reggae has to be mixed with Hip-Hop to gain airplay?
No because Hip-Hop is not my style but there is nothing wrong with doing one Hip-Hop song, Hip-Hop comes from Reggae, you remember the Jamaicans in NY city, back in the days so nothing wrong with a bit of Hip-Hop mixed with Reggae and as long as the message doesn’t change.
Your first line “Forget about the teaching, promote the bleaching” seems to be addressed to Vybz Kartel?
Well yes and no, I refer to the original message of Marcus Garvey, years ago he was promoting the opposite of what they are promoting now, the world has changed and took a weird direction.
Another one of my favourite tracks is ‘International Drama.’ Tell us more about this track?
Well on this one I am a storyteller, it’s the story of a lot of Italians, they left Italy & ended in the USA and you know...the mafia...It’s a story.
Could you tell us about where you come from?
Where I’m from it’s like in the song ‘International Drama.’ I can’t talk too much about it...
‘La Revolucion’ sounds different - it reminds me a bit of Manu Chao - do you listen to his music?
Not really I went to the source when I travelled in Mexico, Costa Rica and many other places I connect with this music, Manu Chao probably did the same, I mixed it with the dancehall and this song was born.
Did you produce everything yourself on the album and how do you start a song?
Yes I did most of it and I called a few musicians to help me but I did most of it myself. There is no rule the way I start a song it’s either I build a nice riddim and I write a song on it or the next morning I wake up with a melody and I create a riddim for it.
You also produced for other artists - could you tell us whom you’ve been working with recently?
Well it’s always with the vibe; I did a project with the Tamlin, Boom Boom Vibration some young artists from Italy, a dub album & some work with Sandy Smith, which is also on my album. I am getting a lot of calls to work on some different projects but with my schedule it’s very hard.
Your album called 2 Times Revolution - the revolution needs to start in Italy and change your prime minister - What’s the plan?
I started longtime - you remember, ‘Escape from Babylon’ - there was a song about Berlusconi, it’s your time to join me.
What’s next for Alborosie?
A world tour.
How are you? How has been the year so far you?
I am good, I am in Jamaica. The year has been good so far but I feel like it’s just started as I’ve got so much to do in front of me.
Tell us about Alborosie and Friends, and why this album is so hard to find?
Yeah well it was just a limited edition album with my friends and me, you know to bring something different on the road with us.
You are promoting your new album 2 Times Revolution. Tell us more about the title and the concept please?
Well I called it ‘2 Times Revolution’ because if the revolution doesn’t happen the first time it will happen the second time. It’s a Reggae album with a bit of other styles such as Latin music or Hip-Hop music but mostly Reggae - it’s an Alborosie album.
Has the events in the past six months especially in North Africa & in the Middle East ever inspired your music?
Not really because my revolution is more pacifist, non-violent but in a way it was good to see what happened in some of these countries, it was their time.
I really like the first single Respect with Junior Reid. Do you think that Reggae has to be mixed with Hip-Hop to gain airplay?
No because Hip-Hop is not my style but there is nothing wrong with doing one Hip-Hop song, Hip-Hop comes from Reggae, you remember the Jamaicans in NY city, back in the days so nothing wrong with a bit of Hip-Hop mixed with Reggae and as long as the message doesn’t change.
Your first line “Forget about the teaching, promote the bleaching” seems to be addressed to Vybz Kartel?
Well yes and no, I refer to the original message of Marcus Garvey, years ago he was promoting the opposite of what they are promoting now, the world has changed and took a weird direction.
Another one of my favourite tracks is ‘International Drama.’ Tell us more about this track?
Well on this one I am a storyteller, it’s the story of a lot of Italians, they left Italy & ended in the USA and you know...the mafia...It’s a story.
Could you tell us about where you come from?
Where I’m from it’s like in the song ‘International Drama.’ I can’t talk too much about it...
‘La Revolucion’ sounds different - it reminds me a bit of Manu Chao - do you listen to his music?
Not really I went to the source when I travelled in Mexico, Costa Rica and many other places I connect with this music, Manu Chao probably did the same, I mixed it with the dancehall and this song was born.
Did you produce everything yourself on the album and how do you start a song?
Yes I did most of it and I called a few musicians to help me but I did most of it myself. There is no rule the way I start a song it’s either I build a nice riddim and I write a song on it or the next morning I wake up with a melody and I create a riddim for it.
You also produced for other artists - could you tell us whom you’ve been working with recently?
Well it’s always with the vibe; I did a project with the Tamlin, Boom Boom Vibration some young artists from Italy, a dub album & some work with Sandy Smith, which is also on my album. I am getting a lot of calls to work on some different projects but with my schedule it’s very hard.
Your album called 2 Times Revolution - the revolution needs to start in Italy and change your prime minister - What’s the plan?
I started longtime - you remember, ‘Escape from Babylon’ - there was a song about Berlusconi, it’s your time to join me.
What’s next for Alborosie?
A world tour.
