NEWS
EVENTS
Richie Spice Interview
Reggae | Wednesday 16th November 2011 | Annalisa
With 12 years in the Reggae scene and releasing his 7th album Book of Job, Ritchie Spice discusses the point of why Reggae will never die and how he has adapted to the digital age.
How was 2010 for you?
2010 was great! Good health and a lot of work. We played all around the world.
I saw you on stage before, I really enjoyed the show and you seem very laid back on stage. Do you like to perform live?
I love my job, I love touring & meeting new people with new visions, different visions & different cultures. It’s very uplifting & it brings me confidence. It makes me want to perform more.
Why is Reggae so well accepted in the 5 continents? Not all music is welcome in every country but Reggae is…
Mainly because Reggae is the heartbeat of the people. It’s food for the soul. People can listen to it on their day-today life.
From in 2004 till 2008, One Drop Reggae was the hottest music in Jamaica but nowadays Dancehall is dominating the scene, is Reggae dying?
Reggae can’t die because it’s in the roots of our music. It was there long before Dancehall & it will be there long after. Music is a cycle. Nowadays Dancehall gets more promotion but artists like myself keep Reggae alive because the people feel our music.
You’re back with a new album mostly produced by Penthouse & his crew (Shane Brown...) & also yourself. Can you tell us about this album, when was it recorded, how was it compiled? What’s the concept behind Book of Job?
Well it took two years to put the album together, I didn’t rush it. Donovan approached me because he likes my music and so we decided to work together. We decided together which track we could go and I had some requests for the record. For instance, I wanted ‘Find Jah’ to feature on the album because it’s a beautiful song. I called it ‘The book of Job’ because I can relate to the story of Job. I read the bible on frequent occasions and his story talks to me because during my career, I had to put a lot of work in so my music could be accepted. I wasn’t perfect but I think that my music had to go through a lot of struggle to get to where it is now. But I’ve been patient and like Job, everything has come at the right time. That title fit this album very well.
There is no featuring artists on your album?
Well people were waiting for this album to come for a long time, they haven’t heard from me for a while so the fans will only be hearing Richie Spice in the record.
You’ve been singing a lot about blackness, what’s your opinion on Vybz Kartel cake soap stuff?
Well I do what I want to do and everyone has the same right. I put my music out there and who wants to hear it hears it, who wants to see it sees it but I don’t force anything or anyone. I think about it cause it’s my duty.
Today you’re a well established artist but times have changed with the digital era. Which advice will you give to the new generation of artists?
Well nowadays with technology, it’s great because you can promote yourself easier. As time has changed, there are no more big companies such as Island, Motown or Universal that invest on Reggae so you gonna have to work triple to make music you’re living with but it’s really hard work. I will tell the new generation to sing the right songs, keep on the right road, I like Romain Virgo, Etana & I-Octane‘s work.
What is the latest news from the Bonner camp, and your brothers. Can we expect any projects from them?
Well Pliers & Chaka Demus are working on a new album. Spanner Banner released an album not too long ago called " I am a winner "- it’s an independent release.
What are you doing on your free time? Do you ever take holidays?
I don’t really go on holiday but I spend a lot of time on our farm. We’ve got goats, rabbits, bees, you name it. It’s really important to me because the farm keeps me in touch with the nature & life. The farm is at our mum’s yard in Rockhall in the country side. I spend most of my time there when I am not on the road or in the studio.
Richie Spice’s new album Book of Job is out now.
How was 2010 for you?
2010 was great! Good health and a lot of work. We played all around the world.
I saw you on stage before, I really enjoyed the show and you seem very laid back on stage. Do you like to perform live?
I love my job, I love touring & meeting new people with new visions, different visions & different cultures. It’s very uplifting & it brings me confidence. It makes me want to perform more.
Why is Reggae so well accepted in the 5 continents? Not all music is welcome in every country but Reggae is…
Mainly because Reggae is the heartbeat of the people. It’s food for the soul. People can listen to it on their day-today life.
From in 2004 till 2008, One Drop Reggae was the hottest music in Jamaica but nowadays Dancehall is dominating the scene, is Reggae dying?
Reggae can’t die because it’s in the roots of our music. It was there long before Dancehall & it will be there long after. Music is a cycle. Nowadays Dancehall gets more promotion but artists like myself keep Reggae alive because the people feel our music.
You’re back with a new album mostly produced by Penthouse & his crew (Shane Brown...) & also yourself. Can you tell us about this album, when was it recorded, how was it compiled? What’s the concept behind Book of Job?
Well it took two years to put the album together, I didn’t rush it. Donovan approached me because he likes my music and so we decided to work together. We decided together which track we could go and I had some requests for the record. For instance, I wanted ‘Find Jah’ to feature on the album because it’s a beautiful song. I called it ‘The book of Job’ because I can relate to the story of Job. I read the bible on frequent occasions and his story talks to me because during my career, I had to put a lot of work in so my music could be accepted. I wasn’t perfect but I think that my music had to go through a lot of struggle to get to where it is now. But I’ve been patient and like Job, everything has come at the right time. That title fit this album very well.
There is no featuring artists on your album?
Well people were waiting for this album to come for a long time, they haven’t heard from me for a while so the fans will only be hearing Richie Spice in the record.
You’ve been singing a lot about blackness, what’s your opinion on Vybz Kartel cake soap stuff?
Well I do what I want to do and everyone has the same right. I put my music out there and who wants to hear it hears it, who wants to see it sees it but I don’t force anything or anyone. I think about it cause it’s my duty.
Today you’re a well established artist but times have changed with the digital era. Which advice will you give to the new generation of artists?
Well nowadays with technology, it’s great because you can promote yourself easier. As time has changed, there are no more big companies such as Island, Motown or Universal that invest on Reggae so you gonna have to work triple to make music you’re living with but it’s really hard work. I will tell the new generation to sing the right songs, keep on the right road, I like Romain Virgo, Etana & I-Octane‘s work.
What is the latest news from the Bonner camp, and your brothers. Can we expect any projects from them?
Well Pliers & Chaka Demus are working on a new album. Spanner Banner released an album not too long ago called " I am a winner "- it’s an independent release.
What are you doing on your free time? Do you ever take holidays?
I don’t really go on holiday but I spend a lot of time on our farm. We’ve got goats, rabbits, bees, you name it. It’s really important to me because the farm keeps me in touch with the nature & life. The farm is at our mum’s yard in Rockhall in the country side. I spend most of my time there when I am not on the road or in the studio.
Richie Spice’s new album Book of Job is out now.
