Ras-I calls for enjoyment in reggae music again
Set to unveil heartfelt album ‘Heart of Love’
AS HE gears up to grace the main stage at the upcoming Lost in Time Festival on February 24, Ras-I is once again calling for the public to embrace the joy of reggae music. The self-proclaimed ‘Kingman’, who last year was among the performers on the New Wave stage, caught up with The Gleaner at the launch of the approaching event.
Explaining his frustration with ‘boring audiences’ he said, “It’s like people don’t know how to enjoy themselves anymore and that’s not us. That is one of the greatest things about Jamaicans that people love – [it’s] that we know how to have a good time. Now everybody come a the show dem and you give your all and you know you nah sing nuh foolishness; you know you sound good but dem stand up with dem hand a dem side and a look pon you like...,” he trailed off with a confused look on his face.
“Mi know Jamaica is a tough audience but we nuh affi suh tough. I think this is coming from life overall, we don’t know how fi enjoy things in life anymore. But we can start with music cause everybody love it.”
Ras-I said that while overseas audiences don’t always understand his lyrics, they are always keen on participating.
“When you overseas dem just wah know seh you sound good and dem a dance and sing along even when dem nuh know weh you a seh.” Ahead of the upcoming festival, t he 2023 JaRIA Song of the Year winner said his transition over to the main stage is just a sign of his musical growth over the past year.
“It shows that the progress has been made and progression is always good,” he began. “Mi always feel like any time me get a hold of them stage yah, a trouble, so me a look forward to it. It means a lot to me and it’s just a great festival to be a part of overall, for reggae music and the next crop of artistes. We need a show like this to highlight us in a certain way. Not saying other festivals don’t, but this festival [don’t] hassle artistes so it’s less chaos in many cases.”
Repeating sentiments shared by festival director and show headliner, Protoje, Ras-I shared just how excited he was for the event.
“You know what I really love, the early start and the early go in vibes. Because we need to break out of the 10am go home from a show thing and the show a start 10pm. We cyah work wid that anymore, dem ting deh a go mash we up.”
Though keeping a tight-lip on whether or not his upcoming album will be released in time for the show, he reassured that this one will definitely be for the ladies.
“The album name Heart of Love. So all of the songs are heartfelt, pulling on some emotions, pulling on the heartstrings. It’ s a lot more of a roots kind of vibe plus some of the up-tempo vibes.”
Though hoping for another breakout hit like the awardwinning Somewhere Wonderful, he said, “Mi nuh try replicate that cause if me try do that it kind of boxes you up mentally for the direction you want to go. A hit can come from anywhere but hopefully there is another great song or even songs on it that takes over. The girl dem a go love dah one yah. Is a whole heap of love songs.”