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 "I
started doing music long before I heard that speech that my father made
about his children being musicians and him seeing it in their eyes,"
says Julian Marley.
Unlike some of his older brothers who had an head start in music, Julian
Marley made his first demo at age five. Locks were a part of his early
grooming for this youngster. “I grew up within the culture of Rastafari
and His Imperial Majesty Haile Sellassie I of Ethiopia is the truth,"
declares Julian.
Today, Julian Marley, introduced to mainstream for his works with brother
Stephen and Damian on the platinum selling ‘Chant Down Babylon’
CD and his debut ‘Lion In The Morning’, celebrates his sophomore
‘Time & Space’--a 13-track album that marks another chapter
in his musical journey.
'Lion In The Morning', produced and released on brothers Ziggy and Stephens’
Ghetto Youths International label, was met with good reception in the
cities where he touched down on tour.
'A Time & Place', unlike his first album, unmistakably bares his own
signatures while haunted by familiar Bob Marley hit phrases, a vehicle
Julian embraces as the rhythms that transport his messages.
Despite being taught guitar lessons for a while, Julian taught himself
to play bass, keyboards, drums and sharpened his guitar skills to the
point of proficiency.
"Nuff hard work, nuff practicing and playing. We come in like our
spirits a ancient spirits," Julian states. "It’s the law
of life we a deal with. That’s why we stress these things in our
music. We deal with the heavenly livity, Mount Zion, because right now
we are living in Babylon. When you really listen to our music it is the
music to free you. It is the music of rebellion."
'A Time and Place' tells a tale. It the journey of this young singer in
his purpose, which began, incidentally, with a toy guitar in his crib.
He later made a demo of his father's rebellious 'Slave Driver.'
"Anything that is a part of you just comes out naturally. At the
end of the day, after learning science and other things in school, you
come home to music. From a small age music has just been there in my life,
it’s just natural," Julian remembers.
Julian's first recording, 'Uprising', showcased the strong lyrics and
an equally potent band comprised of veteran musicians and young talented
players. This, in 1992, soon after he had transplanted himself from England
where he was born in Barbados to Lucy Pounder. The band, which was famous
for bassist Aston ‘Family Man’ Barrett, keyboardist Tyrone
Downie and guitarist Earl ‘Chinna’ Smith, was integral to
the success of his first CD.
'A Time & Place' witnesses more of Julian and some not-so-quickly
recognizable musicians and overseas engineers, and of course, Stephen
Marley.
"There is no collaboration but my brother collaborated with musical
instruments," he says. Apart from being the producer of the album,
Stephen Marley has created a huge name for himself in the production of
music. Julian's own musical dexterity has already been tested on the multiple
Grammy awarded 'Miseducation of Lauryn Hill' when he played on one of
the tracks.
Julian’s own rebel comes out in ‘A Time & Place’.
This comes out in 'Harder Dayz', which features the familiar Bob Marley
'Natty Dread' guitar phrase. Julian assesses on an insightful beneath-the-surface
level the economic degradation going on today. The video for 'Harder Dayz'
is in a conceptual form right now. 'Harder Dayz' depicts Julian in touch
with the struggles of people worldwide.
"I have brethren and sistren in the struggle. We see it on the news
so we don’t leave we roots but we see the bigger picture so we address
the solution," Julian reveals.
He gives a powerful wake up call to the unconscious in 'Summer Daisies'.
"Do you think that's all to life/man you're crazy/smelling on summer
daisies/said it’s not about you're big fast car/on the way to Zion/you
won’t get far," Julian sings.
The album, which he says took over two years to complete, took a lot of
work, despite being punctuated by religious football sessions where the
brothers enjoy what appears to be their second love.
"This album is a very personal one, the title is time and space.
It's the time and place for Babylon to drop down, the time and place for
wicked to drop off. When you check the time and space, you'll see where
I am coming from, where I am now and where we are going," Julian
explains, sounding a bit like Bob. "The world needs this right now.
Thanks and praise to the Most High for inspiration," he added.
'A Time & Place' has already ruffled some feathers in parts of Europe
and the USA. "We already did some dates in Europe, England, Scotland,
Birmingham, London and Florida to return on the road in January,"
Julian informed.
With songs like the ideal roll calling 'Father's Place', the Afromantic
'Where She Lay', the unifying 'Build Together' or even the assertive 'Couldn't
Be The Place', it’s clear that Julian Marley’s inspiration
comes from life experiences.
“There’s so much inspiration from life. Some people have experiences
and don't talk about them. Well, we talk about them,” he explains.
Julian concluded this interview at his father’s 56 Hope Road Foundation,
"Rainbow has its many colours so people must open their minds to
diversity and spice and love the word of righteousness that the man is
uttering. Why you want to feel the same way every time?" Julian challenges.
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