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Californian based artist Jah Sun is no stranger to the mysticism that surrounded Rastafarian reggae superstar Bob Marley. Known for his uplifting message and positive vibes, Jah Sun was drawn to reggae, thanks to Bob Marley, and he never looked back. Like many other reggae musicians he has followed in Marley's steps to spread love and light in his music. Back with his 5th album Between the Lines, Jah Sun lets us know why this is a album like no other and why reinforcing positivity and kindness is the true heart of reggae. 2017 / ISSUE 98 REGGAE 55 You've said that your spiritual awakening started when you dis- covered Bob Marley - can you tell us a bit more about that moment? I discovered Bob Marley by ac- cident really. I was walking through a mall, and just saw a DVD in the window and something about his persona, something about him drew me in, and I bought the DVD. I don't think I had ever even heard of him before and I watched the DVD and was just instantly drawn to him, and that message and that music, and then I spent the next 22 years diving in as deep as I could. How did discovering Bob Marley impact your life? When I discovered Bob Marley, it was like this instant connection to the world, I just felt like, 'oh my gosh' I never even thought about what's happening in other cultures, and around the world and this message of 'what's going on', it floored me. It opened my heart, it opened my mind, and it immedi- ately made me want to learn more. The new album Between the Lines is coming out soon - what can fans expect? Between the lines is different than anything I have ever done. For this album we did everything ana- log and organic, through vintage boards, mics and amps. All these songs where written on instru- ments, the words and the melodies born at the same time, and we played with some other genres, it's not all rub-a-dub reggae. So did you know beforehand that Between the Lines was going to be more of a experimental album? Definitely! You know one of my favorite albums was from Paul Simons Graceland that came out many, many years ago, but I just love that sound and that style with the highlife, guitar, heavy percus- sion, and that almost calypsoish Caribbean style. So I really wanted to do some- thing like that because I have been a huge fan of that sound for a long time, and so 'Only Human' was one of our songs, we wrote years ago and we did it in a new style for us, in that kind of African, highlife fu- sion sound and we love it! So yeah I did, I went into it knowing we were going to do that, that we were go- ing to do some different stuff. Also after having dreadlocks for some 22 years dragging the ground I just recently cut my locs which was a huge step, so again this album really marks a turning point in my life, personally and in my music too. Did cutting off your locs, (like your upcoming album) represent a new chapter in your life? Yeah, that's exactly what it is, it took a while you know, it was like ' Oh my god what are people going to think, what about my image' and 'what about you know the Jah Sun brand,' and really I had to fol- low my heart and be true to myself. This is the first album where you have worked with different writ- ers and wrote everything from scratch, how was that creative process? When you are writing it from scratch with an instrument , when the melodies and the instruments are born together you just have so much more freedom and you really create a different feel. I feel like that's how Bob Marley and the Beatles, and all the greats from back in the day, that's how it was done you know. Before you went into reggae you started out in hip hop, what is your take on rap nowadays? I know that there has always been conscious hip hop artists through- out the times and it is good to see some of these rappers coming with some creative and innovative new styles, and still trying to keep that message of upliftment in their songs and I do love that. So would you say that reggae is just a more naturally conscious genre? I mean we are all products of our environment, and a lot of hip hop is born out of less desirable situa- tions. You know let's face it, a lot of that comes from grimy situations where people have to deal with that so they are just reflecting what they see, and so there is never any hating from my side with any form of music, I think if you are using music to express yourself and to transcend, and to create, I mean I think it is beautiful. In the age that we live in now, why do you think it is important for music to have positive vibes? There is just so much going on, it's not an easy world but on the other side its beautiful and it's all right there, its magical, the nature is there, and people are there, and people are sacred. So you know people see the world not as it is but how they are and so I just really believe that it is so important to try and speak that kindness, and reinforce positivity. So what's next for you? The album comes out April 28th and I am also going to be doing a intimate stripped down settings with just me and some acoustic players. We plan on being every- where we can but I definitely plan on being in Europe in July and August. "I THINK IF YOU ARE USING MUSIC TO EXPRESS YOURSELF AND TO TRANSCEND, AND TO CREATE, I MEAN I THINK IT IS BEAUTIFUL. '' Patience Takyuka | Guestlist follow @JahSunMusic