Bob Interviews: Recent Episodes
Audacy
Ken O got to chat with Julian Marley pre Grammy's about his new album, the One Love Hotel and what 2020 has in store...
Irie G is an upcoming reggae artist from Ocean Beach in Southern California. I had a chance to get him on the phone while he is in Hawaii. He has a new album coming and a show in San Diego. Check it out.
Knowing Bobby Hustle and the path he has taken we had to catch up to him and find out what is going on with his career. He loves reggae music and has real passion. "The Habit" singer is full of conscious lyrics and a great performer. He is from the Northwest city of Seattle. He has a brand new video "The Wall" with mexican reggae artist Jah Fabio. We talked about it and much more during the interview. You can find that video and more at his website http://www.bobbyhustle.com/
Andy Bassford is a guitarist known primarily for his work in the reggae idiom, although he has recorded and performed in a wide variety of other styles. Andy’s playing appears on eight Grammy Award nominated and two Grammy winning albums, as well as a platinum album with Rihanna and a #1 Billboard Folk Chart album with Natalie Merchant. In addition his credits include at least 200 more albums and 2500 songs over a career entering its fifth decade. In 2003, he was honored by the Jamaica Federation of Musicians for Outstanding Contributions to the Jamaican Music Industry, one of the only-non Jamaicans to receive this award.
DJ Carlos Culture chats in studio with the legendary Purple Man and the equally legendary Tippa Lee!!
Don Mafia just put out a song welcoming home Buju Banton. He has been doing music for many years. The song got the attention on Facebook when Rawpa Crawpa a popular jamaican culture commentator reviewed the song with high compliments. Click here for his review of Don Mafia's "Welcome Home Buju". I had chance to talk to him about the song and his career.
DJ Carlos Culture chats with his old friend Tim of Psydecar about their new projects, the world and being a veteran in the San Diego Reggae scene
Lately, it seems as though King Schascha is everywhere and with everyone. He’s been touring with the legendary English Beat and performing with Sister Nancy, Squeeze, Soul Asylum, UB40, B52’s, The Interrupters, Culture Club, and Berlin. His recordings include guest stars such as Sister Nancy, Sizzla, Neville Staple, SkaFace, and The Transmitters. On top of all that, he is the President of the Escondido United Football Club in Southern California.
King Schascha is now an integral part of San Diego’s Reggae scene who brings with him a fusion of dancehall, reggae, soul, country, jazz, and calypso. He is known for the authenticity of his songs and genuineness one only finds in the roots of these genres adding his own modern touch to it. Born in Trinidad and Tobago, the region played an integral part in the growth of these genres. “I give thanks everyday for my upbringing,” he says, because he knows how invaluable and priceless the exposure to the true roots of the genre has been for his own music.
“I’ve got mad respect for my band members’ talent, dedication, and love of music”, says King Schascha. Playing the riddims is Irusalem, a 7-member band and chosen family. King Schascha has been steadily creating a following over the past few years due to his energetic stage presence that ensures the whole audience grooves with him. He is also an active song-writer and his songs, “Dancehall Murda” and “One Day” have been receiving increasing plays.
King Schascha believes in the power of music and its connection to the human soul. He creates music with positive vibes that brings people from all over the world together and enjoy as one. He is on a quest to fuse the beauty of different genres and regions of music into an amazing experience.
One People. One Planet. One Love.
Irusalem are:
Zena: keyboards
Kizzy & Shoshanna: backup vocalists
Lyndon: drums
Felix: bass
Jeffery Bloom: lead guitar
Mel Scott: saxophone
“I’m here to preach and to practise love to all people. Love is the cure for everything. Love makes you healthy and I’m convinced that one day, scientists will discover that it’s the basis of living, y ‘know? Because we should all be loving people, and that’s the key message in my music. It’s all about love and progress.”
Spiritual’s music transports us to another time, when reggae legends like Bob Marley first took the rebel sound of Jamaica to a worldwide audience. Authenticity can be heard in every note, but then it’s coming from the same source – not only musically and culturally, but even the same ghetto communities of West Kingston. Spiritual was raised in Allman Town, and sang in his local choir before embracing Rastafari. He was orphaned at an early age, and could have joined the throngs of young hopefuls at any number of studios and sound-systems scattered throughout the city. Instead, he shunned fame and helped to heal the broken society around him by counselling the poor and needy. Music was in his blood and he continued to write songs, but Rastafari was his true calling.
Awakening is his debut album, and arrives just as reggae music is resurgent in its homeland again thanks to artists like Chronixx and Alborosie. The latter shared Spiritual’s breakthrough hit Marathon and introduced him to Clifton “Specialist” Dillon, who has also guided OMI, Shabba Ranks and other well-known artists to international success, including Alborosie himself. Under Specialist’s direction, Spiritual has been able to realise his musical vision at last, and deliver an album that can stand alongside the seventies’ classics that inspired him as a youth.
There are traces of Burning Spear and Culture in his voice, whilst the songs hark back to an era when artists were judged on their integrity, both musical and otherwise. Spiritual lives by the same principles, and doesn’t imitate. He writes original songs of meaning and depth, and then records them in a studio with “live” musicians, including horn and lead guitar players, percussionists and backing singers. Reggae music hasn’t sounded like this for a generation – not since Jamaica catch a fire and two sevens clash. It’s music with one pants’ leg rolled up and love in its heart, bearing messages for all nations, and the timing of Spiritual’s emergence was flawless.
After Marathon came My World and Freedom Fighters, which was a rallying cry for the faithful. Right from the start, Spiritual’s music gave us hope and uplifted the spirits, which is how he got his name. Any doubts that he wasn’t among the most thrilling roots reggae discoveries of recent times were then swept aside by the release of Stand Up To Rasta. Now a highlight of the new album it’s a magnificent song of awakening, and sung by an artist reborn.
“I’m a spiritual person, and I like songs with spiritual messages in them – songs about life and our place in it, and that make you think about what you’re doing,” he explains. “I write songs that are supposed to make people feel good about one another, and that can show you something positive about life.”
His songs have power and resonance, no matter the subject. He’s teaching black history on Free Africa, Ethiopia – paying tribute to the birthplace of Emperor Haile Selassie I – and Black Man Story, which is sung over a joyful rockers rhythm. Time Has Come is a call for revolution whilst Liberation features Iba Mahr, singer of Diamond Sox and a linchpin of Jamaica’s new roots scene.
“I’ve been around Rasta people from when I was very young, and have always felt drawn to what they were saying and their way of life,” says Spiritual. “It’s something that’s coming from deep within the culture of the music but we’re seeing plenty of newcomers embracing Rastafari now, like Iba Mahr. He’s showing you what the new generation have to offer, because a lot of these younger artists are singing some good songs also.”
Little is known about Spiritual’s early life. His songs however, reveal a great deal about his character, and also his intentions. Profound lyrics, sticky, hypnotic rhythms and first-class production prevail throughout this impressive debut, whether he’s singing of black man redemption – on Show Me The Way, shared with Gladiators’ lead singer Droop Lion – or upholding his Nazarene vow on Where Is The Love? He’s offering invaluable advice on Give Thanks And Praise, whilst Rule Di World asks us to consider what we’d do with unlimited power. Would we remain vigilant and hold fast to our beliefs, or succumb to temptation? Mankind can live by lyrics such as these but Spiritual’s also a realist, and a compassionate one at that. Live Righteous is a warning not to judge others, whilst assuring us that “no one is perfect.” We just need to try and live righteous, and remember to praise the Almighty since “seeds of discouragement cannot take root in a grateful heart.”
That’s a line from the rapturous Want No More, whilst Tell Me Who is a list of inspirational figureheads that includes names like Nelson Mandela, Moses, Bob Marley and Jesus, whose true raison d’être informs The Lamb.
The majority of these tracks were recorded between Specialist’s studio in Half Way Tree and Bobby Digital’s. That’s where former single My World originated and whilst it’s not on the album, that particular song is a Spiritual manifesto of sorts, outlining the importance of personal choice.
“I liken it to gambling,” says Jamaica’s latest roots sensation. “You can gamble with your health, and you can gamble with your spiritual wellbeing and your place in society. You can choose to accept what the authorities tell us or you can learn to see what lies behind it, and make up your own mind about how things are. We need to have confidence in ourselves, and to use our discretion, y ‘know? For me, the final goal is unity, and the only way we can achieve that is through love. In my experience, that’s what most people want to hear. They don’t want to be caught up in arguments and all that but I’m not trying to change anyone. I’m simply telling the truth and if people want to listen, then I’ll be there for them.”
“I am a servant of Jah for the children of the world with one Aim and one Destiny”
Alexia talks with Quino and James of Big Mountain following their Bob Radio Sound Space Session
DJ Carlos Culture catches up with the one and only Sean Paul along with rising reggae star Chi-Ching Ching
DJ Carlos Cuture chats with the Bread McDonald of the legendary Wailing Souls about their first album in 7 years, begining their career in the 60's and what's next for the iconic band.
Hazmatt(Matt) is a local reggae group repping San Diego and Hawaii. He chats with Carlos Cutlure about their background, new music and working with Leucadia Bob on their new music video!
Carlos chats with LA natives Better Chemistry about their new album, working with Tuff Gong and coming to San Diego
Kyle of Slightly Stoopid had a chat with Carlos Culture, covering their upcoming Reggae on the River headlining apearance plus coming back to San Diego and the new music on the way!
DJ Carlos Culture chats with the great and lovely Etana about her new album and upcoming show this Saturday night at 710 Beach Club!
DJ Carlos Culture chats with the lovely Anuhea just before she hits the stage at Fiesta Del Sol, they talked Cali and Hawaii vibes and her new single "I Won't Settle"
Evan from Through the Roots talks San Diego Summer break, preparing a new full length album and what's in store TONIGHT at Fiesta Del Sol in Salana Beach!
DJ Carlos Culture chats with Karim of Arise Roots about their soon coming album and how San Diego Reggae made his family just before they take the stage at 710 Beach Club!!
Koa of Inna Vision, San Diego's favorite Maui based reggae band chats with DJ Carlos Culture about new album, upcoming tour and what is in store for their SD date
Two legendary DJ's in Carlos Culture talk changes in the scene and what it's like(Yard Core) touring with Protoje and being a part of the live show!
DJ Carlos chats with Protoje about his upcoming show at the Music Box, producion on the new album and collaborations with Chronixx, Albarosie and Major Lazer
DJ Carlos Culture talks with his old friend Jamere Nelson about spending time in Jamaica, his debut album and upcoming tour with J Boog
DJ Carlos Culture sits down in studio with veteran of the San Diego reggae scene and good friend Tim of Psydecar. They talk reggae in LA and SD in the 90's and the explosion that it is today, and argue militancy vs peace & love when it comes to Bob Marley
Ras David Cirious of Steel Pulse and Stephen Bradley of Steel Pulse and No Doubt talked with DJ Carlos Culture about their new project Valley of Kings, making their way to San Diego and playing at the white house for President Obama
The Legendary & "Unnoficial Mayor of San Diego" Don Carlos talked with DJ Carlos Culture about playing SD & TJ plus working with Slightly Stoopid plus
DJ Carlos Culture chatted with Mykal Rose of the legendary Black Uhuru about his new album and what he's seen being in the reggae business for over 50 years!
Lead singer of the iconic "'The Wailers" talks joining the most legendary reggae group, making time for a solo record and advice for up and coming reggae artists
Ziggy Marley chatted with Bob Radio's own Carlos Culture and talked new album, tour, playing San Diego among other things
Check it out below, and tune in to Kingston Vibes with DJ Carlos Culture, every Sunday on Bob Radio, San Diego's Reggae Radio.