Lamenting that the local music landscape has undergone some drastic changes since he began his journey as an artiste, Grammy-winning artiste Buju Banton has called on industry professionals to re-learn the intricacies of music.
Questioning whether the new generation of music connoisseurs understand the foundation of the art form, Banton expressed that while he’s not lashing out at the modern music methods, he believes the industry could benefit immensely from the old school modus operandi.
“Since I’ve been home since 2019, I’ve heard so many songs, but where are they now?” he questioned. “We don’t remember them and it wasn’t like that. Music is the only thing that’s not supposed to die. So when it comes to a point where the music is dying, you have got to really re-evaluate what you are doing.”
“I come from a place where studio was few and far between to a time now where a guy have a laptop under his arm and he is a producer. I am not knocking it, but do you know what is key? Do you know what is frequency? Do you know all these things that we were forced to understand?” Buju questioned.
Banton went on to say that young acts today inherited a rich musical legacy but I believe they are now more concerned about the perks that come with being a musician than the art itself.
“You inherited a rich culture. Coxone spends whole heap a time in the studio. Bob Marley spends whole heap a time in the studio, Lee Scratch Perry, Gussie Clarke, Lloyd James from Jammys, Donovan Germain spent a whole heap a time in the studio, Winston Riley,” he expressed. “It’s a place where you learn time and experience. You don’t go there with the intention of getting rich; you go there with the intention of uplifting your nation, your race and music that can last beyond di day. I think right now where we are is a regression.”
“If I can’t find a song fi me and a girl go out pan a date and when a man sing mi can say boi, ‘a we him a sing bout’, there’s none (no songs). We want some love songs,” he continued.
The Love Sponge singer was speaking at the press launch for the joint New Year’s Day concert with reggae crooner Beres Hammond at the ROK Hotel last Thursday.
Banton and Hammond will headline the concert titled Intimate. The event which has been dubbed one of the most highly-anticipated events of the 2023 entertainment calendar, will take place at Grizzly’s Plantation Cove in St Ann on January 1.