Music / Black Roots Reggae
Interview: Black Roots Reggae
“Whenever there is injustice roots reggae have a part to play; it eases the mind of the oppressed – that’s what roots reggae is – it’s for the under privileged people.”
Black Roots Reggae was born in St Pauls, 1979. Six original members who came together from different cover bands in a time when unemployment was rising to talk about their post Thatcher reality.
“We wrote about the suffering in the area and the injustice in the world at large to open more people’s eyes to what was going on in the world. We wrote political music; after Margaret Thatcher they didn’t care about the youth in the area or the disadvantaged – whether you’re white or black or green! We wanted to draw people’s attention to that. Today it’s the same thing. Schools are underfunded, the poor are not getting enough social help – it’s the same politics, still in 2017 so there’s not a lot of change. It’s supposed to be getting better, but it’s getting worse! We never had this many people sleeping on the streets back in the day.”
is needed now More than ever
After travelling up and down the country playing at student union’s for Stand up to Racism concerts, they wrote a 45 which caught the attention of John Peel, getting regular BBC play from in the early 80’s before being invited on a European tour supporting UB40 which is when their reach really grew.
“That was quite an experience. My favourite part of that time as the willingness of people to see the injustice and come together and try to make it better. And when I say people I mean all people’ not just the black man. That is the unity of all people, it’s the music. Music unites the mass.”
A solid following in Europe, France especially, led to releasing their backlog in 2010 on their own label, Nubian Records, with three new albums written and released since; Underground, Ghettofields and new album, Sons of Man.
“The album was really inspired by the boat people, refugees who have come across on these little non existent boats from Syria and all over. We were just asking the human race, where’s the heart? Just sitting there watching people suffering and you’re doing nothing? That’s what the title track of the album is about.”
Black Roots Reggae return to play a hometown with Trojan Soundsystems on Saturday April 22 at O2 Academy. For more information, visit www.academymusicgroup.com
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