ISSUE #24 MMUSICMAG.COM Q&A Kii Arens

ziggy marley exploring the connection between his father’s legacy and his own artistry

Although Ziggy MArley hAs won What did you discover in the process? you do a lot of charity work, especially five grammys and garnered widespread i heard specific things in the instrumentation for polio. acclaim for his work as a humanitarian, that i wasn’t aware of when we were playing there are people who do much more than i author and producer, to many he will always live. Maybe when i heard it originally, do. i do what little i can. sometimes they’ll be known as Bob Marley’s eldest son. rather i didn’t like it. sometimes, when you hear ask me to do things and it’s not much at all. than distancing himself from his father’s the songs again, the individual musicianship Children especially shouldn’t have to suffer legacy, Marley embraces the spirit and is heightened. the thing i learned from through polio. there is no reason to say no artistry of the legendary performer, who died my father in terms of live shows was and every reason to say yes. Another avenue in 1981. his new album, Ziggy Marley in to never take them for granted. Put time to express myself is the organic food line we Concert, proves he’s on a quest to advance into rehearsals and do them right. when launched. that is very important for me as his father’s work. Marley doesn’t banter much i listen to my father’s music, i am attracted a human being, to help people put organic in concerts, but carefully orchestrates his to the rare stuff, the less popular songs things in their bodies. sets so that both his and his father’s music rather than the songs everybody knows. in combine to tell one story of love, spirituality live shows, i do a couple of his songs. i have What can you share about your next and hope, even in times of turmoil. some of his songs on this record. i try to studio album? find a connection between one of his i have been writing songs and working is this album a turning point for you? songs and one of mine and then put them on ideas and getting frustrated and going there may be some of that. i am so close to together, join them that way. that’s back. it’s just me trying to work on the it, i don’t know. what prompted me to record how i choose them. music. i have to forget everything else to this album were the good experiences i’ve had get it done, and then give it to the band. live. i wanted to show something that some ever had any live Spinal Tap moments? it’s a long process, and parts are frustrating. might not be able to see—a live show. Putting i have had a few of those. in the early days, i am pretty shy, and i probably let out more on a live show is very different from making we went to england to do a show. we were through music when i am by myself than a record. it’s a whole different interpretation ready to mime our song, and they put on the i would if i wrote with somebody. i’m of music. it’s a record of a moment in time. it British national anthem instead. we were freer as a person when i’m alone, so i wasn’t a big production, and we didn’t do a onstage looking at each other like, “now write by myself. lot of shows. it was simple, uncomplicated. what?” stuff like that you remember. –Nancy Dunham

‘When i listen to my father’s music, i am attracted to the rare stuff.’

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