-Intervju med Luciano-

SI: Blessed love, Luciano

Luciano: I am blessed to be here. Sista Irie, let me say a special good day to Texas, Austin. You know. It's the Conscious Party.

SI: Right. (laugh) Always the Conscious Party on Sunday afternoons here on KAZI. Luciano, I've been reading about your tour all over the country, people over and over again say there is a special dimension of spirituality that happens with your show, there seems to be a divine presence that flows through you that reaches out individually to each person  as well as collectively. Do you feel that when you are singing?

Luciano: Definitely yuh know. It has to be real for anyone else to feel. And whenever I pray, I been asking the Almighty to use me cuz even early years of my life I used to go camping in the Blue Mountain peaks, you know like before I realized my real purpose on earth. I used to ask the Almighty to use me, use me as a vessel,  as an instrument, yuh know, to glorify him, and to be a living testimony for him and I know these prayers whatever we pray, the Bible say whatever we set our hearts on, it will come true. I promised to be true to the Almighty and  to my people and I will never cheat or give the people less than they deserve and I say the people need the truth.

SI: Absolutely. You are called the messenger, if you could narrow down to just a few statements what the most important message is that you give people through your music, what would it be?

Luciano: I could honestly say it is hope. It's a strengthening of faith, yuh know. Cuz I myself get strengthening from it. Sometimes I am in the studio singing and strength will grab hold of you and certain words and certain melodies, certain ways in which the words will come out you can know it's an invention of the spirit. And even I find strength in I own works, so I know definitely it is an encouragement. And when I look back and see the the works of Brother Marley and Brother Dennis Brown, with Brother Burning Spear, I could look to any one of my brother's songs and I could get strength, I could get encouragement, spiritual encouragement from any one of these songs. So it is the same way which I view my works and my contributions as the spiritual inspiration to the people.

SI: Is it difficult when you are on the road like you are day after day and having to give the ultimate amount of energy to each audience. Does it just come naturally after you come on stage? What do you do to recharge your energy?

Luciano: OK. I really have to give thanks to the Almighty for giving us sustainance and for giving us energy and impetus to keep doing the work. Knowing how God intended this world to be and having that focus, I get energy just wanting to see the world becoming the way as God ordained it to be. This is one of my main source of inspiration., to really use my talent that way, to bring forward that love. I really love when I see people in love and unity, dancing to the music and listening to the words and so on. It gives me vibes to see people in one accordance. Like in the audience, when I see people of all different races, all different faces, joining to the one who call them. This to me is my source, is my source of energy, my source of strength. To see the people, my greatest vision is to use my inspiration in a positive sense to encourage people to unite humanity and to being about love and unity within the community. When I can see this  happening in my little gatherings, I have to just give thanks and say "yes, Jah!"  I push on, yuh know.

SI: It's truly a blessing. In the past fifteen or twenty years, you are the first artist who has come along who on this scale has been able to bring people together. I read people's responses to your shows and often times they say you have changed their lives.

Luciano: Give thanks.

SI: Yes Luciano. Give thanks, everytime.

Luciano: Yes, my dear. I receive testimonies from people and I could only say give praise to the Almighty because it is the greater works of the father that's working through me. I am just a humble servant like anyone else who is willing to carry out the word. At the end of every day, you must ask the question, what is the purpose of our lives? What are we living for? If you are not living to glorify our maker and to show love and  respect to our brothers and sisters...yuh know...

SI: Then  what do we have? That must be the treasure of life.

Luciano: Give thanks.

SI: Your spirituality has stirred up some confusion. There seems to be some chaos in reggae with Rastafari and religion. What does Rastafari mean to you and do you consider it a religion, a belief system or how do you incorporate the Christianity and the Rastafari message?

Luciano: OK! If you talk about the chaos in terms of the segregation and all that is happening in terms of the division which is caused by religion. I am saying now, that Rastafari tradition is a livity. And when you have for example the whole history of slavery, those who were taken into captivity automatically had to find some way of surviving. This is the inherent spirit in every human being. When you are forced against the walls, then you will rise with something the world has never seen before. And this resurgence of spiritual essence and value and worth,  and esteem, spiritual esteem, could only come out as  a result of our suffering and our pain that we have bared. And as a matter  of fact, what we see coming out in the music is no different from what we have learned spiritually, what we have gained in life's in terms of experience, academically and whatever, we try to bring out into our music. This message that I find I and I with is really a heritage that I find myself basking in because I come and see Rastafarian tradition and this side of the world, like in the Western hemisphere where people who have been disillusioned all these years, they realize that there is a substance in the old tradition of the Rastafarians that they can cling to and we can associate ourselves with as Africans. The difference with Christianity is that Christianity tells you Zion  is a place,  a heaven, where if you aren't careful it will  want to disassociate you from your true roots. And this is what I found missing when I went to church. I used to go to church with my father who was an Adventist, my mother was a Christian. I grew up with the understanding that some day I'll fly away and find this place of rest. As a man who comes to face reality with life, I realize,  we have to fight the struggle, it start right here now. When we sight up the truth, of the inner powers within every one of us, we have to  realize and acknowledge our responsibilities in Jah Kingdom. Cuz, if this earth wasn't that important, then Jah wouldn't keep sending messengers to  come here and remind humanity and if mankind wasn't that important, Jah  himself would slew us off.

SI: So, perhaps Zion is here on earth?

Luciano: So, Once you see the Almighty has sent a means by which we can save humanity through Yashweh, the Messiah, with the ideas come to show us our way to the Father. So this is the same light, and the same manner now, in which we as Rastafarians sight HIS MAJESTY as our light that leads to that greater light that is within and above all of us. You see? And as a messenger I have to keep reminding our brothers and sisters here, we must not get caught up because even when Jesus was wrought (?) in all of his miracles. He said to his apostles that they  should marvel, because  whatever he has done, they can do it too,  or even greater, because he goes now unto the Father. And that is the same thing now that His Majesty has come bearing the testimony of Christ, and it is the fulfillment of the prophecy which is written there in Revelation. Now, we as  Rastafarians, have to just rally around this same principle that His Majesty has established within his livity and bring out the divinity in each of us. And this is how I sighted, Empress, a true Rastafarian is one who sight the principles of Yashweh the Christ, as the foundation and try to fulfill it in our own lives in this livity.

SI: I see. And so, does this lead us to the title track of the cd called 'Great Controversy'?

Luciano: Well, the controversy now, Empress, as I answer the first question, with all the confusion going on is all these different denominations they are bringing about unto us. I and I say, when I hear of Rasta from the early days of my youth I know and see Rasta as Rasta. All of a sudden they want to bring Nyabinghi different from Bobo Shanti, and Bobo Shanti different from Twelve Tribes. It is not so. If the body has one head, then we just have to work under the one umbrella. Once we acknowledge HIS MAJESTY as the head  of the Rastafarian movement within this tradition, within this dispensation, upon earth, upon Creation, we have to abide by HIS principles. Now, HIS MAJESTY, himself, he says he glorifies in the Bible and when I go into the Ible, I go and find out all the great kings who have come have to give answer to a greater Father or a supreme power. Now in my own consciousness, I must humble myself to this great source and this great Father. I will refer to Yahweh each time sometime when I mention, when I call up on Jah. I say, at the end of the day you notice I am still pointing to a greater essence and a source of our existence which we in ourselves cannot rely on  our own physical beings. Because the physical is limited. Why the spirit and the power of the spirit is everlasting.

SI: Right, so very right.That is incredibly moving and beautiful. When did you first realize being the Messenger was the calling of your life? I read years ago that you were on stage once and something happened. You  walked off to go into the hills. I guess that was a time to regroup. Is that something you still feel the need to do in order to stay focused?

Luciano: Yuh know, Empress, when I started singing, I just wanted to sing because I love singing. I started out in the countryside when I used to do my daily chores like when I used to draw my little rabbit seed or when I tie up the goats, I would be singing. I was picking breadfruit or fruits for my mother, I was singing. The calling of the messenger must have been an inborn concept. It is from the very first day the seed was planted into Mamma Sophia that this conception started growing from then. And how I see it now, Empress, in my own way right now, this is the same vibe, vibration, that I carry on  with I and I own singing. When I come into the music fraternity, I see a lot of things I wasn't happy about. I see people get caught up with their ownselves. Because a man have a one hit tune him start to wear the biggest gold chain in town and fancy car and pretty woman and all of this. I am not saying that we don't deserve these things but we must not go on as if we are worshipping these things. These things are idology.

SI: So Luciano, you often start your show by reading from the Bible but I have heard in this current tour you are not reading from the Bible as much. Is there a reason for that?

Luciano: Well right now, Empress, I find myself I will utter more... I will utter words from my own mind sometime and I will because I get a lot of vibes, more time. I came out with the Bible with the inspiration the spirit has given me but I don't want to appear like I am too...you know...cuz many people feel a way when I come out with the Bible. Many of them burning it and all of that. But I want them to know my Bible is in the bag and when I walk on stage, I may not open it up but it is right there in my sachel and occasionally I will open for one or two scriptures  moving on the spiritual vibes. But seeing that we are all writing our own chapters cuz in many ways you have many people who revere(?) the Bible and come out and profess like preachers like that. I do not want to appear like that.  I see myself as a messenger and I see myself as an inspired man in my own way if one really want to look into the songs and study them carefully, they will realize it is the spirit of the father that is inspiring us to write these things. Most of the songs (or Psalms?) that were written by King David and King Solomon were to be accompanied by some instrument whether the harp  or the Psaltry.  In this case we are giving mankind the word direct with music, we have bass, we have percussions, we have accoustics, we have everything surrounding the work right now giving it to mankind. And, this to me is really a treat that the father has given humanity through us, you have to put it that way. Because after we move on,  because we did not come here to draw stones, yuh know,  Empress, and sometime it is long after we trod on that people are going to acknowledge the works and the truth of I and I. And they didn't accept Bob until Bob trod. And many people didn't realize until even Christ, Christ wasn't  loved by his people in his days, yuh know.  It was long after he  had overcome death and all that that people really start to realize and until today that people have to be singing and talking about Yashweh. Same way with all the great prophets who have come. So I say right now, I really see where the Firehouse within my own self has been handpicked by the Almighty to come out here and do this work and strengthen the people spiritually because there is  so much going on, Empress, as I say, the Great Controversy is on. And there is Right now, the amount of youngsters they have locked up in prison. And people who want a way out and break out of this system that if you are not careful, man, some of them commit suicide and genocide and it is happening right now.

SI: It is a sad, sad thing. We have prisoners listening to us right now. Outside of Austin that tune in to the show.

Luciano: And many of them are innocent. And you know the heads of government sometime they just put together a law because they realize discipline is what some of these youngsters lack, discipline. So all they do is find a lot of laws and lay it down knowing these poor youngsters is going to break it because they are not disciplined. Now, it takes a young man now to look into himself and realize the scam that is going on and grab hold of himself. Them pass a ting now, dem pass all dem laws,  we have to  try a way to at least don't violate too, even try a ting. Don't pass a livity that you become unbalanced.

SI: That's good advice.

Luciano: (Laughs..) you understand?

SI: Yes...because otherwise you fall into the trap of the devil. The Babylon system. I know you were asked to go to Gambia by the President. Was it a life altering experience? Did it create new purposes?

Luciano: It definitely has given me, as you would say, more fuel on the mission, on the journey. Nothing has changed. I am still  that spiritual brother. I am even more focused right now because  going to the Motherland where we originate and really viewing the western hemisphere. I couldn't give away the continent for an island. I love Jamaica and I give thanks. All Jamaicans in the house who are listening, I say we couldn't give away Mama Africa for a little island. Right now, if we are not careful, Empress, they make Jamaica become a kind of...what you call it.... A hedonism kind of thing where people just fly from all parts of the world with all different problems in their life and try to ge rid of it there and whatever. Some try to dance their cares and drink away their problems. It can't work. They have to purge from their minds. Now my journey to Africa, to the Motherland, has really regurgitated my whole focus as a Rastaman and as an African who was born here in the western hemisphere. And then I even see more to a higher horizon my works and I realize that all the things I need to do in the western hemisphere before I go forward to the Motherland. And strengthen I and I own base properly because I see that anything we are doing in the west here, we have to go to the Motherland and do it double. Double time.

SI: You have recorded with Baaba Mal. Would you like to record with other African artists?

Luciano: I am open to work with any cultural artists. It is really a great honor to work with the son of the African side and I tell you it has been a great pleasure. My visit to Senegal to see brother Baaba Mal and his whole family and his whole set up was 'really' a spiritual initiation for me.

SI: African music is very uplifting and I was hoping you would get together with several African artists and put out a whole cd.

Luciano: We have great plans. I have some African thing in me now because as you know as an African the deeper we go into our minds, the more can come out. We have Jah Messenger Productions and hopefully in the coming year, you are going to hear more from us. From brother Mikey General and myself here.

SI: That's very good. Then I will remain patient.  I want to send my love to Mikey General as well. 

Luciano: Give thanks.

SI: I saw both of you last year at Llandilo just about a year ago and that was a beautiful show. 

Luciano: Blessed.

SI: I don't want to keep you much longer but I did want to ask you about your own record label Qubalah. What are you doing with that label and do you ever record on your own label. I noticed the last two cd's were VP and Jet Star. How does Qubala fit into this? 

Luciano: Well, actually, I really owed because over the years I've been singing and Mr. Farmer really wanted an album with me on VP...have been wanting to finance their own album with me, yuh know? And I think due to a certain extent I owe it to them because Mr. Fraser (Dean) is executive producer for New Day and I think in many ways I owe it to Mr. Fraser to at least give him a chance to print his spirit.

SI: It's a beautiful piece of work  and I like to give thanks....

Luciano: I think it is a masterpiece of work that Mr. Fraser has done. And there are one or two selections that have been done by other producers like misters Sly & Robbie and Brother General Lee from Sonic Sound and there is a song 'Nah Give Up', yuh know? So really and truly we are just cranking up now we have a couple singles now and music and tracks on tape that when we go forward to Jamaica after the tour, we are going to be busy, yuh know. Our major project is going to be more so like a Gospel. Like treat the praises, I just want an album, we are going to put that together, more guitar, accoustic sounds and some river vibes and some birds and tings. We have some great ideas.

SI: ...maybe Junior Kelly could add some banjo! (laughing)

Luciano: definitely man.

SI:  I read that his grandparents or his parents played the banjo. Is that an instrument that is played very common to Jamaica? I've never seen one there.

Luciano: the banjo started out from early days from the rumba, yuh know. The rumba box, the banjo and one piece of saophone. That alone could hold a crowd for the whole night. That's how dancehall started out, yuh know, Empress?

SI: that's great, I wish I had been there.

Luciano: Yeah man but what we are doing now, we are recapturing these moments, we are finding out that it is only when we recapture these moments and bring it into our musical vibes that it really catch the heart of the people. Because the people want the genuine thing. And even though technology has grown, we cannot get caught up into this technological kind of music.

SI: True, true. There is nothing I hated more in modern reggae than the drum machine. It took the soul out of the music.

Luciano: It looses the efficacy.

SI: right, well Luciano, I know you are tired and need to get some  rest before this evening. I just want to tell you, the city of Austin loves you and Mikey General, Junior Kelly, Dean Fraser, everyone that is with you, and the beautiful Daffodils...

Luciano: Great. I just want to say a word or two for the Daffodils  because most of the harmony tracks on A New Day were done by the Daffodils and you can hear the wonderful singing.

SI: It's beautiful.

Luciano: And I really want to commend the Firehouse and all the input of all the great  musicians down in Jamaica. I give thanks to our VP representatives and all the hard work that Joel has done, Mr. Christian, give thanks for the finance. As I say, it is more music, more love, more righteousness, A New Day, Austin, Texas.

SI: Yes, Luciano. Give thanks and praises, may God bless you and keep you in all your travels and all the people with you.

Luciano: Thank you , thank you very much Sista Irie and keeping it conscious with the Conscious Party. Jah bless and protect.

 Dette intervjuet tilhører KAZI radio, 88.7 F.M.,
 Austin, Texas. 

Sista Irie, produsent, Conscious Party