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ZIGGY MARLEY: Celebrating Artistic Freedom & Healing Through U.R.G.E.
Reggae Star Sports New CD and Charitable Organization
Now, with the release of his second solo CD, “Love Is My Religion,” the signing of a sweet deal with the Target Stores chain and finally, with the founding of a charitable organization called U.R.G.E., Ziggy Marley continues to prove that he is not one to rest on laurels.
In his recent telephone interview with EUR’s Lee Bailey, it is apparent from the very first “Irie!” that this Marley, too, is a force to be reckoned with. High on being an emancipated artist, the conversation is sprinkled with Ziggy’s desire to maintain control of his artistic destiny.
“Things are going good. I’m making the music I want to make. I’m independent. I own my masters. I made a deal with Target independently and so it is the right steps. I’ve finally got my freedom from some kinds of contract with a record label. I’m free so that’s good... To have ownership of my music, that was a dream of my father’s...to own his masters and now I kind of fulfill that dream for him and for myself.”
Ziggy, who lost his father at the age of 13, admits to growing up around his music.
“I grew up around my father’s music. It had spirit you know what I mean? That’s my foundation, to have spirit in the music; not just a song.”
He contends that he got to spend a lot of time with his famous dad; whose politically-charged music only underscored the immense passion he felt for his beloved Rastafari religion; and conveyed his message of urgency in the fight for human rights; using powerful lyrics sometimes lifted from the speeches of Jamaican leader Haile Selassie. Marley’s untimely death at a Miami hospital in 1981 following an eight-month-battle with cancer stunned the world. He was only 36.
As the eldest male of eleven siblings, Ziggy espouses big brother wisdom on the Marley clan while at the same time, showing respect for their individual choices.
“...They don’t own their masters at this time. One day they will reach that point also. I’ve spoken to them about it, owning your own masters. That is the future of music, you know... Record companies, you do an album with a record company, they own it for the rest of their life. And the artists’ get a very small percentage. It doesn’t really reflect the input of the artist; as to how much he makes from his own record so...when you own your own masters you have the ability to, its like, when you own your own home, you don’t want to rent for the rest of your life, you want to own your own home because you want to be free from that burden of owing somebody your whole life. That’s what its like with record companies; it’s like you owe them forever.”
With “Love Is My Religion” Ziggy flexes his muscles as writer of all 12 cuts on the CD; musician, playing most of the instruments, and producer on all but three cuts which was co-produced by Grammy winner Ross Hogarth. And while simplicity may have been the aim, the triple-threat artist found himself surprised by the direction the album had taken while playing back some of the cuts.
“...Simplicity was a main part of what I was trying to write. Don’t get too complicated. Don’t put more than what needs to be there. Don’t overproduce, don’t overplay. Just let everything flow. Whatever the feeling is, feel... When I started doing the record there was no concept. But then [with] “Love Is My Religion” -- I wrote that song and...realized when I was listening back [that] there was something to do with love in ... the majority of them.”
Recorded in Los Angeles but written "all over the world," (with some songs penned during his youth), “Love Is My Religion” expands upon the personal, social and political themes explored in Ziggy's debut CD, “Dragonfly.” Its musical center is clearly reggae, peppered by African percussion and other flavors. Opening with the subversively danceable "Into the Groove," Ziggy delves into an upbeat meditation on finding one's self. On the title track, "Love is My Religion," his message is one that "people need to hear," a unifying devotion to love that "needs to be preached in churches and mosque and synagogues." The notion of overcoming stereotypes and superstition informs the slinky "Black Cat," while the romantic "Make Some Music" finds a partner in the mid-tempo "A Lifetime."
Friendship is one of the album's recurring themes, whether as the core of monogamous love or the connective tissue of global brotherhood. "Friend" and "On the Beach in Hawaii" each offer an ode to love. In "Keep on Dreamin'," Ziggy extends the idea into the spiritual world, reconnecting with his father through dreams. The album's most political song, "Be Free," implores the listener to reject the manipulating power of fear. Slavery and its continuing effects are explored on "Still the Storms," which laments the crises in nations like Sudan, Rwanda and Sierra Leone by analogizing the path of hurricanes with the path of slave ships. The album closes with the simple and the complex: an acoustic guitar version of "Love Is My Religion" and a bass-heavy, trip-hop mix of "Be Free." The CD is on the Tuff Gong Worldwide label; which was founded by Bob Marley in 1965.
In an unprecedented move the Grammy-winning singer/songwriter entered into an agreement with Target last May; giving the chain exclusivity as the U.S. retailer of “Love Is My Religion,” which was released on July 4, 2006. The “direct-relationship” deal, a first for both parties (Ziggy’s first independent album and Target’s first time acting as the sole U.S. retailer for a major recording artist) will allow the album to be offered at the low price of $9.99 to Target Store consumers.
"One of my father’s goals was to release an album independently. His plan was to do that after the release of his final album on a major label - unfortunately, he never had the chance" shared Ziggy. "This album and the way it is being sold is important to me in honoring my father’s spirit. I am excited to be a part of this new relationship with Target.... the Target deal comes in kind of cool because Target, it’s a store that a lot of people go to; they have a lot of marketing power. Their product is at good prices, good value so they’re not overcharging or trying to make 200 percent on their profit; they’re just selling it at a good value and that was very important to me...”
Marley’s founding of the charitable organization U.R.G.E. is another way of honoring the spirit of his father, and the parents he credits with raising him to be intuned with the world’s suffering populations and further, to be contributive towards a solution in any way possible. “Unlimited Resources Giving Enlightenment” acts to help children. Where there is a lack, U.R.G.E. seeks to make enduring contributions; to improve the communities in which children learn, live and grow, in hopes of nourishing their future.
“In Jamaica, you know I learned from my father and my mother that we have people who are more fortunate, and less fortunate. That is our philosophy of love: help people who need help; help the orphans, help the children. We do that anyway so I said, ‘OK, let me start a foundation and if anyone feels the urge to help in the causes that we are doing they have a way to do it; where they can donate money, donate products or whatever, and officially do the tax write-off thing... It’s very small. We’re very limited in our resources so right now its just Jamaica because we’re not big or anything; we’re not some big charity or anything. We’re just doing it [at a] grassroots level. If one day we get big we’ll expand our charity and do other things but right now we’re kind of small so we just kind of concentrate on orphanages and Jamaican children. For example, we pay for teachers to teach at orphanages; we give books, you know? Simple things like that; we give clothing, medical supplies, food, [and] those things.”
EUR readers can send donations to U.R.G.E. at the following address: Bob Marley Music Inc., RE: U.R.G.E., 632 Broadway, Suite 901, New York, New York, 10012 or you can Email them at: urge@ziggymarley.com for further information.
As a journalist the work of DeBorah B. Pryor continues to reach national and international audiences. She has interviewed some of the entertainment industry’s most prominent people and has traveled extensively throughout the world. She presides over The Art of Communication: Public speaking for private people, a 3-hour-workshop providing real-life-strategies that enable effective communication both professionally and personally. She is a freelance speechwriter and copy editor. For information on upcoming workshops and speaking engagements, or to schedule a private public speaking consultation, or inquire about freelance writing services call Ms. Pryor at 818.247.2812 or email DeBorah@Dpryorpresents.com
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