REGGAE WITH AN INDIAN TOUCH
Musician-turned-dentist Varun Carvalho is working with James Malcolm, Bob Marley’s cousin on an album that will bring together the sounds of India and reggae. James talked about his stay in Goa and his plans for the album
It is a popular music of Jamaican origin that combines indigenous styles with elements of rock and soul music and is performed at moderate tempos with an emphasis on excess. This is what you get when you punch the word reggae. It is a musical genre that emerged from the so-called third world and gave the world its first superstar. Bob Marley a man who symbolized the hopes and dreams of a generation of men of African heritage. That musical genre that grew up under his tutelage has become increasingly popular around the world.
Now a man from this family who gave birth to Bob is now in Goa. James Malcolm, Bob Marley’s cousin and acclaimed composer, pianist and social activist through his work with young children over the years, is working with Varun Carvalho of Goa himself on a new album which they hope to release in a couple of months. .
When asked if this was his first visit to Goa, he said he had visited Goa ten years ago while on tour. He said: “We had performed in Goa, Sri Lanka and a couple of other places in 2012 and I liked the atmosphere of the place. I met Varun whom I call the Doctor and it was nice. When I finished the tour “I go back to Goa. I work a lot with children, especially orphans, and when I find them I usually bring them keyboards.” Now he said he was here to work on the album and on Reggae Haven, the place Varun set up to encourage musicians to come and play reggae and other genres. his home in Goa.
When asked to talk about the state of reggae around the world and in the West Indies, he said that he was very proud of the work done by his cousin Bob Marley. He said it all started in the reggae capital, Jamaica and from where it spread.
James said: “I am very proud of the work he has done and his popularity now. At the age of eighteen I lived with him and it is a pleasure to see him grow and be popular. In Goa, I represent my family and I am very “I’m proud to be working on an album here in Goa that has its roots in reggae. Speaking of Goa, I’ve been here and it’s obviously getting bigger.” He said he was watching various acts at Reggae Haven and it was obvious that there was interest in the genre. In India, he said, he loves reggae. said James
“Even our shows so many years ago sold out in India. I have to say that the people of India are as kind as the people of Africa. I have been very well. I came back because I am. I had a great time all these years ago. I felt like I was coming home. “
Asked about the album he was working on with Varun, he said it would bring together reggae and Indian culture. They were mixing traditional sounds with reggae. There would be about a dozen songs on the album, even though they were picking up one song at a time.
Asked about the topics he wanted to talk about on the album, he said: “It’s just coming, nothing is written and we’ll be developing ideas as we talk. There are songs he has and others we don’t know. So it was with Bob Marley; it would happen when it had to happen ”.
When asked if any big stars would be participating in the album, he said that everything was in the preliminary phase, but there was a good chance that members of the Marley family could be part of the album. He said there could be other surprises as well and that an announcement would be made in due course.
The album said it would be released in India, USA, London and other markets around the world. They were looking for a release in July or even August and they were sure that once they entered the studio, the energy would flow and an excellent album would come out.
The possibility of a completely new genre emerging sounds interesting and this could be music for tired ears.
