When one thinks of an heir, one immediately thinks of someone who wears a crown and is sure to some day inherit lots of responsibilities; for instance, like a prince or a princess. Not all heirs wear crowns and some have some very different responsibilities. There are persons who fight this tooth and nail, while others accept it with grace and humility.
David Marley aka Ziggy just happens to fall into the latter category. A very soft spoken gentlemen reminiscent of interviews, he graciously spoke at length about his career, his father and his brothers. His eyes lit up, as he expressed excitement about being in The Bahamas, a place where he spent considerable time some years ago in his fathers' home on West Bay Street. He grew up in a house full of music and even now, the music of his legendary father could be heard playing in the background.
DRAGONFLY was the name given to his first album and LOVE IS MY RELIGION is his second solo project and will be released in July. He frequently writes and produces most of his music, and he sometimes consults with his brothers to get a different perspective on it.
Ziggy readily admits the lessons taught to him by his father. "He taught me to work hard and be disciplined when it comes to music and he set an example by his actions. My father taught me that this is not a joke, it serves a purpose and we are here to fulfil that purpose. We are to spread the inspiration that we get through music to the people." Growing up with him, he was one of my inspirations along with Myles Davis and a few others.
In speaking on Caribbean music, he expressed the fact that he embraces all music and it is us who separate it. The music of the Caribbean is joyful and uplifting. When you see a music video and view the beaches; people who are not used to it see it as a medication, it is very relaxing.
With all that being said and being a true patriot, I quizzed him about doing his next video here in Nassau. He gave a big smile and exclaimed, I was just thinking that as I was driving here.
When quizzed about his involvement with Hollywood, he candidly revealed, "every now and again, I am asked to do a soundtrack for a movie; sometimes I do it, sometimes I don't.
Drive was a remake of an 80's song that was produced much earlier by another artist; it was done for the movie 51st Gate. It starred Adam Sandler and I think Drew Barrymore. I also did a voice for the animation film, Sharktales. It was good and pretty cool. I have been offered several roles but have turned them down. They were mostly stereotypical roles of some drug relation. I do not want to play a role just because it will make money. I have to feel a connection to that role. It has to be meaningful." If the right one comes along, then I will not rule it out.
He expressed his pleasure at seeing music channels like the Pan-Caribbean music channel, Tempo and others like a new channel that MTV has MTVAfrica. "It is great to uplift our people. We need to focus more on what we do." He also touched on his involvement with charity work.
U.R.G.E. is a charity organisation that I have and I try to do things for kids, especially for orphanages in Jamaica. The other day, an Aids Foundation contacted me to do some publicity for them. A shoe company called Aldo is doing a whole promotional campaign to raise awareness of this plight.
It was a privilege for me to add my face to it. They did me a favour by asking me to do it, more than me doing them a favour. When quizzed about why he has not yet appeared on any Reggae Alls Stars ticket, he expressed his love for the Bahamian people and his desire to do something special. When I come to do a show here, I want to do something that is special, charitable just like my father did, something significant and meaningful.
The plan is to do something and donate the proceeds to benefit the people.
Collaboration is popular but he does not see it in the cards right now. I am not against it but I just don't see it right now. Curious about a project with his brothers, I asked him if that was in the works. "Yes, that is one of the very next projects, so it is in the plans." For now, this triple Grammy award winning artist, David Ziggy Marley, is here for some rest and relaxation and enjoying Nassau. He will however, make some radio appearances this week and is scheduled to leave today.
The Nassau Guardian
