Aug. 05, 2009 - Issue #720: The Season 2009

Edmonton Folk Music Festival: The Wailers

(Jamaica)

Once upon a time, the Wailers was a Jamaican supergroup that included luminaries such as namesake Bunny Wailer, Peter Tosh and Bob Marley. Today, it's a reggae/rocksteady/ska/dub institution, with the current lineup including legendary bassist Family Man, whose talents are highlighted on 1999’s Family Man In Dub.

VW: How would you describe your music to people who have never heard you?

Aston “Familyman” Barrett: Our music is universal and heartbeat of the people. It carries the message of roots culture and reality.

VW: What brought you to music?

AB: Growing up in Jamaica we listened to all kinds of music from all over the world—rhythm & blues, rock, soul, funk, soca, calypso cumbria and African roots music. We are the children volunteering for the mission to get the word out to everyone

VW: What is the role of music in your life?

AB: Reggae and the music the Wailers play carries the message of reality and roots which is the almighty God’s gift. The message is to spread our music to all four corners of the earth because music is for all time, for all purposes and for the future. We have a saying that says “The older the moon, the brighter it shines.” Music is everything.





VW: What is the role of music in your culture?

AB: The music of the culture is the message—it’s the message from King David coming from the Bible

VW: Is your music in the mainstream musical tradition of your culture?

AB: Music in life is everything. Music is a backdrop like mural with many colours and it is always there.

VW: What themes dominate your music?

AB: The music points out all the consciousness of different eras about life and living. Our music talks about many different things, political, emotional spiritual—they are all universals. Music is the future, it is written that singers and players are true instruments and shall lead us to our future.

VW: Do you feel any pressure to be a “cultural ambassador” when you play to people outside your culture?

AB: No, not at all—most people think that there is a great God in the sky who is going to come down and take away all their problems, however, we know that life isn’t like that: we hurt, we feel, we love and that’s why we need to fight for our rights. This is the message.

VW: Is it a different experience to play to an audience that shares your culture than to one that does not?

AB: There are many different cultures and we unite in the music. Luckily we now have the technology to bring us all together, though this with emails, twitter, faxes phones—it’s endless connections

VW: What do you think sharing music between cultures can accomplish?

AB: Well, the music is pointing out the different eras and the knowledge that exists in our lives. It is important to bring forward the unifying message of reggae music—it's rastaman vibration—it’s positive. Always. What was hidden from the wise will now be revealed to the youth.

VW: What are you looking forward to at the Edmonton festival?

AB: Looking forward to being there and seeing everyone. I get shy when I don’t see anyone. We are all ready to perform at the festival. There are a lot of things out there and the truth is the only thing that can set you free. The Wailers are chosen for the mission to get the word out about and our will be done by all means no matter the price, and I feel blessed to be chosen to get the message out and play our music. Reggae is the music that the Bible speak of and it will lead us to a perfect world.

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