Julian Marley: Continuing the Legacy

Julian Marley — son of the Legendary Bob Marley, self-taught roots reggae musician — sat down with Premier Guide Miami’s Daedrian McNaughton ahead of the final stop of his Awake Tour at the Adrienne Arsht Center, joined by brothers Stephen and Damian “Jr. Premier Guide Miami sat down to find out what that means — and what comes next.

I was flushed with excitement when I received news that I would be interviewing the son of the Legendary Bob Marley, Julian Marley. With wails and manes like that of his father, Julian Marley has been performing roots rock reggae for most of his life. It is difficult to talk about Bob’s children without referring to the Legend himself. He created this beautiful music that inspires us all over the world — Reggae Music. The blood runs intensely through the veins of his children, where they continue to spread love and unity through their music and encounters with others. Julian, the self-taught musician, has grown into a man of his own and has created his own identity while keeping the legacy and memories of the true foundation alive. In his new album, Awake, he touches on the injustice within society and encourages everyone to break down the barriers and to be open and free.

Talking to Julian, I could not help but notice how IRIE he was. There was a sense of calmness about him which drew me back to an interview done many years ago with his dad, where Bob was extremely calm and irie throughout. I managed to get a few secrets out — what gives him the energy while on stage, how he spends his down time (playing football and music), and what truly inspires him.

The final stop of the Awake Tour — Julian Marley and the Uprising featuring Stephen Marley and Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley — took place at the Arsht Center, Miami on November 22, 2009. The brothers blazed the stage with soulful tracks from the album as well as roots-reggae, street-energy hip hop, bubbling dancehall, R&B and reggae combinations.

One Love — Daedrian McNaughton

Welcome back to Miami, welcome home, and congratulations on the success of your new album, Awake. On your title track the lines, “For many years we have been lost in our tears, for many years the prophets have spoken and still can’t find no peace of mind, when will we wake?” — explain those lines to us and what were you referring to at that time?

We were referring to life and freedom of mankind. The words our prophets have spoken — Marcus Garvey, Martin Luther King — so many great ones have spoken so many words of wisdom. From that time to this time, have I seen any great changes? A few things have gotten better, no longer any racial barrier, but now everyone feels the pain. Awake is dealing with the system and freedom of the mind.

What was your inspiration for this new album and why have you decided to name it as such?

God is our first inspiration, life in general — and also knowing that my music… I find myself writing a lot of social songs, my songs are geared for togetherness. The inspiration is just life. The things we see every day, good and bad. We have to find a way to translate it and put it in music. You have songs like “Things Ain’t Cool” — every day so much war, so much fighting, so much going on. The wise men followed the guiding star and without guidance we will not go far. Even the rulers need guidance. The whole world is in a state, you know.

Your brothers Damian Jr. Gong and Stephen have joined you on this album. Where are Kymani, Robbie, Rohan and Ziggy? Why are they not a part of this album?

Well, Robbie does not sing, neither does Rohan. When we work on the album, we wish every one of our family is there. Sometimes everyone is doing their thing — it’s not every time you can get everyone in one place. So sometimes it goes like that. The last album, Ziggy played on it, and so did Rohan too. That’s the way it goes at times.

What would you say is the main ingredient that kept you and your brothers together as a family and as the children of a Legend?

LOVE! Yeah.

What is the message you would like to get to your fans through your songs?

Unification for everyone. Freedom! Once we are free in our minds, in our hearts, in our spirit, then we will love each other and be able to do other things. Until our minds are free we will be segregated, selfish. Once the barrier is broken then things will be open.

Your final performance is set here in Miami at the Arsht Center. What influenced your decision in making Miami your final stop on the tour?

Well, this is where we are most times. We live in Miami also. It’s always good to seal it right at your home front. You know what I mean?

Do you believe your music has cut across all genres? Is it accepted throughout the world?

Yeah. We don’t really make one kind of music — it crosses all borders. We have fans all over the world, in Russia… Reggae music is our foundation music, but we love other music too — jazz, blues, pop, dancehall, funk — everything, as long as there is something that draws me into it. I have no barriers with music. I love all kinds of music.

You are already celebrated as a Marley, the son of Bob Marley. How did you feel when you performed on the world’s stage in Beijing, China during the 2008 Olympic Games alongside the world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt?

It was a great experience supporting our Usain Bolt of Jamaica. I want you to know — I did not even see him. The Olympics is such a big event that we had three different venues and everything was working simultaneously. We did two performances in one day. We performed before the race and the final one as soon as the race was finished. We watched the race on a big screen in a different location. As soon as he won it was time for us to perform.

What do you do to keep the memories of your dad alive? Would he be proud of you today if he were alive?

I would feel so. We keep his memory alive by breathing every day. Even when you do not hear about us or you don’t see us, his vibe is very much alive — you know what I mean?

Have you accomplished what you intended from the Awake Tour?

Yes. We have accomplished a lot by coming out to the people and delivering the message live — you know what I mean.

How was the reception during your tour?

Yeah, we’re getting a good reception. It was great.

You are constantly on the go — how do you manage to keep the energy going?

You have to keep fit, you have to eat good food, and you have to keep motivated.

What do you eat, Julian? Come on, tell us your secret.

Then that will be giving away all the secrets… Steam fish and hard ground food — yam, potato, dasheen, bananas — and steam fish and okra. A Jamaican staple, favorite among locals.

Julian, thank you so much for talking with us. You, your brothers, and the entire Marley family are true inspirations for us all. We celebrate Bob Marley’s legacy every day in our lives. We wish you success in all your endeavors. BLESSED.

Tickets for The Awake Tour: Julian Marley and the Uprising featuring Stephen and Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley were available through the Adrienne Arsht Center box office at (305) 949-6722 or online at www.arshtcenter.org.

During a “Giving Thanks With The Marleys” initiative, The Ghetto Youths Foundation asked attendees to bring non-perishable canned goods to the event. Donations were given to CHARLEE (Children Have All Rights: Legal, Educational and Emotional) Homes for Children to help feed over 170 young adults who had aged out of foster care and provide food for families in need during the Thanksgiving holiday. CHARLEE is a private not-for-profit social service agency created in 1983 in Miami-Dade County, caring for children ages 0–23 years old placed in foster care due to abuse, abandonment, and/or neglect.

For more upcoming events across South Florida, visit the Premier Guide Miami Events Calendar.