HOTT AND RAW EXCLUSIVES: JULIAN MARLEY

// June 1st, 2009 // Hott and Raw Exclusives

q: due to your father’s legacy, do you ever feel any pressure as an artist?

Julian Marley: “Not really.” “I would just say that we’ve been taught by a good teacher . ... our father.”

By John Charles Reedburg (CEO/Publisher/Executive-Producer)

Q: What is your definition of roots reggae?
A: “When you listen to reggae music it brings you up!” “My definition of reggae music is up-fullness.”

Julian Marley – during an exclusive interview with Datzhott.com

JULIAN MARLEY has been around music all his life. Born in London in 1975, he has been blessed both by his father’s great talent and legacy and by the unique perspective that comes with an upbringing in a multicultural community.

His devotion to a life in music, mastering a variety of instruments and writing songs that reflects his dedication to spiritual upliftment and social change, expresses an auspicious thought of humanity. Julian, much like others from his  family, is an artist, who paints the picture-perfect music  for the world to see.

In this Hott and Raw Exclusive, DATZHOTT! talks with Julian about his latest album “Awake”, his efforts in blurring the lines of reggae, and his thoughts about the pressures of competing with his father’s legacy.

After listening to the interview. Don’t forget to check below for a couple of tracks from Julian’s album which is currently available in stores. Fans wanting to stay up with latest on Julian, can do so via the link below:

http://www.myspace.com/royalmarley

WHAT’s HOTT!!! ABOUT JULIAN MARLEY!?!

A Spirit of Tradition!

Since recording his first song at age five at the Marley family home in Kingston, Julian has become a skillful, self-taught musician, mastering the bass, drums, and keyboards. In 1989 he released his first album, titled “Uprising” — also the name of his new band.

He moved to Jamaica in 1992 and began to work with such reggae veterans as Aston “Family Man” Barrett, Earl “Wire” Lindo, Tyrone Downie and Earl “Chinna” Smith. His most recent release, “Lion in the Morning”, is the culmination of his musical development to date, a conscious effort that reflects his growing maturity and musical sophistication. Collaborating on the album with Julian was the Ghetto Youths International production team founded by siblings Stephen and Ziggy.

The family connection goes further: it was recorded at the newly renovated Marley Music studio at Hope Road in Kingston, the studio where his father created some of his most important and well-known work. While clearly reflecting his roots and heritage, the album is his however his own testament. A veteran performer despite his youth, Julian has performed at Jamaica’s Sumfest and Sunsplash shows, and has toured in Japan, Brazil and Mexico. He and brother Damian were also featured as part of the “Marley Magic” North American tour in 1996. His current tour will include shows throughout the United States. Catch this young Lion now at a venue near you.

For Julian Marley, music is life, life is music and both are blessings from above.

The 90s were a watershed period for the young artist. During these years, Julian formed his own band (the Uprising band), released a critically acclaimed album (1996’s Lion in the Morning, on which he wrote or co-wrote all the songs) and toured the world, both as a solo performerbacked by Uprising and as a member of Ghetto Youths International, a musical collective whose core members are Julian and his brothers, Stephen and Damian.

Together, Julian and Damian were the opening act for Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers’ 1995 US tour and featured artists in 1997 on the rock-oriented Lollapalooza festival tour. Julian also assisted his brother Stephen with production on 1999’s platinum selling Chant Down Babylon and, along with Spragga Benz and Marley siblings Stephen, Cedella, Damian and Ky-Mani, contributed an inspired version of “Master Blaster” to the 2003 Stevie Wonder tribute album, Conception.