5 Questions With Bugle

A decade after the release of his début album, Anointed, conscious reggae singer Bugle, has given fans Apex, a 16-track offering that the Rastafarian song-writer has poured his everything into. His fifth studio album, Apex dropped on August 23 and the buzz is gaining momentum, a fact for which the singer-songwriter is grateful. Among the songs on Apex are Heads Up, Upside Down, Thank you Lord, and Murderer.

Collaborating with Bugle are famous names such as Buju Banton, Barrington Levy, Capleton, Damian ‘Jr Gong’ Marley and Maxi Priest, which seamlessly blend in with those that need a second glance, among them Chaps and GiHrl. Bugle also features standard-bearers in their own right in the form of Ras Shiloh and Military Man. He embraces them all as “superstars”.

Apex had it official launch last Wednesday at Di Lot and on board was Magnum Tonic Wine, adding its flavour to the event, which was well supported by Bugle’s peers in the music industry, as well as media.

Born Roy Thompson on January 30, in Kingston, Bugle has carved out his own niche in the music industry and is one of those artistes whose voice is respected within the fraternity. Growing up in the tough streets of Kingston, his bio notes that “Bugle was deeply influenced by the sounds of reggae legends such as Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Buju Banton”.

This week, 5 Questions With ... tracked down Bugle, ‘the anointed one’ for an enriching conversation.

The apex is defined as the highest point. What message are you sending with ‘Apex’ as the title of your new album?

The title of this album is actually self-explanatory, because this project is definitely the apex of my career … I think it surpasses all my other albums.

You have a few collabs on ‘Apex’. Was this your intention all along and give us a little insight into how intense the recording process was.

This was definitely intentional to have some of my favourite superstars on my project … every single artiste on this project is someone I look up to and have utmost respect for, even the ones who are not as popular. The recording process was a bit stressful at times but exciting as well, because waiting for Damian Marley to record, even though it didn’t take long was an anxious process, if you understand what I’m saying.

A fan of yours once said that your music “feeds souls ... not egos”. To what extent do you agree with this profound assessment?

I totally agree. One of my fans told me my music made him dance from the head and not from the feet, and that’s because I do soul music and not surface music. If you don’t learn from my music it’s either you’re not listening or your head just really ‘tuff’.

‘Anointed’ is a title that has stuck with you from your song/album of the same name. What does being anointed mean to you?

Anointed means I’m appointed by a higher power and that is what brought me through my journey. When you are anointed, it means God himself chose you and put you on your mission because if you’re not connected to the Most High you cannot be anointed.

At your recent launch Bounty Killer made an appeal for reggae music to be played in prime time in the dancehall and be given the respect it deserves. Do you support this action?

I’m in support of this 100 per cent because reggae has been treated in Jamaica like a side dish, but, reggae is a main course meal so to speak. How can you go into a man’s house and treat him as if he’s the gardener? That’s how reggae is treated here in Jamaica, but the rest of the world cherishes it … every year the recording industry award a reggae artiste with a Grammy which is the highest achievement in music. Why aren’t we taking care of our legacy though? Bob Marley is still the artiste of the century and reggae music is what gave him that status. We need to do better before its all gone.

BRAWTA

What would people be surprised to know about Bugle?

That I’m a good cook maybe … or that I did fashion designing before music … or that I used to be Elephant Man’s opening act and dancer on his tours!

yasmine.peru@gleanerjm.com