In a time where the pop music scene is brimming over with narcissistic, self-pedestal dudes and divas, it’s refreshing to encounter artists who strive to find a conscious view of the world around them.
Formed in 2006, roots-rock reggae act Raging Fyah has one real manifesto; they want to change the world “note by note, melody by melody – spreading light in areas of darkness,” states the band’s website.
The eclectic and lively five-piece will take the stage at Wild Bill’s in Banff on Wednesday (Aug. 20), touring on the strength of their latest album Destiny.
Band members Anthony Watson, Kumar Bent, Courtland White, Demar Gayle and Delroy Hamilton first got together and formed their positive impetus at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts in Kingston, Jamaica.
“It happened out of us all being at college where we were all studying music,” bassist and bandleader Hamilton said.
“So as friends and classmates, we would share in similar ensembles together as a band, but we realized that we all shared a similar vision, which was wanting to be a self-contained band as opposed to being a backing band for someone else. So sharing that vision, we acted upon it.”
With spiritually positive songs like “Jah Glory,” Hamilton and his bandmates are never afraid to look outward and inward at the same time:
And don’t you worry / my people, don’t you ever forget
Give Jah the glory / in every single step that you take
“It’s a part of our mission – we really do intend to change the world with every note and every lyric that we sing in a positive way. The world is a strange place and our music is of a positive consciousness and that’s what we are trying to get across to everyone who hears us.”
Aside from their apparent spiritual tones, Raging Fyah aims to find balance between an often negative and self-centered industry and their musical family and community.
“Like with everything else, there has to be balance, so you’ll always have negative and positive in music and everything – and sad and happy and all of it. So there is negativity within pop music, for sure, but we want to be the agents of positivity.”
Having been compared in their sound structure to reggae powerhouses Bob Marley and Third World, Hamilton and the rest of the band all have wide ranges of musical tastes.
“Our inspiration with music is very wide – I mean, we listen to a lot of different things, but we really appreciate different genres and not just reggae. We had to take those courses in school, too, so our influences are very broad. We listen to jazz. We listen to pop. We listen to EDM (electronic dance music). We try and take from all of it,” Hamilton added.
While taking courses at college together in Kingston, the band had the chance to be taken under the tutorial wing of reggae legend Ibo Cooper of Third World.
“Ibo Cooper, who was one of the founding members of Third World, was one of our teachers at school, so he inspired us, for sure. He shared his experiences with us and that just fuelled our fire in wanting to do what he had done, and to do it our way.”
The positivity powered band is enjoying their first live dates in Canada, including a spot at Reggae Fest in Calgary, and they are admiring the natural beauty of Alberta.
They are also looking forward to writing some songs as a band, while they are in such a rugged and peaceful part of the country.
“We are always writing, but it’s a collaborative effort and we find that works for us. We give each other input, and we really are a collective. Everybody puts in different parts and we are always adding and pitching and at the end of the day, everyone is happy.”
With a strong desire to see and hear more reggae in the mainstream, Hamilton thinks all music fans should have the chance to broaden their musical horizons.
“We want to see it more in the media and on the radio because the message is uplifting and conscious; so why not get that message across to as many people as we can? We can all be a little brighter by dancing and listening to good, positive music. Everyone should have the opportunity to listen to all kinds of music.”
Living and performing in one of the most poverty-stricken areas of the world, Hamilton is aware that their Kingston roots play an important role in their desire to affect positive change, their artistic view and their overall message.
“It does influence us because when you live in Kingston, you get to see reality. You’re not living in an imaginary world – you are living where poverty is a real thing and you need an uplifting message. We all do. We definitely know the real third world and we’ve all shared in those experiences, and so it’s a reality for us.”
