Interview with Jalani Horton from Bambu Station

In recent years many roots lovers have turned their attention towards S:t Croix and the Virgin Islands for their new and fresh sounds of reggae music simply because of the heartfelt and outstanding releases coming from the region. Bambu Station being one of the pioneers from the region, lately released ”Talkin Roots Vol 1”, which showcased many talented singers and deejays from the islands, as well as their own critically acclaimed album "One Day”. I linked up with Jalani Horton, the lead vocalist of the group, after they just had completed their first U.S tour. After some emailing back and forth, this is the fruit of the labour. I would like to thank the Mt Nebo Records management crew for the help given. – Jakob Levi

Guidelight Movement: Could you introduce yourself and your music for those who don´t know about Bambu Station ?

Jalani Horton: Greetings all ones that support and seek information regarding the positives that exist throughout the world. It is an honor and blessing to be acknowledged by Guiding Light Movement regarding our thoughts and perspectives on music. My name is Jalani Horton, the founder and lead singer of Bambu Station Roots Reggae Band. Bambu Station comes from the Virgin Islands of St. Croix and St. Thomas and we strive to produce music and songs that inspire, inform and share praises of the beautiful things in life. Our music is very straightforward and comes from the roots tradition that evolved before us. We grew up on Third World, Root Radics, Augustus Pablo and many others who influence our approach and vibe for music. We do not try to copy or imitate, but bring forth our natural intuition and hopefully it is on point to move people. We move in that tradition with God's strength.

To date we have produced several works. They are:
Bambu Station / Congo Moon / 1999 High Rotation Records
Bambu Station / Talkin' Roots - Volume I - VA / 2002 Mt. Nebo Records
Bambu Station / One Day / 2003 Mt. Nebo Records
Iba / Jah Lion (Children of the Nile) / 2003 Mt. Nebo Records

GLM: Could you tell us about your earlier experiences in music and the history of Bambu Station ?

JH: I was involved in music in some form as far back as age 8. I started with the flutophone, then trombone. While I didn't stick with the trombone, I always sang wherever I went. I was a hardcore fan of Steel Pulse particularly because of David Hind's lyrics, consicousness, phrasing and harmonies. The True Democracy album was my favorite. I also was heavy on the Wailers and all three singers as solo artists. Bunny Wailer's "Protest" album was heavy on me. The Last Poets out of New York were huge. I remembered playing an old 8 track cassette all summer shouting and repeating their poems/songs. Maybe not knowing the significance of their lyrics at the time, but surely dipping me in the consciousness they were bringing. My band-mates are also avid music listeners and historians when it comes to many genres. Maybe at some other point you can check with them same. History and experiences in music are too diverse to try to even describe.

Bambu Station's history began in the Fall of 1996. I decided on the name Bambu Station before there was even a band. I just knew I was going to start a band and choosing its name was a large part of setting its focus and direction, roots, roots, roots, roots! The band has went through several personnel changes. Our current lineup has been together since 2000. Andy Llanos started as the bass player and played bass throught the Talkin' Roots album. He displayed some of his talents when he also drummed on one track and sang the undescribable tune, "Only Jah Jah Know," a heartfelt cry out to Jah for acceptance and forgiveness. Andy moved to drums when Warren Pedersen joined the Station in 2003. Warren is very steady and prolific on bass. He is an avid jazz musician, but has the temperment and touch to play roots music in its highest form. Tuff Lion is our elder and brings to the group years of experience from the countless artists he has toured and recorded with. Tuff Lion tremendous and tasteful guitar work can be heard in all its splendor Apple Gabriel's "Another Moses," Midnite's "Ras Mek Peace," Dezarie's "Fya" and all of Bambu Station's work since 2000. We just completed our first tour of the U.S West Coast in November 2004. We look forward to Europe sometime in 2005.

GLM: Talkin´ Roots Vol. 1 was a highly acclaimed release of yours, which featured nuff artists from your home turf. Could you tell us about the idea behind the project and the people your worked with ?

JH: Talkin' Roots Volume I was a very heartical album. We wanted to feature artists from our small islands to show to the world the amazing talent we know exists today. All artists on this album except Dezarie were probably unheard of until that album was released. Our resources back home are very limited and recording opportunities are not great so we were blessed to provide this opportunity to fellow artists. Hopefully the album has provided them with opportunities to further their careers.

You can now hear Yah Shiloh I on several compilations, Star Lion Family members will be releasing some seriously powerful solo efforts in 2005 and Anhk Watep will be featured on Talkin' Roots II. Iba's debut album "Jah Lion" has really helped to expose him to the masses and he recently toured with us throughout the US east and west coast and the Hawaiian islands. We are also producing his second album for release in 2005.

Talkin' Roots II will have a character of its own. We did not try to copy or duplicate the vibe of Volume I but let the songs dictate the vibe and energy etc. Sometimes you can be too critical or look too mush for a particular sound or vibe, we just let it flow and it is another album we are really pleased with. The artists were great to work with and some new names will be introduced to the masses with Talkin' Roots II. The artists on Volume II will start with Bambu Station's own Tuff Lion, then Ijah Menelik, Danny I, Jahman, Star Lion Family, Bashan, Ibednego, Army, Anhk Watep, Black Culture and the St. Croix princess Lady Passion. Talkin' Roots II will be released in December or January.

GLM: Could you give us a comment of your lyrics which I find very frank and well articulate ?

JH: I started writing poetry in 1986. I wrote whatever came to mind and did not try to make it rhyme or be poetic. I always felt like being different which continued when I started to write songs. My first song was called "Millions Cry" which was written in the summer of 1996. It appeared on the Congo Moon album. My lyrics basically come from my real life situations, conversations and observations. I never considered myself a singer so I more talk my lyrics and rely alot on my poetry style. One vibe that aside from the truth that is tantamount to me is clarity. I want everyone to understand what it is I say and mean in my lyrics. No lyrical trickery, gimmicks or vibes to discern. As straightforward as I could be and hopefully it sounds or is interesting enough for the folks to want to listen to.

"You can kill my seeds as they grow, showing your destructive power
But a misery must live in your home, you probably think that, sugar sour" "My Actions" / One Day album.

GLM: What about your label Mt. Nebo Records ? Could you enlight us the reason for starting it and idea behind it ?

JH: Well, in 2002 we linked with fellow musicians and music lovers to help create an independent label that would provide artists an opportunity for fair pay. We felt with the technology of today, labels should be able to cut overhead and miscellaneous expenses that would help artists to be paid more frequently and with more percentage. Too many artists of yesteryear have been slaved to the system and the antics of labels and greedy producers and those who created some beautiful works had no balance or chance to enjoy the finances their works generated.

In a few short years, Mt. Nebo has grown efficiently and smartly not trying to do more than its resources allow. It is really a shell, an infrastructure for the artists to use to get their music out. In the big picture, we also wanted to have a hand in being part of an organization that wanted to promote positive music only.

GLM: What inspires you to do what you do ?

JH: When you talk with the other bredrens in the band they will share their motivations with you. As for me, once I was exposed to the studio and the creating of music in 1996, there was a natural evolution and growth. It comes natural to me. I write strictly from inspiration, I don't sit to write a song. If its not from a flowing thought, sound etc. I don't write. So purely inspiration, sounds, observations and vibes inspires me. But also, once finding this, I couldn't stop if I tried. Nothing else in my life have fit me so much. I went to college, tried the program to become an officer in the army, studied and contemplated pursuing a legal career and played alot of sports growing up, but music allows me to use all that I am good at and blessed with. Its always in my head and every breathe I take. When we respect the strong vibes in us, not understand them, but respect them, we find our purpose.

GLM: What is your belief and relation with Rastafari ?

JH: I will take your question to mean am I Rasta? I am not Rasta. In my youth, my grandmother wasn't having that in her house and I wasn't rebellious in that way, but I still enjoyed much of the Rasta livity. Rastafari was and remains very popular in the V.I. and so many in our neighborhood practiced tenets of the livity whether they were Rasta or not. I was blessed to grow up around Rastaman that were very heartical in many ways. Them man look out for us youth in many ways and introduced us to many things in the livity, Ital and eating habits being a major part of that. I stopped eating pork around age 10. In 5th and 6th grade I had an idren named Felix from Savan. He was a Ras back then when we were only 10 years old, but he introduced me to alot and explained alot to me. He was a true bredren and very heartical at a young age. Unfortunately this bredren was murdered years ago.

As a youth I was never forced to go to church and so I never went. I have been to Church more for funerals and weddings than for services. My search for God and the reason for my existence has thus been self motivated. In my journey I have found many things that contradict alot of so called history and philosophies out there. The history of things exist and is very available, its just that many choose to believe what they want to believe for their own reasons. I figure, if a person is good, strives to be good, lives in the God-spirit and obeys the laws of nature one would be safe, so that's how I strive to live. Trouble no one, ridicule no one, just share the information I come across and let folks judge for themselves. There is a serious thing in this life we live, you promote life, or you promote death in everything you do. The way we speak, the way we dress and the way we eat all affects the spirit of our lives and communities. Righteousness, love, Godliness, if they ruled, the world would be a blessed place.

Haile I Selassie I, H.I.M. In conversation you will find many who glorify him but don't know much about him or his thoughts and philosophies. His Majesty was well beyond the leaders of his day. He spoke with truth, conviction and clairvoyance. His words to help the African continent are chilling to this day because he suggested many solutions in his time that would have addressed the problems the continent find itself in today. I suggest strongly that ones research and study this great leader of mankind. He had a purpose, and I would say he did it, he warned mankind and informed those of like minds of what to look for; what to aspire towards; who we are in the eyes of God. I further suggest that all don't keep books on their shelves but pass along to those seeking information. The more we share, the more we move in the livity of his Majesty.

Hopefully I have answered your question, but in summary I will say Rastaman I have known and Rastafari have influenced my vibes and life tremendously. But to say I am not Rasta in its simplest sense is just that, but hopefully one day, we can all be viewed as a godly person or an ungodly person, a goodman or a badman, a blessing or a curse. Praise Yah and the tenets that promote life, in all tings positive, praises.

GLM: St. Croix and Virgin Islands seems like quite a inspiring place to be with all the strong releases coming from the islands right now. Could give us a comment on the climate of music and how it is living there ?

JH: There are many talented and artistic ones in the V.I. Many of our elders played music throughout the world and played all types of music so music is nothing new to the V.I. There have not been many affordable opportunities to record in the V.I. and Calypso has always dominated the majority of the youth and recordings. While reggae has always been a part of our culture, Calypso was always boss.

Now that more opportunities to record have become available, the Reggae artists and aspiring artists have had an opportunity to be heard and the world seems to be enjoying immensely the vibes of these artists. Ones should check for the works of Army, Danny I, Star Lion Family, Dezarie, Midnite, Batch, Umoja, Mada Nile, Inner Visions, I Grade Productions, Apostle, Ras Attitude, Abja, Sister Joyce and many others. They can find much of this and other music at www.mtneborecords.com, www.soundvizionrecords.com, www.midniteband.com, www.dezarie.com, www.igraderecords.com and several others.

We need to develop venues and the overall industry for the music, but that will all come with the development and success of the artists and the music they release. All is blessed.

GLM: What can we expect from Bambu Station and Mt. Nebo Records in the future ?

JH: Well Bambu Station will continue to record positive music whether its us or artists we produce. We want to flood the market and airwaves with positive music. As time, health and strength allow, we will follow the path and vision we set. Classic, quality music that helps people to love life, love each other and grow in love. 2005 see at least 3-4 products produced by Bambu Station. Bambu Station will also continue to Tour the US mainland and we are making inquiries now to Tour in Europe and South America. We travel to Israel in May and look forward to that much, Schma Israel!

I know that Mt. Nebo Records will be distributing some other works soon come same. 2005 will see releases by Midnite, Pressure, Talkin' Roots II, Bambu Station's "Chant of the Lions I," Bambu Station's "Bird's Eye View," Black Culture's "Lion's Den Adversity" and several other works that will be greatly loved by the roots masses. Give thanx for the opportunity, we look forward to Europe in 2005. Until then, in all tings positive, let us live in the God-spirit.

GLM: Give thanks Jalani Horton!

All photos are used with kind permission of Mt. Nebo records.

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