Stephen Marley’s new album, Previous Soul, his first full-length venture since 2016, is out now by way of Tuff Gong Collective/UMe/Ghetto Youths Worldwide. That includes a stellar line-up of particular friends, together with Bob Weir, Eric Clapton, Jack Johnson, Ziggy Marley, Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, Buju Banton, and Barely Stoopid. Previous Soul shall be obtainable on CD, a 2LP customary black vinyl, and as a limited-edition double LP vinyl in translucent yellow and inexperienced on December 1.
Bob Weir of the Grateful Lifeless and singer/songwriter Jack Johnson be a part of Marley on “Winding Roads,” the album’s newest single. A metaphor for all times’s journey, battle, and eventual salvation, the tune soulfully closes out Previous Soul with interlacing guitar and vocal trade-offs from Marley, Weir, and Johnson, creating an unforgettable bluesy basic and the one tune from the album recorded with a full band. “Winding Roads” was recorded at Bob Weir’s TRI Studios along with his Wolf Bros band, together with Don Was and Lifeless & Firm members Jeff Chimenti and Jay Lane.
The discharge of “Winding Roads” adopted two earlier singles, “Previous Soul” and “Cool As The Breeze.” A retrospective music video for the album’s title monitor, “Previous Soul,” launched earlier this summer time, options unseen household photographs and a montage of Jamaican musical heritage. A heat acoustic narrative, the tune carries listeners by Stephen’s evolution, intertwined with the Marley legacy. Lyrics resembling “April 1972, my mother and poppa introduced me by, again then I used to be the favourite, so they are saying,” give a nod to his lineage and early years. Initially penned by Jamaican artist Omi, Stephen tailored the tune to mirror his private journey, suggesting a familiarity with previous life experiences. Echoing his father’s sentiments, Stephen’s core message promotes psychological freedom and unity.
Stephen Marley’s Previous Soul comes as a whole revelation. Whereas grounded from the highway throughout the COVID lockdown, Stephen arrange a brand new studio on a distant household farm within the Florida countryside, holding nightly jam classes in a transformed storage. With a stripped-down ensemble comprising binghi drums, bass, acoustic guitar, and flute, Stephen performed no matter he felt like — starting from authentic compositions and reggae rarities with deep private which means to classics recorded by Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, and The Beatles. “Irie vibration,” Stephen says of the sounds made collectively on the farm. The lion’s share of Previous Soul was recorded throughout these “unplugged” jam classes.
Previous Soul explores a musical palette that spans a wide range of cultures and genres alike, with hand-selected particular friends furthering the non secular journey that encompasses the album. Stephen and his elder brother Ziggy collaborate on “There’s A Reward,” a heartfelt tribute to Joe Higgs, the person who mentored younger Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Bunny Wailer once they have been all aspiring singers in Trenchtown. In the meantime, Stephen’s youthful brother Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley options on “Solid The First Stone,” a robust, thought-provoking tune set to an ominous groove that seems like one thing from a misplaced spaghetti Western soundtrack.
Stephen enlists his previous good friend Buju Banton on the ska-flavored “Thanks We Get (Do Fi Dem),” a Lee “Scratch” Perry composition made well-known by Junior Byles that explores the concept that no good deed goes unpunished. And Kyle McDonald of Barely Stoopid joins on a verse on “Standing In Love,” a phenomenal ballad that hearkens again to reggae’s candy rocksteady period.
“We positively did need some completely different sounds,” says Stephen. “We by no means need to include the identical ray ray ray. We attempt to make a few of them one thing you’ll be able to’t actually determine. Ah, simply music.” Among the many extra surprising choices embedded on Previous Soul are a disarmingly candy cowl of Sinatra’s “These Silly Issues (Reminds Me Of You),” in addition to Marley’s tackle The Beatles’ perpetually pleading “Don’t Let Me Down.”
The tune choice on the brand new album demonstrates Stephen’s braveness to defy expectations. “It’s important to be true to your self,” he says. “I refuse to be put into any class. I’m impressed by every part. So, if I really feel like I need to play some jazz music, I’ll go play some jazz music. Who dig it, dig it.”
Purchase or stream Previous Soul.