1.The First Record I Bought
The first record I remember buying was a Janis Joplin CD, Pearl. I listened to it my entire childhood in my mother’s vinyl collection. Janis’ music, soul and raw energy inspired me greatly in my early years as a musician and artist.
2.The Last Record I Bought
Anderson .Paak – the album Malibu. A friend of mine in Jamaica was playing some of his songs one night and I was taken with the freshness of the sound and strength of musicianship, production and singing. I listen to and appreciate a broad mix of musical expression, Malibu is one I recommend for you too.
3.The First Thing I Recorded
I started my recording journey as a percussionist. I come from a street performance background, where me and my number one musical collaborator Carlo played drums on the streets around the world before starting Blue King Brown. Everything is part of the journey, from the streets to the stage and maybe back to the streets again. I follow my heart, my intuition and my life purpose to bring a sound, a frequency that helps uplift the consciousness of the people on this planet. Freedom.
4.The Last Thing I Recorded
One of the most recent songs I recorded is a collaboration with the son of Bob Marley, Julian Marley. The track, ‘Natty Rides Again’, has just been released with a video we filmed in Jamaica including at Bob’s house in Kingston. We recorded it at the legendary Tuff Gong Studios and it was a great, easy vibe, and greater to be able to work at Bob’s places with one of his amazingly talented sons.
5.The Record That Changed My Life
There are a few in this list but the first that comes to mind is Survival by Bob Marley. It includes my all-time favourite track ‘Natty Dread’ as well as some real rebel, conscious music. I remember going to get dreadlocks for the first time when I was 11 years old and asking the lady to make them thick like Bob Marley. I didn’t realise till later in life how much Jamaican culture and music has inspired me growing up, resonating with me all the way in a little suburb in Australia. My Jamaican band I’m currently touring with and I are manifestations of those early childhood affinities with the great Bob Marley, and more accurately, the great genre of reggae. See you out there, music-lovers!
Nattali Rize plays The Rhythm Hut, Gosford on Sunday May 8.
