No care for Grammys, Samory I sings for equality

Neo-roots reggae singer, Samory I, is as busy as his forebears. With no ambition for accolades, the soulful singer wishes instead to push his message of equality for all. As he jets off for a European summer tour, with stops in seven countries, the African Daughter singer plans to continue using his voice as a weapon in the fight for equality and awareness.

“What is the Recording Academy?” he inquired in curious retort, after being asked if he ever intended to register. After hearing the explanation, that he could be considered among the voters for the Grammy awards, Samory I was not stirred. “I’m not really interested in that because the music I man is doing is not about Grammy’s. It’s for equality among our people. That’s what I man fight for – equality and awareness. Until I man see equality, an award is going to be like trinket,” he told The Gleaner.

The young reggae singer doesn’t recognise success in the form of holding up a golden gramophone in a crisp tuxedo. Instead, he sings for the world to recognise that all people are equal. “My music is about spirituality, and building the beliefs of people, accepting the Most High, and accepting yourself for yourself. You have to be important in the mind before you can be important in the body; accepting you for you,” he said.

On July 1, Samory I will be releasing a brand new single called Survive. “It’s a song about holding on to life, no matter the struggles it brings, or the lessons life teaches. If life didn’t teach you lessons, you’d be dead,” he reasoned. It was produced by Upsetta Records, the production outfit behind Koffee’s introductory track Burning, and Agent Sasco’s Winning Right Now.

He plans to promote the stand-alone track throughout the summer, during his extensive European tour. From June 28 to July 25, Samory I and the Black Heart Band will be performing at major reggae music festivals in Belgium, Portugal, France and Hungary. In Switzerland on July 13, the Rasta Nuh Gangsta singer will feature as a double headliner alongside Koffee. He is also billed to perform in Cologne, Germany, on Summerjam 2019, and in Ostroda, Poland, at the Ostroda Reggae Festival.

Upon his return, the soulful reggae singer will be hitting the studio to get to work on his sophomore album. “After me come back from Europe, ah dat me ah guh work pon. I’ll be hitting the studio definitely, and releasing more singles leading up to the album,” he said.