Twenty-five years later Norris Man’s ‘persistence’ still strong

An interview with roots-reggae entertainer Norris Man begins gently enough, with his taking measure of the distance he has come. For the uninitiated, the veteran artiste might be considered an underground recording artiste, albeit one who managed to nab a record deal with VP Records and maintain a busy touring schedule over the past 25 years.

“Some people say underground, but once the songs play, people know them. I became a household name in 1997 with the hit single Persistence, which was followed by the album of the same title with VP Records, four years after. I wouldn’t say that recording music was a dream career, but as a youth persons would hear me,” Norris told The Sunday Gleaner.

He added, “Living in a country during hard times of political warfare, a little youth coming out of Trench Town and right there `on Torrington Lane, music was an escape … music and football. Things like flying kite around Heroes Circle, and visiting the cone factory to get broken cones, the ones weh never mek good, to make cornflakes to eat with tin milk, were simple pleasures. And in those days we have sound systems playing music on every corner on the weekends.”

As a child, Christopher Campbell, Norris Man’s given name, was often solicited to get the crowd which was gathering at the street dances, where the sound systems would set up, energised and he became a familiar face at recording studios. At some point in his teenage years, music became more of a necessity, a way of life he said. Though the records of the 50-year-old artiste never garnered as much attention, he consistently released music, worked nonstop as he travelled the world to promote himself and eventually fell in love with Sweden where he now resides. Nearby, his home he has access to a recording studio and spends nights within its four walls alone bouncing about ideas while listening to the thumping bass of reggae and dancehall rhythms sent to him.

“I go back and forth from Jamaica, but I’ve been in Sweden for the greater part of 10 years. I have a daughter here, she is 11. Still, my country is my country. I’ve just returned to Sweden from The Bahamas where I performed last month and also celebrated my birthday and there are several other trips lined up for the next three or so months. Right now, I’m just taking it easy,” he said, “I think I’ve selected a country to reside where things are able. In European countries, people spend millions of dollars trying to turn themselves into reggae and dancehall artistes or invest in albums, which is what I’m doing at this very moment … looking for music to compile and release another album as I do each year.”

He had every intention to release the album in February, but thought the month was overly saturated with artistes putting out new music and events. For the past two decades Norris Man’s songs such as She Never Knew It, Home and Away, Jah Is The Ruler, and Woman Have Patience, have garnered international attention but none of his albums have been submitted for Grammy consideration he said.

“I never had dreams of being nominated for a Grammy Award, never attempted to put my song or music up for one because it always felt more like a battle to earn that recognition. I also thought that a Grammy was for those artistes that paid their dues and let’s set it straight, it is a corrupted process because you have several big acts, touring all over the world and making an impact, who people look up to, but they have yet to take a Grammy home. From a friend of mine pushed me to record years ago, I never stopped and from then, I’ve recognised myself as something great. That is all the validation I need and I just want to make good music,” he said.

Last year, Norris Man teamed up with South Pacific-based Littlerock Sound to release the single Dem Haffi Runaway and he recently collaborated with US-based producer Christopher Roswell for his latest song, Wicked Man World. It is featured on the Sydonnie Riddim, along with songs by Anthony B and Lukie D.

“I may be old-fashioned in my style and my ways, but it has worked for me and I know me nah push up my face like me bad for reasons that don’t make any sense. With the state of our culture, I hardly see a hit song in the real, culture reggae world (so) that is why I continue to sing these songs. Persistence is the key,” Norris Man continued.

stephanie.lyew@gleanerjm.com