Skip Marley says he's making something old new with his new single “Close,” and he's considering featuring Tyla on it.
Skip Marley, the grandson of reggae icon Bob Marley, has music running through his veins.
He's carved out a unique path in the industry, fusing genres from reggae, pop and R&B to Afrobeat, but there's no doubt that Marley's legacy is woven into his artistry.
Skip Marley became widely known with his 2017 single lionscollaboration with Katy Perry connected to the rhythmand became a worldwide hit. slow down With R&B giants HER
When the Zoom notification finally rang and I was accepted to join the call, Skip Marley was already in his element, sitting in the studio humming melodies floating in the digital space.
He didn't notice me at first, immersed in his own musical world, but for a while I had him perform an impromptu pre-interview performance.
“Hello, how are you?” His warm greeting cancels out any initial digital awkwardness and immediately creates an atmosphere that feels more like catching up with an old friend than a formal interview.
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I wish I could collaborate with a South African artist.,
“Tila!” he jumped in before I could finish speaking, trying to share his thoughts. “There's a song that I wish Tyra would be on,” he said, adding that Tyra's vocals would blend seamlessly into the song.
His enthusiasm is contagious and he has already revealed that he is working towards making it a reality.
And obviously everyone should know what Marley's favorite Bob Marley song is. So I ask the cliché question, and Skip replies, “I don’t know. ”.
He says it's hard to choose one song and fondly remembers discovering his passion for music through his grandfather's iconic artistry. It sparked a connection and inspired us to learn from and build on that legacy.
Young Marley said that if he had not pursued music, he would have become a farmer. “I have a green thumb,” he said, expressing his connection and love for caring for the earth.
Their latest single “Close” has been viewed over 180,000 times on YouTube and is gaining a lot of attention. What was the inspiration for this song and what message do you hope listeners take away?
“We’re bringing the old to the new,” he interjects with a laugh, unable to contain his excitement for the project. “This is a reinterpretation of a Max Priest song. close to you'' he said, adding that it's about spending time with people who call your heart out.
“My mom brought me the idea to reimagine a Max Priest song, and I said, 'Enough.'
“I think sometimes someone ends up covering a song and you miss it, but I feel like this song hit the nail on the head.”
Throughout our conversation, Skip's responses were quick and passionate, sometimes cutting through my questions like a seasoned musician anticipating the next beat.
His studio setup forms the perfect backdrop, with two guitars hanging on one side of the wall, a space where creativity clearly flows freely.
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How would you describe your musical style compared to your family's? Also, what is the difference between your music and your family's iconic reggae sound?
“Do you want to differentiate?” he asks. “I think there are different elements in the music because it's just a different era, you know what I mean? Um, but I think it's really the same.”
Skip added that his music is just a branch of the same tree. His hands move as he speaks, conducting an invisible orchestra of different genres.
“That means I can branch out into R&B, Afro, funk, blues, jazz, rock, calypso, soca,” he explains, emphasizing the idea that his music is an amalgamation of genres.
“My family is truly my biggest inspiration” – Skip Marley
When you ask him about his creative process and which artists he draws inspiration from, his whole demeanor becomes more contemplative.
“My family is really my biggest inspiration, but there are so many other reggae artists, pinnacles and pillars of reggae music. [like] Burning Spear, Wailing Souls, Toots and the Maytals,” he says.
He also mentions greats ranging from Jimi Hendrix, John Mayer, and B.B. King to Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield.
“There's a lot of different music that inspires me,” he said, digging into the second part of the question when he answered that God inspires his creative process.
“The jars work,” Skip says confidently. “People who make the world worse drive my process, people who feel there is no love in the world drive my process, people who give up drive my process. All these things in the world. is driving my process. God is driving my process.”
He says his music is for people who have ears and are trying to make a positive difference in the world.
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You've worked with artists ranging from Katy Perry to Rick Ross. What do you look for in a collaboration?
“What really matters is perspective and reach,” he explains.
“It's about spreading the message to the four corners of the earth. There's nothing wrong with saying you want to go pop, rock, hip-hop, Afro. It's about the unification of the world,” he says of his multifaceted musicality. He reiterates his interest in
“I'm so lucky and blessed to work with such talented people. I'm grateful to them all for pushing the music further and further until it reaches the right people.” he said. He added with gratitude.
In 2017, a song with Katy Perry soared to the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the first member of the Marley family to achieve such heights.
He said he accepted it on behalf of his family.
How can I forge my own path while navigating the expectations of being a Marleyan?
“By doing Yahwak and fulfilling your duty,” he says flatly.
“When you look at me, you don't just see me. I'm the team. There's no shadow – it's me.”
Journey to Mzansi
Curious to learn more about collaborating with Tyra, I asked him about his upcoming projects and dream collaborations.
You talked about Tyler. Could you please tell me more details?
“No, I can't go into details about that. I can't tell you. I can't tell you,” he grinned.
However, he says he works on diverse music, featuring South American, Jamaican, Afrobeat and Afropop vibes.
“More music to the people. And when the timing is right, we'll also go to South Africa, I wish it was tomorrow.”
He revealed that he doesn't necessarily have a top five artists he would like to collaborate with.
“But I want to work with unique artists that you wouldn't think of,” he said, pausing.
“Sade,” he revealed with a smile. The answer hangs in the air like a perfectly placed note, unexpected but appropriate.
Even through a digital interface, his energy is palpable and his responses, if sometimes hasty, genuine, the mark of someone who lives and breathes his art.
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