Bugle staying positive during the holiday season - Entertainer focused on family and new music

As one of several Jamaican recording artistes identifying with the Bobo Shanti order of Rastafari, reggae-dancehall entertainer Bugle says, "I don't celebrate Christmas."

However, the Rasta Party artiste-songwriter makes an effort to spend time with family, "because I appreciate the holiday for how it brings family and friends together to cook, share gifts and celebrate life, whether it be December 25 or January 1 or whichever day we need more of that".

Bugle continued: "Bobo Shanti observes Ethiopian Christmas on January 7, which involves the same type of getting together, prayer and joyous time. My home was primarily Christian and I would hear or sing the carol and all that, and though I don't acknowledge it now, I will still go to Portland to be with mom, who spend over 50 years in the church now."

Bugle, given name Roy Thompson, was born in Portland. He said that his mother is one of his main supporters, and he looks forward to spending time with her this year.

"My mother is my best friend and she understands me. We not going agree on everything all the time, but she agree with me 99 per cent of the time. The time she has dedicated to the church you can't get that out of her, but even growing up in the church, the Bible did state, 'Seek and you will find'. That was instilled by my parents and the pastor as a child," he said.

For 2020, he has already released a hard-hitting collaboration titled Change The World, featuring Jesse Royal and Kabaka Pyramid. The track is inspired by the George Floyd story, and speaks out against racism. Other singles like Best Life speak about staying positive in trying times like the pandemic, and he is preparing to officially release Life Still Well this week, which carries a similar tone.

My mission

"I am not the type to focus on the negative. If it is there, my mission is always to turn it into something positive and see how it would be good for me going forward," he said about the messages in his songs. "So, like for this year, we might not be making money, but there's a point when some of us weren't making anything. But as an artiste, what is here for us to do but music? I am not performing, but I keep on working, so people have about six unreleased music videos to look forward to soon."

He said that Life Still Well, produced by Jerome Elvie of Natural Bond Entertainment, was written and recorded within one hour of hearing the rhythm. "Seeing that we are in the midst of a world crisis, there is still much to give thanks about. Even though people have experienced loss of loved ones, people still a live and born. The world has been here before and was able to get back on its feet, as we, as people, as musicians will, too," Bugle said.