King Jammy ‘destroys’ the virus with dub

Music and the coronavirus have one thing in common: both can traverse international borders without a visa or a passport.

And, as legendary producer and sound man King Jammy says, music can subdue the virus. With that belief, he has prepared his latest album, a dub offering titled King Jammy Destroys the Virus with Dub.

"Dub is an exciting thing and a dub album have to be exciting," the dub pioneer told THE WEEKEND STAR. "First of all, it have to have a good topic and since it's COVID time, we just take what is happening now and create something positive. When I sent the title to VP [Records], they loved it."

King Jammy noted that he was happy to revisit 12 of his analogue and digital-era studio master tapes to create new, fresh, dub mixes. The songs have expressive titles which speak directly to the pandemic. Among them are: Quarantined in Dub, Dub fi Social Distance, Closed Border Dub, A New Normal in Dub, Dub Tribute to All Frontline Workers and Messenger Dub.

The album is set to be released on March 18, but already the feedback has been positive and King Jammy is anticipating touring with the album soon.

"From in the early days, dub not really popular in Jamaica but in Europe, especially the UK and in Japan, dub wicked. Every year, me and my youngest son, Jam 2, tour Europe with dub mixes. I go down in deep creation when I am dealing with dub. You can't rehearse dub, it's a spontaneous thing," he added.

King Jammy shared that he is expecting the organisers of Rotterdam Festival to call him up soon, and he is fit and ready, despite having undergone a triple bypass surgery last September.

"Thank God that I am here still. I went through a hard one; it was really tough, but God saved me. When I came out of surgery, I didn't know where I was. The doctor told me, 'Mr James, it's not me, it's the Man upstairs'. I did done mek up my mind that is God alone can get me through this and we all prayed and God answered our prayers," King Jammy reflected.

King Jammy is looking forward to playing at the opening party for the Reggae Month concert, Reggae On The Pier, streaming live on Sunday.