Poet of The Reggae Beat

Roy Gunter's latest musical offering. Buy it here

I briefly mentioned in my last post that I had the pleasure of finally meeting up with reggae poet Roy Gunter last Friday. Roy will be performing at the Roots of Reggae launch event. Ahead of Roy's performance this Saturday, I would like to tell you a little more about Roy and the role reggae and poetry has played in his life.

First Impressions

I first met Roy around the corner from Brixton Town Hall. Roy had just driven in from his home in Camberwell after a day at work. At first glance, Roy did not initially match my expectations of a what a poet, or indeed a reggae poet should look like.

I’m not entirely sure what I had expected Roy to look like but in my limited experience of poetry (which extends to being made to read them at school and attending a few hipster poetry readings hosted by Pen Pusher) I suppose I had expected one or few poetic affectations. Clearly, Roy didn’t seem to favour the cravat look sported by my old English teacher. Nor was he was working the rasta-inspired style I had seen Blacker Dread in. Instead, Roy looked like much like any other early middle-aged person I would have worked alongside during my days at Lambeth Council.

The contrast between all the amazing things I had heard about Roy and the regular person I first saw on Friday on Friday intrigued me. I wanted to know more about Roy and how he had become a reggae poet.

A life in Reggae

As I chatted to Roy as he gave me a lift back to Forest Hill, I was struck by how significant a role reggae has played in his life. As a teenager, Roy explained, he had been involved with sound systems. This led to working with many of the pioneers of the London reggae scene, including sound system leader and Roots of Reggae guest star Lloydie Coxsone. Back in the day Roy would even be called upon to tune-up the trucks that transported Lloydie Coxsone's sound system all around the country. Roy proudly recalled the nickname he earned, 'i-chanic' (a rasta-inspired take on mechanic), and the excitement of receiving ultra-exclusive dub plates of the latest tracks in return for his services.

From a young age Roy has enjoyed writing poetry. Gradually Roy began to combine his love of poetry with his passion for reggae, recognising putting his words to a beat enabled him to connect with a much broader audience than would otherwise read his poetry. This realisation has led Roy to produce an album of his poetry set to music, as well as two printed anthologies.

Connecting through Poetry

Whilst reggae is central to Roy’s outlook, from speaking to Roy I discovered his true calling in life is working with disadvantaged young people. Over the course of our journey Roy told me that he is a Youth Worker for Lambeth Council. His work regularly takes him into Young Offenders Institutions such as Feltham. Roy described to me the important role poetry can play in this work, encouraging angry and frustrated young men to reflect on their situation and channel their energy in positive ways. Roy beamed with pride as he told me how by writing poetry that is authentic to his life he has been able to connect with even the most disaffected young person and get them to imagine a brighter future is possible.

Roy’s Work

With just one day to go until Roy performs at the Roots of Reggae FREE launch event I don’t want to give too much away about Roy’s work. What I can do, however, is whet your appetite.

From spending some time this week reading and listening to Roy’s work, two things struck me. The first thing that struck me was the positive and universal message Roy delivers through his poetry. One of Roy’s anthologies is called Poetry of the World and in it he speaks with a sense of hopefulness on everything from slavery to a subject close to my own heart, The Troubles in Northern Ireland.

Roy Gunter - Brixton Riots

The other thing that struck me is how Roy’s poetry is enhanced by the addition of musical backing. And this is not just because his heavyweight reggae connections have resulted in collaborations with reggae legends such as The Congos and the late Sugar Minott. Listening to Roy’s album, the musical backings he has selected enhance the emotional resonance of his message. Highlights for me are the chilling and hypnotic dancehall track about the Brixton Riots and the spiritual ‘Agony & Shame’, a lament about the social problems black youth experience over a mellow roots tracks.

 Roy Gunter - Agony & Shame (Performed by Leroy Jones)

If you’re planning to make it along to tomorrow’s Roots of Reggae launch event make sure to listen out for Roy Gunter, a true local legend!

Some of My Best Friends Are Middle Class

The sky's the limit for Sly and Reggie (photo: David Hoffman)

Meeting People is Easy

On Friday I had the pleasure of meeting up with two of the acts that will be performing at next Saturday's Roots of Reggae FREE launch event, reggae poet Roy Gunter and Reggie from Sly and Reggie.

As a self-confessed Guardian reader I was particularly looking forward to meeting Reggie to find out more about Sly and Reggie, East Dulwich's premier purveyors of Middle Class Dub. I'd like to share with you what I learned from meeting Reggie and tell you about Sly and Reggie's plans for world domination.

Solidly Middle Class Dub

First of all, a little background on Sly and Reggie and what they are all about. Alongside ideas man and design guru Jon Daniel, Sly and Reggie make up The Suburban Pirate. The Suburban Pirate critique and celebrate, satirise and support, the fall and rise of the Middle Classes through the medium of Middle Class Dub (Sly and Reggie’s music) and a range of Middle Class products (encompassing everything from satirical greetings cards to fetching kitchen aprons).

 

Middle Class Dub Volume One by Sly and Reggie by Sly and Reggie

In keeping with Sly and Reggie's Middle Class agenda, it seems only right that the place of our meeting, Reggie’s kitchen, is the epitome of middle class living, from the upright piano to the numerous Nigel Slater cook books. Reggie's kitchen provided the perfect setting for us to discuss plans for Roots and Reggae and for me to find out how Sly and Reggie found themselves at the vanguard of the Middle Class Dub revolution.

Becoming Sly and Reggie

After a brief chat about arrangements for next Saturday's Roots of Reggae event we got down to what I really wanted to know: how did Sly and Reggie get into making their unique brand of dub?

I discovered that Reggie, who by his own admission is not exactly young, has been making music with Sly, on and off, for many years. The Middle Class Dub sound they are now famed for, however, is a relatively recent development. Back in the day Sly and Reggie used to play together in a three-piece band and their music had an Astral Weeks era VanMorrison vibe to it. It was only a few years ago, after they started playing together again after some time apart, that their friend Jon Daniel suggested they combine middle class angst with heavyweight roots dub that the concept of  Middle Class Dub was born.

Throughout our conversation I was struck by how much Reggie enjoys making and performing his music with Sly. Whether describing how technology allows them to professionally produce tracks in his home studio or recounting how they managed to blag their way into performing at Bestival this year, I felt Reggie was driven by a restlessness to keep developing as a musician and to use their profile to cause a little mischief, rather than a desire for fame and fortune.

Going Mobile

This restlessness and desire to cause a little mischief goes may help to explain Sly and Reggie’s unconventional approach to music promotion. Back in 2009 Sly and Reggie built their ‘middle class sound system’ - a Morris Minor flat bed pick up with their own sound system on board to bring their music to the people. What is more, this decision to broadcast their music street-by-street contributed to the development of Sly and Reggie’s sound, with Sly’s distinctive toasting style developing organically (to use a word close to heart of the people of East Dulwich) from off –the-cuff musical interludes between their ‘proper’ songs.

 On The Road with Sly and Reggie

2012: A Dub Odyssey

Artwork for Middle Class Dub Vol. 2

Reggie was also kind enough to fill me on what lies in store for fans for Sly and Reggie's Middle Class Dub sound. I was given a special sneak peak of the artwork for Middle Class Dub Vol. 2, which is coming soon, and is will feature just as heavy a sound. I also understand that plans for a third volume of material are already well-advanced, with Sly's social issue rants set to take centre stage.

It is clear Sly and Reggie and The Suburban Pirate have a bright future ahead of them and, aided by their performance at next week’s Roots of Reggae event, I predict 2012 will be the year of Middle Class Dub revolution.

 

I am very excited to say Sly and Reggie will be performing at the Roots of Reggae FREE launch event next Saturday afternoon (3^rd December) at the Brixton Ritzy. Full details can be found here: Roots of Reggae FREE launch event. You can also follow latest developments on Twitter @RootsofReggae