Samory I sings gratitude
Published:Wednesday | May 4, 2022 | 12:09 AMYasmine Peru/Senior Gleaner Writer
Gratitude is something which roots reggae artiste, Samory I, knows a lot about, having been raised in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, where giving thanks and being grateful to the Creator for blessings is a lifestyle. It is not surprising, therefore, that he is one of the artistes on the Gratitude Riddim.
Gratitude is the newest juggling from musician and Grammy-nominated producer, Phillip ‘Winta’ James. Samory’s contribution is titled Love and Mercy, two of the main ingredients which affect the thing called gratitude.
“What inspired Love and Mercy? I man have life every day. The mere fact that the Almighty can grant me this gift of life, the mere fact that I man can come here to witness to you today in song … that is love and that is mercy. Life … that is what inspired this song,” Samory told The Gleaner.
The Gratitude Riddim, which is marketed as a “contemporary reggae one drop riddim featuring traditional drum and bass from the legendary duo, Chris Meredith and Wilburn ‘Squidly’ Cole”, features Samory I, Mortimer, Kumar, Naomi Cowan and Ras-I. It had its official launch last week and the Rasta Nuh Gangsta singer is still on a high from his recent performance at Dubwise Jamaica. It was his second “live and in-person” show since the pandemic struck in 2020 and Samory I is full of gratitude.
“The launch was amazing,” he said enthusiastically, as if reliving the moment. “The feeling of working on front of a live audience again was incomparable. It is always a great feeling to be well received by the people and to know that the message that we have worked so hard to put into music is being embraced.”
He added, “That was my second time performing live. I did a 4/20 [April 20] show at Chinna Smith’s Inna the Yard but that had ended abruptly due to the police intervention.”
Samory I is one of the reggae artistes who made European continent his musical playground pre-pandemic and has performed at most of the major festivals there. Currently, he is gearing up to pack his bags and hit the road.
“We have a show confirmed already. Reggae Geel Festival in Belgium. I am grateful for that and I am really looking forward to it,” he shared.
Reggae Geel is one of the oldest reggae festivals in Europe, having been founded in 1978, and is the biggest in Belgium. It takes place in August.
Among the songs Samory I is known for are Take Me Oh Jah, Black Gold, Feeling, Call on Jah, Survive and Just Believe.