Exclusive Interview with Iley Dread President of Kings of Kings label (Jamaica)  made by phone on the 03-12-2003.

Paulo Matos : Colin Levy aka Iley Dread, you are a producer, singer, artist and music manager for your Kings of Kings Productions, welcome to solar reggae and to reggaeportugal.com, RESPECT Man....

Colin Levy a.k.a Iley Dread : Greetings and blessed love and give thanks & praises to the most high.

Paulo Matos : Ok Colin, this is teh first time that you're talking to a radio show in Portugal, let's get back to the past, tell us how everything started for you in what music is all about.

Colin Levy a.k.a Iley Dread : this is the first time, definitely.

Paulo Matos : I know as well that other of your talents, is painting and cooking as well, isn't it ?

Colin Levy a.k.a Iley Dread : Well, everything started, when i was a little child growing up you know, i always find myself writting, at a tender age i didn't really think becoming an artist, i think have been a natural inspiration that came through my mind, so times to times i was make up my little songs, i was sing them to my friends, you know family members, and my mom was my inspiration, cause she was always singing, cooking, washing, she was always singing and i've always thinketh that she had a beautifull voice and because of that i've always try to sing like my mom, you know, even i didn't know the notes, i wish a could do that, singing like her you know, but you know i use to do two things, singing and painting, you know at a tender age i use to make a little money, from the paintings. In 1991 i migrated to Canada and while i was in Canada i use to perform locally and on talent shows, and i remember playing on the 23rd of July of 1994, i was performing on a reggae concert in Montreal - Canada, and when i finish performing a gentleman came to me and indentify himself as a reggae producer and invited me to go to into a studio, he was impressed about my lyrics and songs that i had performing and have been like a dream come true so i went to a studio and i recorded my very first single entitled "Roses of My Garden", wich did very well for me, in north america and in Jamaica at the time, so this how have been really the starting for my singing career. After that i thinketh that i could make a relationship with the reggae industry, as a singer and a songwriter, writting for other artists and we become like a family. I have utilize the opportunity and start doing some concerts and then artists have appear and we have get into the studio to voice them, that's how everything have started.

Paulo Matos : And Kings of Kings Productions have born. 

Colin Levy a.k.a Iley Dread : Yes have been the birth, yes.

Paulo Matos : Colin regarding music, tell us about artists that have influenced you since the begining ?

Colin Levy a.k.a Iley Dread : Well i must say that being a youth growing up i have always listen to Sam Cooke, Percy Sledge this have been the artists that captured my attention as a youth growing up in Jamaica, as a reggae artists, of course i admired Dennis Brown, John Holt, Bob Marley is an artist that i've always admired, his lyrical content is wich have attracted my attention, but Dennis Brown is the one that i can say i was inspired by Dennis Brown.

Paulo Matos : The death of Dennis Brown have been a BIG BIG lost into the music in general, true ?

Colin Levy a.k.a Iley Dread : Definitely.

Paulo Matos : It's true man.

"If I had the World" from the "Unite The People" album have been played here on Solar Reggae Show.

Paulo Matos : Colin "Unite The People" is your brand new and wicked album, includes a DVD as a bonus, you think that on these days a DVD from an artist that includes his biography, discography is important for his promotion worldwide ?

Colin Levy a.k.a Iley Dread : I realize that sometimes information lacking for a person that buys a CD and don't know nothing about the artist, so i seat down and i discuss it with Mr. Castro Pink and a few other individuals, and you know,  i think, visual is more influential, seen is believing, so we decided to include a DVD in this CD to help people, to give people a little more information about me, cause i believe you know if you hear the artist and see how he looks like too, and i feel that the people, we get more that vibe individual you know, i realize that lot of people, even the record companies, the people from the reocrd companies have been a little surprised - they've said - wow you're giving away a DVD, well i don't see it that way, giving away a DVD, i want to share information, i want people to know me and to know about me, i feel good to share it to my fans, the people that is going to buy my CD. I hope that the public will apreciate it...

Paulo Matos : And let me give you my personal congratulations for this excellent DVD man.

Colin Levy a.k.a Iley Dread : ...Yes Respect, actually two of the songs of the DVD they're not in the CD, two songs of course are in the CD, but two songs are from the album "Friends for LIfe", "Mama" and "Don't Look Back" - those two songs.

"Lovers Converse" from the "Unite The People" album have been played here on Solar Reggae Show.

Paulo Matos : Colin you're currently on tour, Kings of Kings european tour, tell us wich artists are on tour with you.

Colin Levy a.k.a Iley Dread : Well right now we are in England, the end of the tour, with Bushman, Cocoa Tea, Chrsicinty, Genie Slick and myself of course.

Paulo Matos : How have been the raection on the shows, on the last shows to all of you ?

Colin Levy a.k.a Iley Dread : So far i can say that i feel, i'm feeling a member of thsi family, because you know i feel i an encouragement to continue what i'm doing right now, you know the album just release and this is more a promotional tour, i'm utilizing this opportunity to estabilish the album, and support and so far it is all been comented, very good critics from the media, people in the industry supporting, and i really think its's a complement of the vibe that i been giving, you know, i went to Jet Star and one of the ladies there called me - the album is sailing, and you know many times some record companies says that teh albums are not really going, but when you hear that the album is sailing it gives you an encouragement to continue, and till now the vibes are very positive, are very good and i can't complain, and i must say i'm very gratefull for the support that we been getting and of course i have to give thanks to the most high and he's the One that gives strenght for we do this works.

Paulo Matos : That's true man. And let me tell you as well that "Unite The People" is a great album,  i can tell you that, in my opinion of course.

Colin Levy a.k.a Iley Dread : Yes, give thanks, but you know a couple of songs are in combination in me, featuring artists such Marcia Griffiths, Anthony B, Warrior King, Sizzla, Capleton, Uroy, well you know, is really uniting the people, i think the title "Unite The People" is the best title for this album cause you know, othrwise some believing and knowing it that unity is strenght and togetherness...

Paulo Matos : Unity is Power.

Colin Levy a.k.a Iley Dread : ...Definitely. 

Paulo Matos : What about the new albums that are due to release soon by Kings of Kings ? I Know that are planned some brand new albums from Cocoa Tea, Bushman as well, can you advance us some things abou that ?

Colin Levy a.k.a Iley Dread : Yeah man, right now we have an album, a live album for Bushman wich is teh first live album from Bushman, you know, live drum, guitar, horns, everything live, no computers thing, it's scheduled to release in the end of February by VP recs, and also we are in process to get an album deal with Cocoa Tea as well, Chriscinty have an album released a couple months ago by VP recs as well "Confort My People", we are also working with Genie Slick you know, the work continue, we feel the strenght to move forward.

Paulo Matos : Colin, let me make you this kind of question, what do you expect from the future ?

Colin Levy a.k.a Iley Dread : You know i believe that according with our works, one will be rewarded, so i'm giving all my best efforts for many years to stay foccus, on singing, you know, the development to get the company estabilished and support now that day you know, it's a record mission, is not like the earlys that i was knocking on the doors, now from time to time major labels call us to request our catalogue and support, so i believe that the company now is estabilished, and is also the time to foccus a little bit more in me, cause is like how everything started, more as producer, a promoter, we have grow but i have sacrifice time and efforts, focussing on that part of the business, now that the label is estabilished i'm trying to foccus more on my singing career.

Paulo Matos : Kings of Kings releases are mostly conscious music, what your personal opinion about Dancehall / Ragga that we know rules in Jamaica ?

Colin Levy a.k.a Iley Dread : Music is a universe and a language, i mean i think,  the riddim you find different things, different vibes, i don't think that should be any barrier i mean i believe the producer try to produce good music, good quality music that can live son the minds and ears of the public, that the people can send their money and buy it and play one or two years, later on the plate and can feel good about the song made, i mean we should get quality time on the production and i do embrasse positive lyrics, so myself doesn't support that kind of lyrics called content agriding, i think we should be positive in all that are doing.

"This World" from the "Unite The People" album have been played here on Solar Reggae Show.

Paulo Matos : Colin there's any message you would like to give to your newest fans here in Portugal, that after hearing the new album on solar radio i'm sure they'll be going to be your newest fans ?

Colin Levy a.k.a Iley Dread : I just wanna say, stay positive, be positive, stay foccused, never give up, believe in yourselves, continue to be persistant, if you love music and want to do music, i think it's important to try to educate yourselves about the business aspect of it, i recommend to all the singers to try to learn to play one instrument or two, guitar, keyboard, i recommend as well voice training you know, in this time there's a lot of frustration, destruction but try always to errate negativity from your minds, and let the positive energy take all of you, cause after said and done you rule your destiny.

Paulo Matos : That's true man.

Colin Levy a.k.a Iley Dread : And if you do good, good will follow you.

Paulo Matos : Colin have been a pleasure we had this chance for we talk for the very first time, all the best for you and your company Kings of Kings, never give up, Respect - Paulo Matos say so.

Colin Levy a.k.a Iley Dread : Yeah man, i just wanna say Peace Love and prosperity be with you and to all the listeners, i'm very greatfull for this opportunity, i just wanna say BIG UP to Radio Solar 94FM.

"Won't Rest"  from the "Unite The People" album have been played here on Solar Reggae Show.

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