RAS MIDAS

RAS MIDAS

P.M.: You have an unusual background. Tell me a little about where you were born and raised and what it was like being a child.

R.M.: I was born in Jamaica, in the Parish of Clarendon in the countrie, my mother is an Jamaican woman and my father is an Ethiopian Man, I grow up on a family farm, we were totally self-sufficient, we produced our own food and created our own eating environments, different from the outside World, it was hard work, discipline schooling, happy times with my friends and enjoy my favorite games like soccer and cricket, swimming in the river and of course, entertaining my friends with my music.

P.M.: I understand your grandmother, who raised you was a very strong influence on your musical career. Tell us about that.

R.M.: Grandmother was very respected and leader in the community, and healer, she evolved from African Roots and her favorite music called Mento. At the age of seven she recognized my talent in music and poetry, she told me that I was born naturally with the energy of music, and one day when I grow up I should share this music with the World. She had teached me to play drums, like Congo Drums, Bongo Drums, she also had teached me how to sing with rhythm and timing. I have always accompany her to community gatherings that evolved music and lecturer, and I've participated with her, by harmonizing with her, and people was delighted to see me at this age really working with my grandmother and moving with the spirit of music, it was really wonderful, and I think she has the greatest influence in my life, what music is all about.

P.M.: I understand you've been composing and performing your music for over 25 years. You must have been very young, How did you get started and who discovered you ?

R.M.: The age of sixteen, I was living in England at the time, and I was discovered by one of the Leading Producers Of Jamaican Music, his name was Harry Johnson otherwise known as Harry J. , he decided to give me an audition, and immediately he was captivated by my original rhythms and unique vocals and catchy melodies. Two days after he took me into the studio with some of the best Reggae Musicians of that time (Sly & Robbie, Dean Fraser, etc) and then I started to begin my music career and lain tracks for my first Album. He refined my development in music and in arts of the music, and make me be very professional in what I'm doing musically.

P.M.: Your music fuses a lot of different types of music together. Did this style evolve or was this a conscious effort ? How would you call your type of Reggae ?

R.M.: Well, part of it is evolving, and part is conscious efforts, I like to call my music "Contemporary Reggae" so what I do, I fuse - Jazz, R&B and African HighLife Music, in a way to expand to a large audience, so that many different kind of people and cultures can relate and enjoy my music and does know that is a special gift and I'm able to share it with the people all over the world.

P.M.: Where would you like to take your music in the new millennium ?

R.M.: I would like to revolutionize Reggae Music to the mainstream audience of the world, just like the same man that have took Rock and introduced it to a mainstream audience of the World, I would like to really have the chance to put Reggae in that heights in that position, that can be respectable and recognized as one of popular music of this Era.

P.M.: Your new Album "Confirmation" is very upbeat. What would you say, the message is with your music ?

R.M.: Well, the message in my music is signify to the revolution of Love, to create the type of music that cross between cultures and boundaries, brings love, unity, peace and Social Justice and caring, sharing and respecting each other as we enjoy the abundance of the Earth.

P.M.: You might be introducing your type of music to who have never heard Reggae before. Is there anything that you would like to say to your new audience ?

R.M.: Well, the new type of music in Reggae that I'm doing, as I specific told you before it call "Contemporary Roots Rock Reggae", and I'm fusing different types of popular music with roots Reggae to bring it to a more upbeat danceable flavor that people can feel the soul of the music, people can really listen to something new, because every time people have to create things that is new, because things are changing in this hard times, and we are going to a new millennium, I would like my composition of Reggae to be the new music into the new millennium, so I'm introducing this type of Reggae in 1999, so people can know that is a conscious music, it uplift you spiritually, it let you dance your soul away, it let you move to your HeartBeat, It let you communicate with nature, It let you look within, It let you know what life is all about, to be happy, to be free and to come together and life in Love and unity and let this World be a better Place.

R.M.: "Hi this is Ras Midas your musical creator, the originator and if you are in a traffic drive remember, turn to your favorite station and open your sold and let the music take control, control, control..."

Selective Discography:

Albums:

"Stand Up & Wise Up"

"RastaMan in Exile"

"Kudee-A-Bamba"

"Rain & Fire"

"Reflections"

"Cover Me"

"Loving Vibration"

"Confirmation"

Go to Ras Midas oficial webpage for you can get these projects, here.

By: Paulo Matos

Reggae Portugal '99