Julian Marley spreading message of 'oneness and unity'

It's obvious that Julian Marley has been in town. He has been doing all the right "pee-arrey" stuff - morning television, lots of radio and some print in which he has been enthusiastically talking about his latest CD, Arise and his upcoming US tour of the same name with his 7Uprising band.
MARLEY... Marley sees his music, above all else, as the medium through which he spreads his message of 'oneness and unity to the world'

The tour was scheduled to kick off last night in Jacksonville, Florida, and Julian told Splash last Friday that he has been doing rigorous preparation for the six-week journey. "It has been four weeks of solid rehearsals everyday, getting the voice and everything up to date," he said.

Having accomplished that, he says he is ready for the real challenge of the road. He so far has 34 US dates confirmed and will see him moving through cities including New Orleans, Austin, Albuquerque, Pozo, Los Angeles, Santa Cruz, Eureka, Durango, Aspen, Boulder, Minneapolis, CHarlote and Atlanta.

Marley sees his music, above all else, as the medium through which he spreads his message of "oneness and unity to the world".

"Me is a man play music from me lickle," he explains. "Me think 'bout music 24/7 . it always in me brain," Julian shared.

And although the six-year gap between Arise and his last been six CD (A Time And Place, 03) leads one to ask pertinent questions, Julian is still all smiles. "The six-year gap," he pondered. "Well it was a period of growth and maturity," he reflects.

"Ah not saying I did like it . but give thanks for those six years. But no more six years like that," he assures.

Arise, he says is a fusion of roots reggae with more modern beats. "The title is what it is. Every song give you that upfull vibe," is Julian's take on the CD, on which his band, Uprising, is heavily featured.

The aggregation has been with Marley since 1991 and the synergy is unmatched. "The band started with the bass players Owen 'JB' Reid and then we bring in other people and get the thing just right. Uprising played on almost all the tracks for the CD, so they know it," he said, pleased.

Not surprisingly, Arise is one of 39 albums submitted for what is called 'consideration' to the board of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences for the Reggae category. Those album which given the most favourable consideration will be shortlisted and placed in the official Reggae Grammy category.

However, while Julian is quite thankful at being considered, he says his main focus is making good music. And should he be short-listed for the Grammy and subsequently join the ranks of his musical siblings and father, all of whom are in possession of the coveted gamophone statuette, Julian "woulda just give thanks for that too".