Black Uhuru’s Duckie Simpson celebrates 50 years as a band and an amazing album, “New Day”
Photo courtesy of LAW Records.
Daily Reggae caught up with Black Uhuru’s legendary frontman and founder, Duckie Simpson to celebrate the band’s 50th anniversary and discuss the Black Uhuru’s amazing album, “New Day” released by LAW Records.
Congratulations on the 50th anniversary Black Uhuru's formation! We've been loving the new album, and think it is the perfect way to celebrate such a prolific milestone. With this in mind, in what ways does "New Day" represent the storied history of Black Uhuru, and how do you think it reflects the present and future of the band?
Give thanks and praises to all the fans out there much appreciated. It’s been nice getting such positive feedback from the album. I would say that this is not really of formation of Black Uhuru but more a collaboration my friends King Hopeton and Dylans Dharma.
Can you tell us a little bit about how the California wildfire in Helltown affected the lyricism on this album?
That fire was an experience for Black Uhuru. I was living beside Helltown and Paradise, then I went to Jamaica. When I heard about the fire, I headed back to California to see what was left. What I saw was pure devastation. Luckily, the music studio was still standing. So I came up with a song on the album just looking at what had happened. People had died and a whole town had burned but, my friends were safe. So I just bless up the crew laid down a track and called it a day.
From a musical and instrumentation perspective, were there any specific artists or sub-genres that had heavy influence on "New Day"
Dylans Dharma, Andrew Bees, and King Hopeton performing live gave me the idea to collaborate with these artists. I was looking for something outside the box. They gave me the inspiration to make the album happen.
The amount of talent on this album is incredible! What is the collaborative process like between all of the band members?
Yes, very incredible a lot of talent. Black Uhuru and the crew are very close. We all vibe together well, so the process became effortless and in the end we had made a very special album.
In your mind which track are you most excited about fans hearing, and which one are you most excited to play live?
I think my coolest track is “Just Begun”. I dig the studio version but, really love the vibes it presents live on stage. Helltown would be my 2nd. It hits me personally the fire had destroyed a community that I had been a part of and I felt it was time that I stayed around and cleaned up the ashes with them.
From a sound engineering standpoint "New Day" is very clean and polished while still containing a very human feel. How did you guys accomplish this sound, and was all of the tracking done in a single studio?
We went all out with the mixes. The album was tracked and mixed in London, California and Jamaica.. Yhe main studio that I recorded was Helltown Studios in California with King Lion then i went to Jamaica and worked with Gibby Morrison and Skunga at there studios. Jermaine Forde, Med Dread Mark, Jah Servant Giles mixed in Europe.
What has been like working with LAW Records to release this project?
Big up to LAW Records for helping us spread this album to all the fans across the world.
Much Love to everyone.
