The Style & Vibes Podcast
The Style & Vibes Podcast
Cosmic Roots with Hector Roots Lewis
Hector Roots Lewis shares the fascinating path that led him from being a touring drummer to emerging as a compelling reggae solo artist. Born to a recording artist mother, Lewis was immersed in music from his earliest days, eventually studying at Jamaica's prestigious Edna Manley College before embarking on an extensive touring career with Chronixx Zinc Fence Redemption band that spanned over a decade.
Lewis opens up about the transformative experience of portraying Carlton Barrett in the "Bob Marley: One Love" film, revealing how stepping into the legendary drummer's shoes deepened his understanding of Bob Marley's revolutionary approach to music and business. "Bob is our overall inspiration," Lewis reflects, explaining how Marley's unwavering purpose and bravery in breaking new ground have profoundly shaped his own artistic vision.
The conversation takes a particularly illuminating turn when Lewis discusses his new album "Cosmic Roots," a collaboration with producer Johnny Cosmic that represents a significant evolution in his sound. Unlike previous projects, Lewis played multiple instruments throughout the recording process, bringing his percussionist expertise to the forefront while crafting songs that flow intentionally from introspective reflections on pandemic isolation to celebratory expressions of Jamaican party culture.
Highlighting tracks like "Peace of Mind" and "Strength" and it's intentional connecting with listeners navigating their own challenges. His thoughtful approach to crafting not just songs but complete musical experiences reveals why Lewis has successfully made the leap from supporting player to compelling frontman worthy of a proppa listen.
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Produced by Breadfruit Media
Hello everyone and welcome to another edition of the Style and Vibes podcast with yours truly Makayla. If you are new here, welcome to the family. If you are returning, welcome back family. Today we are talking to a music artist. You guys know how much I love music, reggae music, that's how I feel with ting. And today we are talking to Hector Roots Lewis and he has an album out which we are going to talk about. But we have to talk about your journey. I really want to start from the beginning. So, welcome to the family.
Hector Roots Lewis:No, no, you're a family member, you know no man give thanks for the invitation, michaela, you know absolutely, absolutely.
Mikelah:well, tell me how you got started in music, like. Tell me about your background, where you grew up, your family life, more talk, all other things, then yeah, well, the music journey started for me at a tender age.
Hector Roots Lewis:You know, my mother is also a recording artist. She passed away a few years ago but she used to sing and record music and put out music. So we always grew up hearing her sing songs. We always hear her songs on TV and on the radio, so we always had it around us. No-transcript music. Like there is a competition called the JCBC festival, and I mean it expands to like various levels of competition.
Hector Roots Lewis:But in the high school I used to do that a lot, a lot, until, um, after high school I went to the Edna Manley College of Visual and Performing Arts where I decided to study to be a teacher and a performer and that's where I learned like drum set and percussion and, you know, strengthening the vocals. And then, right after that, I started like doing local gigs with bands, you know, in and out of college. And then in 2012, I went on my first tour with sharon anderson as a drummer and I did that for a little while. And then in 2013, that's when I met chronix and I toured with him extensively for like 10 plus years. That's like that. That touring stage was the highlight moment of me as a musician, you know, touring with such a prolific artist, and I mean in between, touring with him. I was playing for other known names, you know what I mean Like, from the Beelymans to everybody you can think about Christopher Martin, romain Verga, everybody but I was still also working with Chronic, also working with, like Habakkuk, jesse Royal, just on one half stuff, you know.
Hector Roots Lewis:Know, it wasn't until around 2016 where I really got into songwriting, you know, and um, chronix used to always encourage us in the band, you know. You know write songs, you know, even though you know we're more focused on our instrument that was playing and our role. So it kind of got me to thinking and he's one of the inspiration towards my songwriting until like 2020, when the world stopped. That's when I got really, really serious and, yeah, I, you know, wrote some songs with a producer by the name of jll. He sent me some rhythms and I wrote to them and we didn't have in mind to do an ep, but it eventually built to that and, yeah, the rest is history. After that ep, then now the album.
Mikelah:So yeah, how would you say you have grown like? You've already had such an extensive career, from being a singer as a young person, going into the band and touring life and now putting out your own music. You've had such a vast experience, what was like some of the most interesting. I know you talked about, you know, your time touring with Chronix as being inspirational, but what really was that pivotal moment that you're like, yeah, I'm gonna put out music, my own music it was more like looking back at the different things that was happening, like, for example, when we did the NPR Tiny Desk.
Hector Roots Lewis:If you look on that yeah, if you look on that a lot of the comments were like speaking about me. So you know, like I said, 2020, I believe, was the reflective time for me to be like, you know, let's really look into making records. You know what I mean, like for real, because 2016, I was making records and doing records right and I was writing and everything, because I can't really say I didn't really take it serious. I've been taking it serious, but I think in 2021, I got signed and you know, for distribution and thing, and I think that's where it kind of got more serious from to like try and make songs that can actually match the level I was at, you know.
Hector Roots Lewis:But the tiny desk definitely was an encouragement and just like everywhere I went, I mean locally, I would sing at different what I say now locations that have like jam session and live music and it's just a reception from everybody. It, you know, professionally by you know, you know, having a little team with you, having certain subscriptions and applications that make the artist brand more accessible and more marketable in the space. You know, and I feel like it's just, it's just my love for music if I want to put it in a nutshell that really kind of pushed me to really, you know, take songwriting and being an artist very, very, very serious, you know, outside of working in a band. So, you know, I've always seen it, though, like I've always had good feedback with my vocals and, yeah, work with a lot of people over the years to before, even know, you know that really helped me to from 2016 to now.
Mikelah:So not only were you touring with Chronix, but you also stepped in to fill in for Tribal Seed while their leader was taking a hiatus. What was that like, and how did that come about?
Hector Roots Lewis:hiatus. What was that like and how did that come about? Well, they had reached out to us again, you know, based on just seeing me perform and seeing performances on youtube, and you know, um, they told me about the situation and at the time I really, myself and my team, really thought it was a good idea and a good venture to go on, because now it wasn't only replacing him, it was a chance for me to enter a new market, a market that I've never entered as a solo artist. I probably played, as you know, in band and stuff. So it was, you know, it was. It was great. It was nerve-wracking, because here I am stepping into a space that everybody know, that lead singer, and they didn't really know about me and what I can do as a lead singer.
Hector Roots Lewis:But with every show, you know, we changed the minds of the people. With every show, every show, everybody was like this is what you know the vibe is and you know, good replacement for Steve Vai and just everything. Everything was good, step by step and just everything. Everything was good, step by step, show by show. It was great.
Hector Roots Lewis:It also gave me the chance to see the type of work that it takes to be a frontman and I think I'm still learning about that each and every day. Every time you go out there, it's really really different. You know you're really in the spotlight and the amount of eyes that are on you or the amount of ears that's listening to you, you know it's just a different mindfulness that you have to have. It showed me that you have to always, if anything, be as steady as you can in your mind, in your heart, in your vocal. You understand to deliver in your lead singer roles. So I was really happy to go through that. Even before going on tour as a solo artist, I was happy to get that training ground with the Tribal Seeds Brothers. They've always supported the journey. It was great man. It was great to do that.
Mikelah:Yeah, it seems like you're. You could probably give good advice on maintaining relationships in the in the industry, because I think you know not only are you talented and aligned with the right people, but I think people forget that part of the music business and that music is about the feeling and a lot of times that comes through building relationships with people either on tour or being in similar spaces. Talk to me about how you've kind of maintained and built those relationships over the years in the business.
Hector Roots Lewis:I mean, you know we give thanks for the music because that's where it starts a lot of the times, if not all the time. So I think you know making good music and also you know trying to keep the basis of humility and just being yourself and not allowing the business or the industry or whatever it is to kind of take over your mind and change into a different person. I'm a social person with borders, you know, and things, but I'm a social person. I try to make people feel welcome, to be able to talk to me and, like I said, the music once you hear it, once you start talking, be like yo, I heard a song or you have music. So I try to do that. You know respect at the basis of everything you know to each and everyone. It don't matter if I don't know the artist or if streaming is that or whatever, because at the end of the day you just never know. And even outside of that, I think it's just something that we just have to do. It helps me to maintain and remain the way I was before I became a pro or before I went professional. You know when it was just doing it for the love of the thing, when you know it was a joy to just find another creative like yourself in the space and just make music with them. And it's a hard thing to balance. Of course you're trying to watch quality control and all of that, but that's the way I do it, you know.
Hector Roots Lewis:Yeah, continue to work with different musicians from all over the world. I'm never afraid to tap into a new market either. You know, never, never, never afraid to do that because at the end of the day, the music won't reach there unless you do it. I mean, some people's situations are different. Some people just blow up right away and even then you still have to make that very um, clinical and very like intentional move to enter these markets, to speak to these people, to collaborate with these people. You know, that was another highlight with tribal seeds, where, you know we, we felt like it was good if we, if we, did a song together while doing this whole movement and it worked. It's almost like three years, four years now, since the song has been out and it has definitely been one of the pillars to help my career to stay relevant and active among the other songs that I've done. So, yeah, you just have to keep it ironed and just be flexible and have an open mind. You know what I?
Mikelah:mean yeah. So not only are you a talented musician, but you are now an actor. You were in the I don't know if that was your first role, but you played Carlton Barrett in the Bob Marley One Love movie.
Hector Roots Lewis:Yeah, yeah man.
Mikelah:Tell me about that experience for you.
Hector Roots Lewis:Yeah, so it's my first role in a film. I've done theater acting when I was younger, you know church plays, you know high school theater plays, even college theater plays. I did a musical once. But the experience for that whoa, you know, out of body, just surreal. You know meeting professional actors, you know the crew, the different equipment. You know it was 15 hours a day, but I was really honored, you know, to be a storyteller of a story.
Hector Roots Lewis:That is from where I'm from and I think that's the real special thing about it and it was one of the moments that drove me to see what I could really do. And since that I know I can do anything, you know, because to study for a role and to try to bring that to life is just not the easiest thing. And acting on screen also is different from acting on stage, you know. So that was also a different type of experience, but it was all around good. I was always excited, I was always motivated. You know the Marley family really welcomed us. You know Ziggy and Steven and Sadella, they really welcomed us to be a part of the story and the director, ronaldo, you know, also made it what I say now a collective experience that nobody felt lesser than anybody. And I know that you know Hollywood acting, it can be a little bit strenuous, but it wasn't as strenuous as I thought it would be. So that was great.
Hector Roots Lewis:Yeah, kingsley Ben-Adir you know, that's one of my good brethren, since the movie gave me a lot of encouragement. He's also a brilliant actor in my eyes and, yeah, the whole thing was great, man. I think it was great that Jamaica got a little spotlight. I think it was great that we're able to also film in Jamaica around the people, actual spaces that Bob went, actual spaces that Carly went. And to be able to do a LA premiere you know movie premiere, you know what I mean to be able to be a part of a movie that won a BET award, that got nominated for what is that? The NWACP, that's what, yeah, you know. So it's just the whole thing being great man. It's one of those long lasting, forever prosperous moments that I'll always have, and I'm happy that I was able to do it. I was chosen to do it and, yeah, I'm looking into doing more film.
Mikelah:Now being on set and even you know we grew up with Bob Marley we hear the music and the catalog Doing that. Did it change your perspective in terms of the catalog and your connection to Bob Marley as an artist, like, did it change you, give you a different perspective, inspire you? I'm just curious.
Hector Roots Lewis:Definitely you know Bob Marley is such a brave and purposeful artist. Give you a different perspective, inspire you. I'm just curious. Definitely you know Bob Marley is such a brave and purposeful artist that you know I've always watched documentaries with other artists. But to be so close and to be so in-depth with the story you know the things he did, you know it definitely inspired me, man. You know I'm even trying to align everything in my head to how it inspired me. But you know the Exodus album. You know when you listen to that album and just the stories and how that project was made, you know it just shows the depths of Bob and, like I said, the bravery and, like I said earlier, that intentional purpose to tap into another market without having a big song, then you know what I mean and that's very inspiring man.
Hector Roots Lewis:It took a lot of strength, it took a lot of not listening to what other people say, you know, and to really try and produce this thing. Bob is our overall inspiration. Even the way he wanted to tap into the african market before there was even a structure, I think was very brave and like gangster to you know, I mean like yo, I want to do this and I want to use my money to do this, or you know what I mean. So the songwriting you know, even learning, that he never really rushes songwriting. You know just a little by a little, everything, and it's a true thing. Sometimes songs come to you as a full thing, Sometimes it come half, it come piece by piece, but a lot of these great songs came piece by piece and I was really inspired by just the simplicity and just the momentary vibe that he would have with doing music. And he never lost sight of his purpose. I mean, he was never a perfect man, but to be so purposeful and to be so like on it, no matter what he was going through, I remember well he's kind of like one of those youths that never grew up with two parents. There's a lot of internal trauma and he did all of that while going through that. He made all that great music while going through that. He made all that great music while going through that and I think that's just phenomenal for any human being. From your mental health to your spiritual health, to your physical health. You literally did all of this while going through all of that, while being shot at all of those things. So it made me more brave with my music, it made me more open-minded.
Hector Roots Lewis:You know, just really trying things, not waiting, because sometimes you want to align things in a structure, you say yo suppose you do it, and then you probably mess it up. But you know it starts with you. You know you are the creator, you are the artist, and I mean, of course, going into professional world. You do need other aspects to make the thing go, but you are the one, like he said in that scene, we can build it. It's one of my favorite seeds. As simple as it is, we can build it. Everything he did, he built. So that's what I'm doing with my career.
Hector Roots Lewis:Um, yeah, man, I, I was actually recording the album that we dropped during that time. Um, piece by piece, little by little, and, and you know, while going through the moves, like yo, you know, without even like just thinking about oh, bob, you know, you just had that energy where I know I'm tired tonight but I won't go and get this, or I know I'm this. So it definitely motivates me each and every day. Yeah, even my wife would tell him, man, I'm like yeah, man, mo, man, marley, you know Marley, Sometimes I ask her Marley and I say yeah, man Marley, you know, yeah, because outside of the inspirationalness that he already had over the people, me personally as a storyteller of his story through Carlton Barrett, yeah, man, he's a crazy revolutionizing of the mind towards music, because I didn't even mean to go too long, but he, even after Island Records, he started his own label, he started his own studio.
Hector Roots Lewis:He did a lot of things. You know, he was one of our you know futuristic pioneers who really was about modernization of music and independence of artists, even and I think that's where the root of it is for my motivation the independence of our artists in terms of having your own studio, having your own merch design thing, having your own pressing your own records, you know all of that kind of thing. You know, bob kind of came and showed us in our you know, jamaica land we love, in our diaspora, that that can be done. You don't have to wait on a big corporation to do it. So very inspiring man.
Mikelah:I love it. I love it. We could talk about that all day, I'm sure.
Hector Roots Lewis:Yeah man, yeah man, trust me. Tough Bob Marley, tough man.
Mikelah:Yeah, for sure it's so funny. My, my stepdad is away with him talk about mama.
Hector Roots Lewis:He's like them, don't know, sorry revolutionary rebel.
Mikelah:That's no man. Yo, yo, my kid is one love thing for joe yeah, man, they don't.
Hector Roots Lewis:They don't understand. Yeah, like when I remember you know you did a concert the night after he was shot in a think about the trauma of being shot, let alone being shot at then get up to do a concert. Yeah, man, he's a man on a mission man, real revolutionary he. He took everything and still did it. And that's not easy, never, ever easy. No man can tell me nothing. He get on me and say say so, amali man, amali, right, you and, and you know we big up the Barrett family, you know the, the whole family, aston, who played his father. He was very instrumental in helping me to understand the support from the Barrett family. You know they all show love to me for what I did in representing their uncle, and you know so yeah, man, yeah, I love it.
Mikelah:You know, I didn't even get to ask you, how did you get the name Roots Hector, roots Lewis all right.
Hector Roots Lewis:So even with touring with Chronix before I came up with a name, because you know, chronix again was one of those artists that even his inspiration to me it's somewhat similar to Bob, but it's more like in real time and the bigger he got I realized that you know branding and stuff like that and especially at time I used to see other musicians who play for big names. You know they'd have endorsement, they'd have a name, they'd have an actual you, you know brand or something working. And so at the time I had dubbed myself Roots Percussionist, because one of the strengths of my style and one of the inspirations of my style as a percussionist was learning the roots of every style of music, especially the ones that came from the Caribbean and from Africa. And so I kind of just took it on and call myself roots percussionist. And you know, as we went along, when it came to deciding to become a songwriter and an artist, we wanted a name that would still remind them that oh, it's the same roots percussionist, but without the focus on percussionists. And hence we decided to go with hector roots louis, because they would still be like oh, yeah, yeah, roots, still yeah, but that that was the inspiration.
Hector Roots Lewis:I was like and you know jamar, you know aka chronix we always one of the things we shared as a band not only him, jerks evans, all of us. You know, namdi was always trying to study how the people came before, did it, you know, and from that type of study and conversations daily on tour and everything, that's what really made me kind of zero in and I also, you know, thought of myself of being a part of the legacy of percussionists and of musicians in Jamaica. So you know what I mean. Why not, you know, take it from the roots, you know, cause it's always right there before you look forward, you know. So, yeah, that's, that's really it. That's really it, man.
Mikelah:So tell me about your new album, cosmic Roots. I'm assuming it's a mashup between your name and Johnny Cosmic, since it's produced with him. So talk to me about how the collaboration came about and, of course, the project itself.
Hector Roots Lewis:So the name. Now, it just so happened that in choosing that name out of a lot of names that myself and my management and the rest of the team was discussing, one night, they had said it, but I still didn't go with it, I still wasn't feeling it, until one day me and my manager was having a conversation and when he said it, what really stood out to me was that in the next five to probably 10 years you know the way we do stuff and the way stuff will seem in terms of economically and just living the human experience is going to be way more modern than what we know. And so when I heard the name, I just felt like, in 10 years, if somebody should pick up my record and say Cosmic Roots, it would just fit the time. You know, it wouldn't be too traditional, traditional like you know, yeah, which nothing is wrong with that but I felt like it's something that can represent timelessly, you know. And that's what the name stood out for me. And then, yeah, you know, it worked between you know, johnny being Johnny Cosmic, me being Hector Roots. So it kind of just became a full circle moment in choosing that, because, yes, we wanted to definitely find a name. That suggested that this album and inspirations did come from the island and from the Bay Area in California, which is in Oakland, right? So that's basically it.
Hector Roots Lewis:I was on tour with Tribal Seeds coming to the close and my manager had took a flight to Oakland to meet with, you know, johnny's management and the Inefable team, and that's kind of how the whole thing came together, you know what I mean. And I was on tour, was on tour, he called me facetime me and introduced me to johnny and I mean, I already had known adam from ineffable. But you know, reintroduction, and we thought it was a cool vibe to make some music together, especially because I already had the music, but I had it in. I had it in a stage where at that point I was looking for where this sound could go and how I could really make this sound be bigger and different from my first EP, my first body of work. And you know, hearing what Johnny can do and what he's done and playing some of the music for him in the initial stage kind of just made sense that we could work on it. And even then I didn't really hear what it could be until we got in studio together, which we did and, yeah, that was great man, like he really put his cosmic sound on it.
Hector Roots Lewis:You know, and I mean even before meeting with Johnny, you know myself and my management, you know we also sat down and came up with the concepts for this song and where I would go, you know, because I kind of write from about this album. You know it have an international song but it really was me trying to keep the culture too as well and and things that I know about the culture and just everyday situations that I know, yeah, um, and a lot of it also was personal, from even going through the pandemic and a lot of things I went through, um, mentally and I think everybody, because I don't think we knew that the world could stop like that. You know what I mean. So, yes, that's where you have songs like Peace of Mind, because, you know, I went through, I think, personally in that time where my peace of mind was, you know, became something that I had to prioritize it, because sometimes I almost felt like I was losing my mind, you know. So it's just a connection like that where between Johnny and you know, writing the music, getting this new sound, new sonics, you know, sonically it was a real, you know, real collaborative moment and that's pretty how much it happened. Man and I made trips between Jamaica and Oakland and, you know, made some ideas, johnny put some ideas and we just went back and forth, back and forth, until until it was done.
Hector Roots Lewis:The features kind of came along the process. We never knew. We knew we wanted to have some features but we didn't know who they were gonna be, you know. So, like for fire, you know, jaybo, that kind of just came through. Just you know brethren shape and you know the irrefutable team, knowing his team, and we kind of got that together. Same thing for busy signal, same thing for the movement vibe. And then now case music now is more a personal connection that I have, where case also works, with my management team as well, and is that, you know, he's a younger artist in age from me and somebody who I truly believe is going to change the landscape for his era, and so I wanted to have him be a part of something, you know, because he's my brethren like that and he really inspires me too, you know, and let me say he's my brethren like that. So I invited Case to be a part of Battle Cry and yeah, it just worked out like that. Just worked out like that.
Mikelah:It's so interesting that you said storytelling so I was listening. I got that very much soundtrack of Jamaica feel from like Sounda Beat and Taylor's Pins yeah, yeah, yeah. And I could visualize what you were talking about. It's like you described your writing style so perfectly. But what also stood out between the EP that you had and this project is your vocals kind of melt into the music.
Hector Roots Lewis:Yeah.
Mikelah:That was the most noticeable difference between that project and this one. So talk to me about that. Was that intentional?
Hector Roots Lewis:Yeah, I mean I even forget to say too that was definitely intentional from the mixing side and the sonic side, right. But one of the highlights about this album is that I played a lot of the things initially, before even linking up with Johnny, and even in the Johnny process I played some stuff too and of course he played a lot of stuff. You know he was very instrumental in the arrangement as well of the songs, in terms of like, when I had my ideas. There was just a lot of ideas in there, but he really helped me to build the story of each song and to build these ideas to which ones would come here, which ones would come there. He was also instrumental in some of the song and to build these ideas to which ones would come here, which ones would come there. It was also instrumental in some of the songwriting as well. So you know, but I really loved and I really wanted to play on this, these next set of songs that was gonna eventually be a project, because for the roots man I didn't play on anything really. I mean I played percussion for some of the songs, but I wanted to like be way more in the process. I I played percussion for some of the songs, but I wanted to like be way more in the process.
Hector Roots Lewis:I played the bass line, some of the bass lines. I played some of the drum tracks. I played some of the pianist drums. You know some of the phrases I played as well.
Hector Roots Lewis:I want to highlight in celebration a musician that I worked with, louis Kiasso. Highlight in celebration a musician that I worked with, louis castle, who is a well-known musician in in the california area and just worldwide, and um, he played a lot of great piano riffs and stuff on celebration actually, you know. But um, being able to play and to produce alongside johnny was a big highlight for me because it was my first time doing it, but I already knew I had the ability to play these things. So that's why I took it on and did it and that's basically how I've been producing, since I always work with other producers because I'm still developing the producer ear, but I definitely can play. I can play drums, I can play guitar, I can play bass, I can play keyboard and I'm guitar, I can play bass, I can play keyboard and I'm happy that I was able to do that on this project and we'll do that for many projects to forward, you know.
Mikelah:So yeah, so what's your favorite song on the album today? Because I'm sure it changes everything.
Hector Roots Lewis:Thank you, no, thank you for adding. Thank you, no, thank you for adding. Yeah, because man, um, today, today, I think I think peace of mind, man, yeah, yeah, because it started out wanting to be sauna beat for a very long time and then for a very long time, it was where I belong, you know, and then for a very long time it was where I belong, you know, and then for a very long time, it was fire. But peace of mind was like the second track, you know, leading up to the album to come out, and just even going on tour recently with callibots and seeing how it, how it performs with the people, what people play on their socials, you know, mean I really got what the people got, and that was one of the songs that really is like my personal story, you know what I mean, and, um, I think that's very powerful, that my personal story could, um, you know, communicate to other people who probably know that kind of story, cause we go through it daily, you know, going through things, covering it up, playing it off, you know, because we have to, you know a part of the human experience, because we have to, but if we can be conscious that we can actually take the time out to slow down some of the time and prioritize, without crashing out and then realizing to prioritize, then that's just a little bit better.
Hector Roots Lewis:And then the groove and everything. All of that was intentional. But yeah, peace of mind right now, man, peace of mind. I'm really happy to see people gravitate to Son of Yee because, like I said, that was the first fave song.
Mikelah:But peace of mind right now, peace of mind right now I had to put today because I'm sure it changes daily. Yeah, performs the energy, changes All right.
Hector Roots Lewis:You know what, too, makayla man, you know what too, in a real vibe. The whole album is my favorite because we were very intentional in choosing each track from Peace of mind going to strength, from strength going to, I believe, dangerous, from dangerous going to battle cry, going to possibility. You know, prioritize a peace of mind, you know. God, give me the strength to prioritize this peace of mind, god. We live in a world where I'm just even recently hearing that they don't even want to make public announcements about when there's widespread sicknesses that's out here in the world. So we have to be aware of, yes, living a good life, enjoying ourselves, going for our goals, but at any given time, you may be a part of a situation that you're just a victim of. So we have to just be conscious of that, you know. And then leading into battle cry, which is again our everyday internal. You know pains that we feel that, like yo, like generational pains that we feel that we're not conscious of. You know humanity, the seeds they sow. You know ancient times, so long ago, long ago. So you know a lot of the things we suffer now is from long time. You know that the whole effect of it start, and then you know possibility, believing because you know, you know faith and hope, I think, is something that we have to be reminded of, especially in this time again.
Hector Roots Lewis:Surviving the pandemic, surviving a lot of things, we're so sensitive, you know, to anything these days before that, ah, man, you know. No, yeah, very sensitive. So we have to believe. And you know fire music blazing like fire, sauna beat. That's where we come now to the enjoyment part and to also specifically enjoying the Jamaican style of enjoyment, because even recently, I was saying to my wife that, yo, we actually party different from other parties. Like when you go to a Jamaican party versus an electronic house party, versus something where it's strictly hip-hop, it's just a different vibe even though they're similar. Yeah, man, it's different, man, it's just so different. You know what I mean.
Mikelah:And then it's different here versus in Jamaica.
Hector Roots Lewis:Yeah, and I mean New York and Jamaica, is one in the same for me In certain ways. But it's just the Jamaican experience of, you know, celebration and sauna beat where we all say, you know, entertainment, enjoyment, the bar line full, the girl them pretty and I take them selfie, you know, all of those things is a part of just like remembering that, you know. I mean just highlighting it because I was a part of it and I grew up in it.
Mikelah:you know, yeah, so the whole album mckay that I know I know album, that of course you know that's gonna be no, for real baby. Yeah, man, you know, so um yeah and I I usually, when I play uh new albums, I'll play them beginning to end, because I feel like that's the intent of which the artist wants you to hear it yeah man, yeah man and I. It's the first time I would never. I wouldn't even change the order. I think it's exactly perfect, thank you.
Hector Roots Lewis:Yeah, no, my man just said it was a nice contrast from reflective, a little bit of serious moment in danger and then coming into that enjoyment. And that's literally the story of my life in certain aspects, from the pandemic leading up to now, literally, you know, from the pain to the victory, you know.
Mikelah:It feel like a dance. So you have the early warm and then you rinse the party.
Hector Roots Lewis:Early juggling for kick off the party. Yeah, man, and it's funny you said that. I remember me and Johnny reasoning and just everybody on the team. I remember speaking about the inspiration of making these songs, like day in, day out I was making them, saying like yo, I'd like to even have a space in that section, because in the dance for me it's funny, I don't know if people look at it, probably the djs do but every section of our party I don't know probably other specific as jamaican, the early one is so pivotal people will even know they probably don't think about it.
Hector Roots Lewis:But trust me, if you drop, shake it to the max too early, like where is he gonna drop? I mean, yes, you can drop other throwbacks, but it won't feel just as same as if you're bringing it in between. Even if you're mixing something that's just a big tune over the last 20 years, but you still want to keep that section. Where is's the tunes that are bopping? So the early warm is very and I was kind of like yo, I'd want to be in that section and sometimes people be like you know, if you look at it say you can't even be in, you know in the later section or whatever. But I just, I just, I just like just the whole chronological vibe of how I party, even without thinking about it the early one, you know. The midsection, the late vibe, where it's just the girl tune them, you know, the bad man tune them. You know what I mean. So yeah, I just that you know.
Mikelah:I love it. I love it. Well, thank you so much for joining me to talk music, your latest album and all the things that you're working on. Tell the people where they can find you.
Hector Roots Lewis:Yes, so this is Hector Roots Lewis, and you can find me on Instagram. Hector Roots Lewis on TikTok. Hector Roots Lewis on Spotify. Hector Roots Lewis on Apple Music. Hector Roots Lewis.
Mikelah:Everywhere. Hector Roots Lewis.
Hector Roots Lewis:No, except Twitter. Roots Lewis right, louis, and everywhere except twitter um roots louis right.
Mikelah:And uh, yeah, man, stream it, play it, you know, love it, share it if there was a first song, I think I know what what song that that would be. If there is one song that you want people to hear off the album, which one would it be? Start with this one.
Hector Roots Lewis:Strength. Okay, oh okay, I thought it was going to be either mine, no man strength I mean you know, my favorite song certainly was strength.
Hector Roots Lewis:You know I'm an artist, you know again, and I really give thanks for Chronix. He really showed me the power of music, you know, and of course you can make enjoyment music. But let me tell you, man, in years to come, if you serve humanity as a musician and as a creative with music, where we really help them, then that's how you become revolutionary. You know, I mean, some of us have to take on different missions, some of us have to fight it, you know physically and you know. But strength, man, because people need that, you know, people need to know so they can acknowledge the creator and that the creator can be there and that by giving praise to the creator, that's how your blessing come. No matter who you is, come as you are, the lord will accept you. You know what I mean.
Hector Roots Lewis:I have a big church. You know background, even though I'm not necessarily in the church, but I've done my work in the church as a youth and I see myself doing my work out here, you know, for the almighty and towards creativity and just the human consciousness and experience. And I believe we must serve people because that's the real power of music, outside of the enjoyment and everything. Trust me, yeah, man.
Mikelah:I love it. Thank you so much. You over here inspire me. Thank you guys. No, man, give thanks, man, I really appreciate it. Well, people, I'll see you next time.
Hector Roots Lewis:Thank you, so you over here inspiring me. Thank you guys. No man give thanks, man, yeah, I really appreciate it.
Mikelah:Well, people, next time yeah, man exor roots lewis make sure you guys stream the album, buy the album, buy a vinyl, support pantour, all other things. Then please support reggae music and I want to.
Hector Roots Lewis:I don't mean to cut you, I want to just big up everybody. You know. Big up my management team from creative tribe. We got the ineff want to just big up everybody. You know. Big up my management team from Creative Tribe. Big up the Ineffable team, right. Big up all the musicians who worked on the project. You know, big up all the DSPs who's added to their list, all the editorials. Big up my Kale and the Style and Vibes podcast for having me and all the other interviewers and everybody who made this project a moment and a reality right now. You know, big up to me even my family, my personal family, my wife who support me, all my family members, all my friends. You know, enough love. You see me. Yeah, man.
Mikelah:Thank you, all right, until next time Later, my peeps.
Hector Roots Lewis:Yeah, later Up.
