It has often been said that absence makes the heart grow fond, and the statement couldn’t be more true than when it is applied to Dwight Duncan, who is better known to reggae fans and aficionados across the globe as Bushman.
The St. Thomas, Jamaican native with the booming baritone voice has spent much of his time away from the spotlight since he released his critically acclaimed LP, Signs (2004). However, Bushman has officially returned to iTunes and record store shelves near you with an impressive musical tribute to the Mystic Man, Peter Tosh, whom he has courted numerous comparisons to over the course of his career. The new LP, released on VP Records, is entitled Bushman Sings the Bush Doctor and it features guest appearances by Tarrus Riley and Buju Banton.
Bushman managed to take some time out from his busy schedule to discuss his new project, the socio-economic aftershocks following last year’s earthquake in Haiti, and where to find some high grade marijuana with Fast Food for Thought. Whether you’re a smoker, or not, you’re about to get lifted.
Hey Bushman, I remember that I was first exposed to your music with your album Signs, which came out in 2004, and from then I’ve been a fan of your work. But I’ve always said that it seems difficult to find new music from you over the years. You don’t seem to be releasing much new music. Is that your personal preference?
Yeah, it was kind of personal. After the album Signs it took me some time to really deal with the situation. I thought that the album could have taken to the world much more than it did. It was a great work. People have disagreements but I am happy to be presenting this new project to the people.
The new album features guest appearances from Tarrus Riley and Buju, but I know that Peter Tosh has two sons who are also recording artists. Did you reach out to any of them for this project?
Yes, I reached out to Andrew, but I don’t know Tosh1. I reached out to Andrew, and we spoke more than once. Within the time that I was ready to record I couldn’t get a hold of Andrew. Like myself, Andrew is as stable as the water in a river. We can be here today, and then tomorrow we’re in another part of the world.
I had the chance to work with him at The High Times Cannabis Cup in Holland. Cannabis Cup is a marijuana contest that they have in Holland every 10 years or so. All of the best herb planters in Holland come together to determine whose herb production is the best. Over there marijuana is almost legal [Editor’s Note: it is illegal to possess and sell marijuana in Holland, but its government normally does not prosecute individuals over the age of 18 who smoke it]. You need to go there if you smoke, bredrin. Awesome! Cannabis sativa! Yeah mon!
[laughing] Actually, I don’t, but I’ll pass the word along to some people who might. Sly Dunbar, whom you worked with on this album, collaborated with Peter Tosh. Did he have any interesting stories about Peter to share with you?
Yeah and even Copeland Forbes, who managed Luciano, had stories. Copeland was Tosh’s manager at one time. He talked about when Peter was in Africa and learned to speak Swahili, which is widely spoken over there. He also talked about how Peter had problems going through airports. Peter was a no nonsense man; he was very stern, so because of that, he often had problems with the cops.
Word! If you know anything about Peter Tosh’s history, you know that he didn’t have the best relationship with the police.
Yeah mon!
A lot of people had a problem with him because of what he represented. He was very militant, and didn’t take any b.s from anyone. He was a stepping razor in the truest sense. But to digress a little bit, I want to know how you feel about the direction of reggae music today. Is it progressing? Is it stagnant? What are your thoughts?
Well the entire market is suffering, no matter what the genre of music is, but reggae is very low right now and it’s not rising. At one time five to eleven people would come together to make music. Nowadays, you have one man sitting down in front of a machine putting the drums together and playing the guitar from a digital synthesizer. That’s not how reggae was created originally. Reggae is created with 10 different minds, or six or seven different minds. They may have different styles and characters, but they have one thing in common and that is a passion for the music. So when you listen to the drum, you find seh the drum has its own character. The guitar has its own character—but they are both playing in one unity. That is what makes reggae music so organic and so spiritual. It’s the product of a collaborative effort.
It’s been over a year since the earthquake that hit Haiti, and it seems to me that many people have all but forgotten about the island. What are your thoughts on Haiti’s situation?
I was watching CNN the other day and this man, and I don’t remember his name, was saying that people come forward saying “donate this to Haiti,” or “donate that to Haiti” but nothing is happening to really help the people in Haiti! A man went down there with six thousands U.S. dollars and set up a place for about one hundred children who were homeless. So you do the math. If even $50,000 dollars was spent, there must be a drastic change. So where is all of the money going? I feel like the cults of capitalism are sweeping it all in.
What should fans expect from your new album?
Just more great music. For touring updates log on to http://www.burningbushesmusic.com/. Also look for Bushman on Twitter. Respect!
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