Aza Lineage’s growth and creativity is both inspiring and empowering
Photo courtesy of VP Records. Photo credit: Forrest Photography876.
Daily Reggae interviewed Aza Lineage to learn about the Jamaican artist’s irie EP, “Kingston To Cali”, inspiration as an artist, and approach preparing for live sets!
Hey Aza! We are absolutely vibing with your new EP, “Kingston To Cali”! What was the process like collaborating with Natty Megs to bring it to life? What were some of the messages that you are getting across in the music?
Hi, Waa gwaan Daily Reggae? Greetings to you and all your readers, thank you for having me on your platform. I feel happy and grateful that you all are bumbing to my EP “Kingston to Cali". It means a lot to me!
It was an organic process for me and my sistren Natty Megs. We met via the internet in 2016 Facebook to be precise I uploaded a freestyle video she saw it and made contact, and from there we started vibing and messaging back and forth about real stuff, you know life, motherhood, music, etc.
As time passed we exchanged creative ideas, and she sent me a couple of the riddims she was working on, the first song we worked on was "Plant up The Herbs" a cut of the Top Ten instrumental made popular by Gregory Isaacs and other foundation Reggae singers.
I immediately jumped on that riddim because it reminded me of the songs my cousins used to play on their sound system, I didn't know too much about the Marijuana industry in California or Jamaica I guess I channeled that vibes, the song features and was co-written by Lineage Smilez.
Natty Megs and I met physically when she visited Jamaica with her family in 2017. Our connection grew and we continued working with each, other over a period of 5-6 years organically we would have completed seven songs that's when we said hey let's put them together on an EP, and that was the birth of the Kingston to Cali.
The name was intentional she being from California and myself from Kingston Jamaica two creative females from different parts of the world with similar interests, music, motherhood, life, we made a genuine connection.
The lyrics flowed effortlessly one of the main messages were 'No winners of war', peace, culture, 'you know' just a good feeling Reggae vibes. "No winners of war" one of the leading tracks from the EP was written based on an incident that happened in my community due to gang violence, sections of my community were at odds with each other, I extended my empathy in other parts of the world that was also going through tuff times due to wars be it gang related or political. Unity and interdependence.
Other messages include female empowerment and confidence (Rock and Step) Love and Romance (Shae Butter) an Irie feel good Reggae vibes (Roots Radics). The project was mixed and mastered by Natty Megs for Morelife Production.
You teamed with VP Reggae in the irie single, “Don’t Say You Love Me”. I love your vocals and your abilities to cross genres including reggae, dancehall, hip hop and R&B. Did you write this song from your life experience and what do you want fans to feel?
“Don't Say You Love Me" Ahh what a tune! Firstly, I'd like to say big respect to my producer Lloyd "King Jammy" James we have been working together since late 2016, and I am grateful for your input in the development of my musical journey. It was King who made the connection between VP Records and I, shout outs to VP for the collaboration, Strictly the Best, Vol. 63.
I had gotten the instrumental from King and had written a different song but when I got to the studio and listened to the riddim again I said "You know what, scrap dis" I am feeling a different vibe right now. "Mek we tap inna di many great artists weh pass through the gates of 38 St. Lucia Road Kingston 11", and out of the blue Lineage Smiles (Kevin Morrison, song writer) uttered "Don't Say you love me" Light bulbs went off I smiled, and said Yes, "dat is it"! Within minutes I had enough lyrics to finish the song, Black Pearl (song writer) walked on the scene and loved the tune, he said "Aza dat baaaad, but yuh see da medical part deh put it up a di top"! We went in the studio and recorded the song, the in-house engineer was/is Romeo/Shemo, and King Jammys was there leading the session.
My versatility comes from my experiences and memories growing up as a child in Kingston 7 Jamaica (Hermitage/August Town) my grandmother was a revivalist, The Crowned Queen in her church, I remember the name as "Captain Church" they are second generation Bedwardites. Singing drumming, and dancing was always in sight.
My cousins also built from scratch and operated from our home a sound system called "Serious Gold" who would paly everything that was hot at the time! That seeped into my subconscious from early!
I also grew up in the '90s when cable TV was the thing! I was exposed to MTV, BET, VH1 and the various Jamaican channels that covered what was going on, on the island musically, I soaked it all up! What I would love my fans/supporters to feel is the genuineness, the relatability in the lyrics, my passion and love for expressing myself poetically/musically.
Who are some artists that you’re listening to a lot these days and are you hoping to collaborate with anyone in particular? It can be more than one artist!
These days, always I have been fascinated by all the greats that have done before I love Reggae, Dancehall culture, Sound System Culture, Old School R&B, etc. from Johnny Osbourne, Bob Marley, Nina Simone, Aaliyah Wu Tang, Gregory Issacs, Mama Nancy, Billy Joel, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Nicodemus, Peter Tosh, a lot of foundation sound system dances/clashes, etc. I'm always open to working with other creatives, I feel like bringing experiences together artistically brings forth a greater impact! Too much to mention. I am open. Some of the new sounds are also really dope too, everything evolves! so I pull inspiration from all angles.
How do you prepare for live sets and have you had any memorable shows recently that you can reflect on?
Before a live set whether it is on a live band or a sound system I always practice practice practice! Visualize what it would feel like in the moment and remind myself to have fun. Of course, I make sure I am hydrated and stretched as well as do some breathing exercises.
Black Uhuru seh "fi get a hit yuh affi fit, such exercising is a part of the preparations. A recent show I have done that I can reflect on is Dancehall Thursdays, held at Reble T headquarters every Thursday night. This is an original sound system show hosted by Peter Metro, Oniel Famous, and Major Mackerel with Creation Sound being the resident sound system.
Dancehall Thursdays features mainly the foundation artists that brought the music to the world, some of whom I saw for the first time in my life! Performing on that show was a big deal for me, the crowd and the vibes are always authentic!! If you are good you will know, if you are lame you will also know. Good clean Heartical vibes. I connected with the people and they gave me a hearty forward and you know that made me feel good.
What are you really excited about this year and are you open to collaborating with new artists?
This year I am excited about continuing my musical journey, growing and expanding, connecting with others, following it, and seeing and experiencing where it leads me. I am always open to collaborating with other creatives.
