Feature

Even though the members of The Wailers have changed over the decades, the band’s rich legacy has kept them on the road year after year. The line-up has included the great fathers of reggae such as Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer and Peter Tosh.

Currently, The Wailers are on the road packing in a few gigs before their next release hits the shelves and will make their way to the Port City to properly kick off the summer.

Elan Atias (The Wailers’ newest member) was gracious enough to fill in the blanks on The Wailers and their new release.

SC: Reggae was one of the first genres of music I focused on, and it still has the power to put me in a good mood when I listen to it. Why do you think that is?

EA: I think the message, the vibe, the feeling, the bass, the tones are very warm. I don’t know. The same way you just described, I’ve felt the same way ever since I was young. I was drawn more to it. I think it’s the message and the feeling, the vibe that it makes you feel. It’s very relaxing. When you listen to heavy metal or you listen to hard rock, it’s very aggressive. Reggae doesn’t feel that way, you know what I mean?

SC: The Wailers have been doing their thing for several decades. What is it that keeps The Wailers going?

EA: I think it’s getting the message and giving it to the people. There have been so many generations that have embraced the music and the culture and the message. I keep saying “the message,” because the message is the most important thing. The conscious lyrics, the love lyrics really affect the people.

It talks to the people. So, I really believe that’s why every generation embraces it and comes to the shows. We have like 3-year-olds to 70-year-olds, but the majority is the young college kids from 18 to 24, who are really just discovering life. They relate to it the same way I did when I was their age. I relate to it now. I find it, and I relate to it, and I’m like, “Wow! That was pretty cool!” All the lyrics get really spiritual, and you find yourself.

SC: Absolutely, over the past couple of decades, reggae has exploded beyond Jamaica. These days, you see artists like Matisyahu carrying on the reggae tradition even though he isn’t from Jamaica. What’s your opinion on this new generation of reggae artists?

EA: I think it’s great! Over the years, reggae music has lent and people have been inspired, and they’ve taken from reggae. Like hip-hop is derived from reggae. Then later on in the years, dancehall and reggae took a little bit from hip-hop. All the different genres from rock to R&B to everything, all different artists get inspired, and they also are influencing one another.

That’s the most important thing about music. Music is great to do that, especially in this day and age with information being right at your fingertips. You can listen to African music; you can listen to all kinds of music all over the world.

When I was growing up, back in the day, you got to hear whatever your parents were playing or what was on the radio. I was influenced by reggae, and I was very lucky to have Middle Eastern and African and New Wave and Pop and had everything mixed in before the computer era. It’s amazing how all the music is free-flowing, and there’s so many different artists who have branched off from reggae like Reggaeton, and all artists not only from Jamaica like Matisyahu, like 311, like Sublime, like No Doubt, like Manu Chao, like myself even! These are artists who have taken a little bit of reggae and added to music they have grown up with as well.

SC: I’ve caught y’all a couple of times, and one thing that I’ve noticed is that the crowds still go crazy for your standards, and they can’t get enough. How does it feel to see such an appeal for songs that were written so long ago?

EA: I think it’s a great feeling! It’s good, because it’s their first time hearing. I told you. Each generation keeps grasping and taking on the music, and to me that right there is the reason why the music keeps going on.

SC: I read where you guys are putting out a new album with some previously unreleased material as well as recruiting various artists to perform Wailers’ tunes. How’s that coming along, and when can we pick it up?

EA: We’re trying to get it out for summer. It’s so hard and takes time. With all the different artists from different genres, it’s been hard tracking them and getting them all, because all their schedules are A-List all around the world, and they have their priorities. It’s been really hard, but we’ve got half the album done. God willing, it will come out soon. All the music is done; it’s just the different features.

SC: You’re one of the newer members of The Wailers. So far, what’s been the greatest aspect of being in this band?

EA: I think the history and the message. I keep telling you like before, the message is what I believe. I wouldn’t be able to be touring or be singing these songs, the classics at least, if I didn’t connect or if I didn’t feel like I wrote those lyrics or I didn’t believe what they were talking about. That to me is the biggest thing for me: to relate. That’s what I’ve gotten from the band. Obviously, those years and years of experience from them is another thing that really helped me a lot. They’ve led me all these years and years.

Coming in and not knowing anything of the music business ten years ago, I had the best professors, so to say. Those were my college years. I was 19 years old, and I had Family Man, Wya, Al Anderson and all these guys who’d been in the business for 30 plus years showing me the ropes, “Do that; don’t do this. Watch out for those people. Go for this. This is cool to do.” It makes your transition easy.

Stephen Centanni is Lagniappe music editor. Contact him at scentanni@lagniappemobile.com.

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