Photo credit: Tuff Gong Worldwide
Last Saturday, I had the treat of witnessing the heir to the Marley name: Ziggy Marley. On April 18th, widely known as Record Store Day, Marley performed his newest album, Brightside, at Licorice Pizza Records to celebrate releasing it on vinyl and CD two weeks prior to its digital release. His choice to release the album in this way felt like an ode to independent record stores, the timeless tradition of consuming physical albums from start to finish, and the classic love for music that spans generations. As I entered the room, I basked in its fullness and bright energy, harmoniously packed with fans in the renowned record store which gets its name from the color and shape of vinyls. The audience’s positivity and excitement was infectious: full of wonderful staff and a buzzing crowd. Fans of all ages were chattering with records and flyers in hand to be later signed by Marley himself.
From what I had known of Ziggy Marley previously, songs like “True To Myself” and “Love Is My Religion,” I expected an afternoon that emanated love, unity, peace, and kindness, themes his iconic father Bob Marley changed the world with. Upon researching Ziggy Marley, I learned that he sung the theme song for the PBS cartoon Arthur, an anthem of many childhoods, “Believe in Yourself (A Wonderful Kind of Day).” The song maintained his positivity, unity, and self-belief for kids.
When Marley took the stage, he greeted everyone joyously with a big and infectious smile, saying, “Respect the vinyl.” Having visited Jamaica recently, I felt really touched to witness such a legacy in person. Debuting his long-awaited album in such a raw and intimate setting proved that Ziggy Marley’s 8-year gap between solo album releases is no issue for his fans. If anything, his decision represents agency for releasing music when he feels the time is right and creates more anticipation for the music to come. He opened singing, “JAH We Give Glory,” a song about countries around the world and the pursuit of connection. The combination of the drums, guitar, and soul was the groovy throughline of the afternoon’s performance. After the first track, he thanked everyone for coming and led into the next song, saying, “Why let the world trouble any of us?” which was met with a young kid replying sweetly, “Yeah!” It was an endearing and heartwarming interaction which embodied the sentiment of the afternoon. “Why Let The World” was easily one of my favorites, a message that you could truly feel.
This new record features a range of tracks, including: “Racism Is A Killa” featuring lyrics:
Racism is a killer
Hard to detect in early stages
Until the symptoms are seen
The only way to get rid of it
Inject equality
Later on, saying:
Now we're slowing the spread
Of that hateful disease
And there is no question
Just science is real
Words that refreshingly make the solution to our world’s issues simple, solved with love and compassion for one another.
The music video for the song features a depressingly real, but simultaneously comedic take on medicinal ads: Ziggy Marley as Dr. Brightside, who treats “Racismosis:”
“Brightside™ is intended for daily use. Desired effects may be seen immediately, or gradually with continued listening. Consult the Good Doctor before decreasing or stopping dosage. Extended withdrawal may lead to a return of original symptoms or worse. Brightside™ is recommended for all groups, ages, races and religions.”
He played the rest of the album which contains features from Nikka Costa, Trombone Shorty, Sheila E, and Jake Shimabukuro. It features the track “Many Mourn For Bob,” an emotional tribute to his father, an icon who was larger than life and whose legacy spanned generations. Both Ziggy and Bob Marley’s music embodies their Rastafarian culture through themes of love and unity for everyone. Love, peace, and acceptance radiate through Marley’s lyricism and sound. As the intimate musical experience came to a close, cheers erupted. We were then directed to the back of the record store, where we were able to get our vinyls and flyers signed by Ziggy Marley himself. He greeted each individual with care, signing everyone’s name as well as a thoughtful message referencing the album. He signed my record with, “To Ava, Keep living on the bright side, Love Ziggy Marley,” blessing my record with the love and positivity I’d like to carry with me.
The sunny afternoon in Studio City left my friends and me on a high note: present, enjoying the moments, and appreciating one another. We came for the music, legacy, and prowess of an icon, Ziggy Marley, and left feeling calm, joyous, and hopeful. To be a part of such an intimate experience was nothing short of spectacular. Marley’s desire to share his music and time in the Licorice Pizza space shows his love for humanity, music-making, and raw performance. An artist on his scale might not always opt for this intimate of an introduction to an album. However, you could tell in the faces of the fans all around, many of whom had met Ziggy several times before, that this meant more than just an album release.
Brightside is an instant classic — something I will be blasting throughout the summer while laying in the sun, imagining a brighter world. With these songs as scripture, a more compassionate future feels possible, through the peace we bring to our relationships and the power that has to transform our world.
Look out for the digital release of Brightside on May 1st to enjoy the record for yourself.
