Digital Interviews: What kind of music did you listen to growing up?

Burning Spear: I was listening to various kinds of music. I was listening to reggae. In those days it was "Rock Steady" and ska. I was also listening to a lot of American artists. Various artists, various music -- before I get started.

DI: Were you encouraged to perform by your family or your friends?

BS: No, what took place with I was just natural thing -- it just took place.

DI: How old were you when you knew you wanted to perform reggae music as a career?

BS: In my mid-20s.

DI: Was this when you met Bob Marley?

BS: That was earlier on, in 1969. We bumped into each other. That was the one who told me about Studio One. I get started from there.

DI: Tell us about performing for Studio One.

BS: It was good. You know, Studio One was like a musical college in those days. A lot of us who got started through Studio One endin' up being in the international scene, the international market.

DI: Why did you change your name to Burning Spear?

BS: The name comin' from Kenya. Jomo Kenyatta was the first president from Republic of Kenya. He was Burning Spear.

DI: Tell us about Rastafarianism.

BS: Rastafari is a religion, like any other religion. A man would say he's Catholic, or whatsoever. It's the same thing. It's a concept, it's a religion, it's a doctrine, and its a livin'. Yeah.

DI: You did a lot of sessions for Island Records. What memories do you have?

BS: Memories vary, you know. I think Island was one of the most major record companies I ever happened to be with, [but] I was dealin' with Heartbeat even before I was dealin' with Island. Heartbeat was more like an independent company.

DI: Your relationship with Heartbeat seems to be going well.

BS: They, as an independent company, really know what they are doin', so far. It's one of the best independent companies. I'm in business with them over the past years.

DI: Which is more important to you, recording or touring?

BS: Both of them are important. I enjoy both of them.

DI: Where does your dynamic, forceful sound come from?

BS: That sound is comin' from within me. I create that sound, and I try to maintain that sound, build on that sound and keep that sound when presentin' that sound to the people.

DI: Do you record in the States?

BS: Not much. Most of my recordings is done in Jamaica.

DI: Why is that?

BS: That's where the whole thing get started. Thats where the roots create itself. I can record any place I choose to record, but recordin' in Jamaica really became so special to me -- I always go back to where I originate from, as an African Jamaican, and still do my recording.

DI: What did you take away from visiting the Grateful Dead experience?

BS: I wasn't too familar a person with the Grateful Dead the first time I got into their music, which was when I happened to do the song "Estimated Prophet." When I listened to the lyrics, I thought that I would have written lyrics like those -- it's some good lyrics. I've been to two live concerts, and I saw their performance. Their performance was outstanding -- their lyrics, and the performance, was good. Jerry happens to pass away, and I decided to pay tribute to Jerry by doing the song "Play Jerry."

DI: Which comes first in your songwriting process, lyrics or music?

BS: Melody is the first step to making a song, lyrics come long after. Melody is the first step. You've got to have melody, and once you have melody, lyrics can come a couple months after, or even a year after.

DI: Tell us about your unique "trancelike" performance style.

BS: Sometimes, it comes at times, when you are onstage, you as the artist don't even know whats goin' on. Sometimes you're on stage, and you feel like you're not on stage. Sometimes people think that you're lookin' at them over in the audience, but you're not seein' nobody. It's like you reach further than seein' the people. You're lookin' way over. You know, that is how the music develops -- within, when I performin' live. It's a normal thing that I have no control over.

DI: You let the music take control of you?

BS: That's it.

DI: You're regarded as one of the finest reggae artists ever. What advice would you give to a young musician?

BS: They should be concentratin' on discipline. Discipline and respect work together for anyone who wants to get involved in the music business. You have to be very disciplined, respectful, with a lot of patience, and the best environment you can find yourself in. That's best. Those three things are the three major things for a person, especially a young person who'd like to get involved in the music business. Discipline, a lot of patience, and respect. Once you can maintain those three things, you will get through. It might take you time, but you will get through.