Skull: Doing Reggae Korean Style
When first listening to his hit single, “Boom Di Boom Di,” you would have never guessed that the song was sung by Jo Seong-jin, a.k.a Skull. Skull, a 28-year-old Korean-born reggae artist, is the second half of the Korean reggae group, Stony Skunk, and recently became a solo artist.
After not having much success in the Korean music market as a solo artist and with his single, “Boom Di Boom Di,” mostly due to a lack of Koreans knowing about reggae music, Skull redid the song with a Jamaican patois to cater to the U.S. market. Here in the U.S., the reggae-loving musician spent much time promoting himself and his music, and all of that hard work has paid off. He has been a featured Myspace artist, he’s been the opening act for Reggae icon, Buju Banton, and he’s gotten a lot of media attention from Billboard, Allhiphop.com, Ballerstatus.com, Vibe, and TheSource.com. What’s even more amazing about this artist is his single, “Boom Di Boom Di,” has ranked high on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hiphop Singles sales chart and has even climbed rapidly on the Top 100 Singles sales chart, which has made a name for himself in music history. Currently, Skull’s manager here in the U.S. is Morgan Carey, the brother of diva sensation, Mariah Carey. Moreover, he’s a musical soul who is passionate about music and very down-to-earth.
With his mandatory Korean military service currently being his priority before the release of his debut album, some are wondering if this will hinder his career just when Skull was achieving success. Asiance got a chance to interview Skull to talk about his music, his career, his debut album, and his thoughts on whether his military service will really obstruct his chances of becoming a solid success here in the U.S.
ASIANCE: I’ve read from previous interviews that you got interested in reggae when you got a hold of a Bob Marley bootleg CD. What was it about reggae music that drew you in?
Skull: Reggae had this vibration that just grabbed my soul, it felt very real and honest to me.
ASIANCE: You are progressively becoming a popular Asian icon for Asians and Asian-Americans – “ and, of course, non-Asians, alike. How do you feel about that?
Skull: Asians and Asian Americans are still not well represented in American pop culture. If you don’t do kung fu, make fun of yourself with comedy, be a sexy girl, own a Laundromat, a fruit stand or be a math geek, you don’t exist as a part of American pop culture. I am grateful to have the opportunity to break that stereotype.
ASIANCE: In a few words, how would you describe your music?
Skull: Honest, passionate, and from my heart.
ASIANCE: What significance does music, in general, hold for you?
Skull: It is an opportunity to speak directly to many people all over the world and hopefully bring them together as one.
ASIANCE: Can you talk a little bit about your debut album?
Skull: Well, it’s looking like it may not come out for a while, but I’ve finished five songs that are pretty strong, and am writing more every day. With so much happening in my life and the world around me, there should be plenty of inspiration. It will be a mix of Roots and Dancehall, with something for everybody and I am hoping to be finished by Christmas.
ASIANCE: Some people believe you become successful after you’ve sold “x” amount of albums or have reached a certain level of popularity with listeners and fans. How do you measure success as a recording artist?
Skull: For me success is something which you measure everyday. It’s not, “Hey my record went platinum..I’m a success”. It’s more like, “How does your life work in it’s totalness? Are you making the music you want to make? Do you have a good team? Are you a good human? Do you handle the pressure and responsibility well? Do you stay in touch with your family and friends? Do you give something back?” A successful artist gives something back to the world more than just music…he or she makes a difference…contributes something to mankind.
ASIANCE: With growing success, how do you stay grounded? How do you handle the pressure of staying on top of your game?
Skull: I meditate, pray, spend quality time with my friends and family, and get very good category_idance from my manager, Morgan Carey.
ASIANCE: I read that you are about to serve your mandatory Korean military service and it seems that some people may worry whether this will hinder your debut here in the States. How do you feel about that?
Skull: Every Korean man must serve, and yes, I am sad that I will lose this opportunity to develop my career in America. On a personal level, the haircut is bleak, and I am particularly sad because I was starting to make headway in Jamaica and that is the home of Reggae music. I would have liked to perform at some of the festivals there. As a Korean, I am unhappy because I must say with all humility that I believe me being in the States was helping to break down the barriers and stereotypes, showing a different face of Koreans and Asians, and in some small way, also mend fences between Korean-Americans and African-Americans. I would have liked to have had more time to have done that, but I was also very much looking forward to touring for my first solo album. But I have to say that I am very grateful and blessed to have had the opportunity to share my music in the first place.
ASIANCE: Where do you see yourself in the next few years, in terms of your career?
Skull: I just take things one day at a time, none of us have any guarantees, but I will always make music and strive to be a better human being.
ASIANCE: What advice would you give to those who are aspiring musicians like yourself?
Skull: Pray, work hard, surround yourself with good people, be honest with yourself and others, follow your dream, don’t believe the hype, and always give thanks to the Creator.
Thanks to Skull for a great interview! You can check out his music at www.myspace.com/skullriddim.
Hi
I really like this musician you featured this month. He is awesome…He doesn’t even look Asian..I forgot how much I love reggae
Hey guys did you know that the currently hottest reggae singer Ava leigh who’s worked with the famous sly n Robbie ,Nick Mannesah ,and future cut has free music
You can download from her website which is avaleigh.co.uk come on and check it out.
Wow the currently hottest reggae singer who’s worked with the famous Sly n Robbie, Nick Manasseh, and future cut has free music you can download at http://www.avaleigh.co.uk ?come check it out.
JIMI HENDRIX MURDERED? “NOT IMPROBABLE” SAYS NOEL REDDING…
The name Jimi Hendrix conjures up some of the most colourful and wildest moments that the sixties produced. Hendrix arrived, he conquered and took the music world by storm, got inside your head and went onto the great gig in the sky – all by the age of 27.
The Jimi Hendrix Experience , left you in no doubt that it was exactly that – an experience.
A trio of musicians who came together from both sides of the Atlantic and found common ground, fame and for one third of the group not very much fortune.
For Noel Redding the bass player in the group the experience was not to be forgotten. Since the death of Hendrix 40 years ago, much as been documented about him and the group.
Looking back to the sixties and you could be thinking you are on another planet. Any history relating to that period is taken up with music and culture. The Jimi Hendrix Experience played it`s part.
Making a timely appearance is a DVD that is being put out by Discs International, containing a never before seen interview with Noel Redding recorded at his home in Ireland in 1988.
It makes fascinating viewing. All the years of seeing film of them in concert and photographs of Hendrix, Redding and Mitchell, you find yourself sitting in a living room not with just a legend – but an ordinary guy talking about his early days with the group. No rock star here, no pretentious name dropping, just plain talking. Listening to him you are left wondering how they made it to top.
I asked producer Will Scally who had the foresight to record this interview how it all came about.
“ I had known and been friends with Noel for many years and always found him a very upfront, straightforward guy. We often spoke about doing an interview, he wanted to speak about the band, money, drugs and the death of Hendrix and much more – even speaking about the possibility of Hendrix being murdered. He was on good form that day and wanted to record this for posterity.
Sadly Noel Redding died back in 2003 aged 57
For those interested in Hendrix, Redding and the history of sixties rock music this rare visual documentary should not be missed. The Redding Experience Release date DECEMBER 6th 2010.
Barry Levene
Jimi Hendrix – Assassinado?? “Não é improvável” Diz Noel Redding…
O nome Jimi Hendrix evoca os momentos mais alegres e selvagens que os anos 60produziram. Hendrix chegou, conquistou e levou o mundo da música ao seu auge, entrou nas nossas cabeças e deu os melhores espectáculos sobre o céu – Isto tudo aos 27 anos.
A Experiência Jimi Hendrix, deixou-nos sem dúvidas, exactamente nisso – na Experiência.
Um trio de músicos que se uniu vindo dos dois lados do Oceano Atlântico encontraram terreno comum e fama, mas não muita fortuna.
Para Noel Redding, o baixista do grupo, a experiência não é para ser esquecida. Desde a morte de Hendrix há 40 anos atrás, muito está documentado acerca dele e da banda.
Olhando para trás, para os anos 60, pensamos que estamos num mundo completamente diferente. Qualquer história relacionada com este período é dedicada á musica e á cultura. A experiência Jimi Hendrix teve a sua parte.
A marcar isso mesmo é o DVD que está a ser produzido pela Discs International, descrevendo uma entrevista nunca publicada de Noel Redding, em sua casa na Irlanda em 1988.
É fascinante, depois de tantos anos a vermos filmes e fotografias de Hendrix,Redding e Mitchell, encontramo-nos perante, não o que chamamos de lenda – mas sim uma pessoa simples a falar dos seus primeiros tempos com o grupo. Sem se tentar passar como uma das maiores estrelas de rock que o tempo já viu, tem uma conversa aberta e honesta. Ao ouvi-lo pensamos como é que eles conseguiram chegar ao topo.
Perguntei ao Productor Will Scally quem teve o cuidado de fazer esta entrevista, de como tudo aconteceu:
“Eu conheci e fui amigo do Noel por muitos anos e sempre o achei muito franco ehonesto. Nós frequentemente falavamos sobre fazer uma entrevista acerca da banda, do dinheiro, das drogas, da morte de Hendrix e muito mais – até falar da possibilidade de Hendrix ter sido assassinado. Ele estava em boa forma nesse dia e quis gravar isto simplesmente para a posterioridade”.
Foi com tristeza que Noel Redding morreu em 2003, com 57 anos.
Para todos os que estão interessados no Hendrix, Redding e na história de músicarock dos anos 60, este raro documentário visual não pode ser perdido.
O DVD estará disponível no dia 6 DE DEZEMBRO de 2010.
Ana Raquel Henriques
Jimi Hendrix – Assassinado?? “Não é improvável” Diz Noel Redding…
O nome Jimi Hendrix evoca os momentos mais alegres e selvagens que os anos 60produziram. Hendrix chegou, conquistou e levou o mundo da música ao seu auge, entrou nas nossas cabeças e deu os melhores espectáculos sobre o céu – Isto tudo aos 27 anos.
A Experiência Jimi Hendrix, deixou-nos sem dúvidas, exactamente nisso – na Experiência.
Um trio de músicos que se uniu vindo dos dois lados do Oceano Atlântico encontraram terreno comum e fama, mas não muita fortuna.
Para Noel Redding, o baixista do grupo, a experiência não é para ser esquecida. Desde a morte de Hendrix há 40 anos atrás, muito está documentado acerca dele e da banda.
Olhando para trás, para os anos 60, pensamos que estamos num mundo completamente diferente. Qualquer história relacionada com este período é dedicada á musica e á cultura. A experiência Jimi Hendrix teve a sua parte.
A marcar isso mesmo é o DVD que está a ser produzido pela Discs International, descrevendo uma entrevista nunca publicada de Noel Redding, em sua casa na Irlanda em 1988.
É fascinante, depois de tantos anos a vermos filmes e fotografias de Hendrix,Redding e Mitchell, encontramo-nos perante, não o que chamamos de lenda – mas sim uma pessoa simples a falar dos seus primeiros tempos com o grupo. Sem se tentar passar como uma das maiores estrelas de rock que o tempo já viu, tem uma conversa aberta e honesta. Ao ouvi-lo pensamos como é que eles conseguiram chegar ao topo.
Perguntei ao Productor Will Scally quem teve o cuidado de fazer esta entrevista, de como tudo aconteceu:
“Eu conheci e fui amigo do Noel por muitos anos e sempre o achei muito franco ehonesto. Nós frequentemente falavamos sobre fazer uma entrevista acerca da banda, do dinheiro, das drogas, da morte de Hendrix e muito mais – até falar da possibilidade de Hendrix ter sido assassinado. Ele estava em boa forma nesse dia e quis gravar isto simplesmente para a posterioridade”.
Foi com tristeza que Noel Redding morreu em 2003, com 57 anos.
Para todos os que estão interessados no Hendrix, Redding e na história de músicarock dos anos 60, este raro documentário visual não pode ser perdido.
O DVD estará disponível no dia 6 DE DEZEMBRO de 2010.
Ana Raquel Henriques
Hi there, I dont know if I am writing in a proper board but I have got a problem with activation, link i receive in email is not working… http://my.asiancemagazine.com/?bdb7fc5c832cdcac33628351c72,