ZIGGY MARLEY SETS SELF-TITLED SIXTH STUDIO ALBUM RELEASE FOR MAY 20TH ON TUFF GONG WORLDWIDE
ZIGGY MARLEY
ZIGGY MARLEY / SELF TITLED ALBUM BIOGRAPHY
An open mind naturally attracts inspiration. Ziggy Marley remains receptive to the countless muses and magnetic flurries of creativity surrounding him on his musical journey. In 2014, he fully embraced a distinct freedom while working on his fifth solo offering Fly Rasta—whichreceived the 2015 GRAMMY® Award for “Best Reggae Album.” Maintaining that mindset, he went one step further on his 2016 self-titled sixth full-length album out via Tuff Gong Worldwide on May 20, 2016.
“This is a continuation of the Fly Rasta ideology and philosophy,” he explains. “I learned so much during that process. Now, I’m taking this mindset and fulfilling a larger dream. I learned how to be more free and not to hesitate when it comes to exploring musical ideas. There’s a big difference lyrically. With my new record, I wanted to address my feelings about what’s happening outside of myself and in the world, how I see what I see, and solutions I have in mind. It’s very confident and direct. My fingerprint is on it more deeply. The world needs this message.”
In 2015, Ziggy began crafting ideas for what would become his latest body of work in his bedroom and home studio. For the first time, he didn’t discard any ideas; rather he put everything down admitting, “They’re all connected, and it opened up the scope.” Incorporating that spirit of exploration, he began to look outward at the landscape around him. As the globe cries in pain on a daily basis, he wrote about something everyone can relate to.
“This album is about the struggle of humanity,” he goes on. “I’m not singing about my own struggle but that of the human family—which I feel a strong connection to. I found myself emotionally and consciously affected by the plight of our species in general. We’re all family. We can’t let ego be the driver; truth has to be the driver. We have to help each other.”
Diving headfirst into the music, he built the perfect sonic foundation for this message. The first single, “Weekend’s Long,” tempers a timeless reggae beat and island instrumentation with a chantable refrain carried by Ziggy’s instantly recognizable delivery.
Weekend Long – official lyric video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N52nBJ4q7fM
Weekend Long – official lyric video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N52nBJ4q7fM
“It’s about so many different things,” he says. “It gives reasons why you should laugh instead of cry and why you should live instead of die. Music is a good tool for that. It’s a song of hope and revival for those who are losing hope. If you don’t want to go that deep, you can follow the tune and have fun with it.”
Elsewhere, “Love Is A Rebel” offers up a different kind of call-to-arms. “When I was growing up, rebellion meant violence,” he recalls. “Revolution entailed forcibly and physically overthrowing a government. In this day and age when everything is skewed towards division, love is actually the rebellious thing to do. It isn’t to pick up a gun and fight. Everyone’s doing that. Love is the rebel.”
“Heaven Can’t Take It” provides a vivid perspective, spotlighting Ziggy’s storytelling in the process. “I’m a spiritual person,” he admits. “My father speaks about it more than I do, but we come from the same place, and we’re messengers in this time and age. We’re conduits of higher forces. I wanted to paint a picture that heaven is telling us, ‘Enough killing.’ They’re going crazy up there. Heaven can’t take it anymore. It needs to stop.”
This year, Ziggy chose to introduce the world to his music in a different fashion altogether, premiering two new songs from the album in a recent episode of the CBS hit series Hawaii 5-0. Additionally, he exercises his on screen acting chops for the first time in the same episode, as the character Bones, a recurring role written specifically for him.
“I was reluctant at first because I’m a shy person,” he smiles. “I eventually opened up to the experience. It was a nice break from working on music. I went down to Hawaii. There was a lot of love because Hawaii loves reggae and my family. It gave me an entirely new perspective when I returned to the studio.”
He also found the perfect cross-section between his company Ziggy Marley Organics and the music. The GMO-free product line now boasts the world’s first GMO-free flavored coconut oils and roasted hempseeds. Additionally, Marley plans to release two branded vape pens, a dry leaf device, and a special oil/wax device, which will release in tandem with the new album, in partnership with Colorado’s O.Pen Vape.
Throughout the course of his three-decade career and 16 albums, Ziggy has built a music legacy worthy of his legendary family name. With seven GRAMMY® Awards and an EMMY® to his credit, the humanitarian, singer, songwriter, and producer continually progresses at every turn. Ziggy’s musical history dates back to ten-years-old when he would watch his father Bob Marley record in the studio. His eight-album catalog with the Melody Makers encompasses three GRAMMY® Awards, countless sold out shows, and anthems including “Look Who’s Dancing,” “Tomorrow People,” and “Conscious Party.” Since making his solo debut in 2003, he received the GRAMMY® Award for “Best Reggae Album” in 2006, 2012, and 2015 in addition to the Award for “Best Children’s Album” in 2011 recognizing his first children’s album Family Time. That same year, he released his graphic novel debut, MARIJUANAMAN. In 2012, he launched Ziggy Marley Organics, which quickly became a leader in GMO-free coconut oils and hemp seed snacks available in 1000 stores. 2013 saw him achieve a Daytime EMMY® Award for “I Love You Too” and release a children’s book of the same name.
As he embarks on a world tour in support of Ziggy Marley, he brings his message directly to the people.
“Everything happens when it’s meant to happen,” he leaves off. “That’s how my career has been since the beginning. Each project is inspired. There are metaphysical and universal things at work in all of our lives. It’s natural and organic. This album is another one of those moments. The message came to me. It’s here at the right time, and I’m ready to share it.”
This summer Ziggy will embark on a major North American tour (official dates TBA). Confirmed dates so far include shows at the Spotlight 29 Casino on May 27th in Coachella, CA, BottleRock Festival on May 28th in Napa, CA and the Magic City Blues Festival on August 6th in Billings, MT. For additional concert and ticket purchase information, please visit ziggymarley.com.
UPCOMING TOUR DATES:
Dates: City: Venue:
5/27/16 Coachella, CA Spotlight 29 Casino
5/28/16 Napa, CA BottleRock Napa Music Festival
8/6/16 Billings, MT Magic City Blues Festival
ABOUT ZIGGY MARLEY
A seven time GRAMMY winner, Emmy winner, humanitarian, singer, songwriter and producer, Ziggy Marley has released twelve albums to much critical acclaim. His early immersion in music came at age ten when he sat in on recording sessions with his father, Bob Marley. As front man to Ziggy Marley and The Melody Makers, the group released eight albums that garnered three GRAMMYs, with such chart-topping hits as "Look Who’s Dancing," "Tomorrow People" and "Tumbling Down." Ziggy's first solo album, Dragonfly (RCA Records), was released in 2003. His second solo release, Love is My Religion (Tuff Gong Worldwide), won a GRAMMY in 2006 for Best Reggae Album. His third solo album, Family Time (Tuff Gong Worldwide), scored him a 5th GRAMMY award for Best Children’s Album. In 2011, Ziggy released his critically acclaimed 4th studio album Wild And Free, which earned him a GRAMMY nomination, as well as his first ever graphic novel entitled MARIJUANAMAN. Ziggy Marley Organics, a GMO-free product line including flavored coconut oils and hemp seed snacks, was started in 2012. The products are distributed throughout the US and are available in over 1000 stores nationwide. His 2012 live album Ziggy Marley In Concert, earned him his 6th GRAMMY award for Best Reggae Album. Ziggy also recently released his debut children’s book I Love You Too, a co-production of Akashic Books and Tuff Gong Worldwide. The multicultural picture book is based on one of Ziggy’s most beloved songs of the same title from his GRAMMY Award-winning album Family Time, which explores a child’s relationship with parents, nature and the unstoppable force of love. Ziggy’s fifth studio album, Fly Rasta, also released on April 15th, 2014 to mass critical acclaim and gave Ziggy his 7th GRAMMY win for Best Reggae Album in February of 2015.
For more information, please visit:
ABOUT TUFF GONG WORLDWIDE
The Tuff Gong label was founded in 1965 by Bob Marley with the vision of producing, distributing and promoting his music free from the constraints of corporate label politics. In a time decades before artist-owned record labels were commonplace, the legendary Bob Marley’s vision was characteristically well ahead of its time. Now, nearly a half-century later, his dream is being realized. Now with Tuff Gong Worldwide, and his publishing company Ishti Music, Marley has complete control of his master recordings and publishing. For more information, visit http://www.tuffgongworldwide.com.
For Press Inquiries Contact:
Dvora Englefield // 42West
424.901.8725
Greg Cortez // 42West
424.901.8716
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