Interview: Ammoye on Tribute to the Legends of Reggae

When it comes to reggae, few names loom as large as Bob Marley. Jamaican-Canadian artist Ammoye is set to honour his legacy on October 25th at Mississauga’s Living Arts Centre as part of the upcoming Tribute to the Legends of Reggae: Bob Marley Edition. This dynamic live show brings together a stellar roster of talent including Sean Jones, Steele, Omega Mighty, Justice Kumari, and DJ Joshua Lucas, all under the skilled hosting of MC Bondé. Advertised as a live rockumentary, the show sets out to entertain, educate, and inspire while reimagining Marley’s classics. We had the pleasure of chatting with Ammoye about her deep connection to Bob Marley’s music, what audiences can expect from this tribute, her own artistic journey, and much more.

Jeromme Graham: Ammoye, what does Bob Marley’s music and legacy mean to you personally?

Ammoye: Oh my gosh. What doesn’t Bob Marley mean to me? Growing up in Jamaica, I was raised by my grandparents in the church and they were very strict Christians. All they listened to was gospel music, but outside of that, the only other music that they would listen to was Bob Marley. So Bob Marley became one of my biggest influences.

And I talk about that all the time. I perform Bob Marley songs. Every time I get to do my shows, Bob Marley is the first song that starts my sets. Bob Marley is a huge influence. And I just love the way that his songs are still relevant today. And they never get old. I never get bored of listening to Bob Marley’s music. It always puts me in a good vibe and good vibrations. I’m so excited that I get to interpret four of his songs at this event. It’s going to be fun for me.

Jeromme Graham: Tribute to the Legends of Reggae: Bob Marley Edition is being billed as a live rockumentary. What can audiences expect from the show?

Ammoye: Well, for my part, I know that my interpretations of the songs won’t be what people have heard before because I’m going to do them in my own unique way. Of course, there’s going to be elements of the originals because I don’t want to go too far from what he’s done so that you can still recognize the songs, but there will be, there will definitely be an interesting, you know, shift and twist and flavour to what I bring to his masterful tracks and songs. And so I’m excited to share my interpretation of, you know, how I feel about these beautiful songs that Bob Marley has written and performed.

Jeromme Graham: That’s great. I know with your own music, you fuse reggae with gospel, R&B, pop, etc. What do you think it is about that blend that resonates with people so much?

Ammoye: I’m a lover of music, period. I love all genres of music. I respect all the genres. When I started to do music professionally, I wanted to find a way to fuse all of these beautiful genres of music that I resonate with and make it my own. Reggae music is so universal and already multi-dimensional. Fusing all of these other genres like jazz and R&B, pop, and even electronic, you’ll find those elements in my music. It just makes it more interesting, inclusive, and exciting for people to hear.

It’s not just the same old. I like to take people on a journey with my music. When you get the chance to listen to what I do with music, you’ll see what I mean. It just brings all of these genres together in a beautiful melting pot of a nice beautiful reggae fusion stew. From the feedback that I’ve gotten, a lot of people enjoy what I do with my music. And so I’m excited to share my version of doing that with Bob Marley’s songs on October 25th.

Jeromme Graham: Music is the great unifier in so many ways. You’ll be sharing the stage with other talented artists like Sean Jones and Justice Kamari. Are you excited to collaborate with them for this Bob Marley tribute?

Ammoye: We can’t do it on our own, right? It’s always better when we come together. It’s more beautiful. It’s more flavourful. You get to enjoy everybody’s interpretation of this beautiful body of work that Marley has created. I love the fact that Sean Jones is a part of it. I respect his vocals and his talent. All of the artists on stage. Omega Mighty. I’m excited that another female artist will be on stage as well, representing. Plus, Kamari and Steele Mobs. It’s going to be a fun experience for me, sharing the stage with all of these talented artists.

Jeromme Graham: It’s a great lineup, that’s for sure. And then earlier this year, you were nominated for another Juno. You’re no stranger to Juno nominations. What does it feel like getting that recognition from Canada’s highest honour for music?

Ammoye: As you said, it’s the highest honour for Canadian musicians. It’s basically our version of what the Grammys is to the States. To be able to get that acknowledgment from that platform is always gratifying and satisfying. It also adds fuel to continue to do what I’m doing and be greater and better at what I do. And it allows me the opportunity to rub shoulders with all the great musicians that Canada has to offer and be able to connect with these people and then be able to create collaborations out of these rooms. And so it’s always an honour to be able to get that recognition and then from peers as well. And then, you know, like I said, creating opportunities out of that.

I don’t even know what to say, how to put it into words, but I feel that it’s always a great opportunity to be in these rooms with these people that you wouldn’t have the opportunity to otherwise.

Jeromme Graham: That makes sense. A great opportunity to cross paths.

Ammoye: Especially as a reggae artist, because you know reggae doesn’t get as much support as we would like in Canada. I feel like that will change because reggae is the music of the future. So at some point, they will have to recognize how important this genre of music is in the landscape of this musical tapestry that we have going on here. Reggae is the music that connects you straight away to the heart, conscious reggae music.

They were thinking about canceling that category from the Junos this year and they had to bring it back. It’s a win-win for everyone who does reggae music and the Juno Awards itself and for everybody involved. With reggae music, you can’t stop what God has given us as a platform to share what we love and to bring people together. Nobody does that better than reggae artists.

Jeromme Graham: With artists like you at the forefront, I think the sound of reggae is only going to continue to grow in Canada.

Ammoye: Exactly, exactly. I feel the same way.

Jeromme Graham: After Legends of Reggae: Bob Marley Edition, what are your plans for the future? Any upcoming projects or collaborations you’re excited about?

Ammoye: Absolutely. Thank you so much for asking. I am super excited because I’m currently recording my new album The Shift, coming out next year. I’m excited to share that with the audience. I feel like this is one of my best bodies of work to date. I just keep getting better and better and pulling out more and being more vulnerable and showing more of who I am, discovering more of who I am, and then sharing that. I’m excited to share where I am now on my musical journey, in my life, and in my spirituality.

I have a huge show in November performing at the Rose Theatre in Brampton, sharing the stage with Kirk Diamond. Everybody can learn more about that on my Instagram page, AmmoyesMusic, that’s where I’m more active. That’s going to be a huge show with my full band. We just got back from Germany doing Reeperbahn, which was such a phenomenal experience. I’m going to Costa Rica, where I’ll be performing at a spiritual retreat. I’m very spiritual, so I’ve been invited to share my music in Costa Rica with this group of like-minded people.

Jeromme Graham: Taking it worldwide.

Ammoye: Oh, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. We were in South Africa. We were in Johannesburg and Cape Town. We were in Kansas City. Now we just got back from Germany. And the next one is Costa Rica.