Reggae Music? With a meaning? The concept may not seem as foreign to fans as what we listen to here is thought to be one of the, if not THE, most meaningful and powerful genres of music to be found in the world, but I think there are various levels of meaning and power. You can go through history and look at some of our finest lyricists and wordsmiths and, even in their case; you can find instances where their output while worded delicately and beautifully may not elicit the greatest response. I use the example of Vaughn Benjamin from Midnite because he may just be the most complicated lyricist we know of and I wonder just how many times has a song of his been received in the way that he’s intended it because we, the listeners haven’t been able to fully comprehend it. And I’ll most certainly throw in some of my own favourites like Sizzla and even Lutan Fyah earlier in his career, both of whom are certainly making meaningful music (obviously), but sometimes the music can become blurred and thus the meaning as well. Also, in Reggae we tend to have to deal with the overabundance and just downright staleness of certain topics and forgive me if I’m past the point where an artist named Jah ____ has a tune called ‘Jah ____’ which just doesn’t hit me in any sort of way in particular. I do, however, see a certain connection between ‘meaningful’ music and PASSION. First of all, passion can make just about anything better. You can listen to someone who has a strong passion about something for which you have none talk about it and it can be very interesting simply because of what they put into it and the levels that they’re able to go to as well. The same thing applies in music, so in my opinion some of the most meaningful artists and artists who consistently make the most meaningful and powerful vibes are people like Capleton, Jah Cure, Queen Ifrica and Etana as of late because you can really feel that they FEEL what they’re singing about. And it’s not a matter of just seeing who can make the most noise (otherwise I would’ve just listed a hundred Soca artists) or whose voice is the strongest or whose lyrics and delivery altogether is the strongest. It’s about artists who give what they give with so much PASSION and intensity (be it aggressively or more tactfully (like Ifrica)) that it becomes something that even the most casual and remote fan of the music feels compelled to take an interest in. I could also go on to list people like the Lutan Fyah of today and Pressure Busspipe and even Beres Hammond who do their absolute best to convey the TRUE messages behind their songs and thus creating lasting and truly MEANINGFUL MUSIC.
So, to that end, should I look up one day and someone in a most unavoidable way should proclaim their music to be meaningful, well then it’s time to take a look and a listen. Meet Formulla. Out of the blue I received a message from his manager (I THINK) asking me to have a listen to his album for a possible review and I’d either never heard of him or I had just recently. The name ‘Formula’ one which probably wouldn’t have stuck with me very much at all, but you look at how it’s spelled and it becomes attention-grabbing and I think I may’ve just seen it not too long ago. In either case, Formulla is apparently a quite experienced young singer from out of St. Thomas parish (Jamaica). If my research is accurate he’s currently based in the States (Connecticut, which apparently has quite the West Indian population) where he’s done a great deal of his work and has amassed a nice following as well. Again, with a virtual unknown (to me) on my hands, I generally don’t know what to expect and I’m also not really hoping for or expecting anything too special, but Formulla ultimately proved to be quite the surprise. The very first surprise came in getting accustomed to the artist which I did initially by using what is apparently his debut album from 2008 - Lo and behold, a project called Meaningfulmuzic for a label named . . . Meaningfulmuzic Records. That alone was interesting, but when I dug into the actual music, I heard something VERY familiar and something which is always so nice to hear - PASSION. The singer’s voice didn’t strike me as being particularly amazing (it’s very good, don’t get me wrong, but it didn’t leave me jaw dropped dazzled) and actually his greatest tangible musical gift appears to be his writing (which is actually somewhat rare for a singer in my opinion) (biggup Peter Broggs), but Formulla had passion and he had it in abundance and it’s something which leapt off at me IMMEDIATELY from the very first tune that I spun. He had a very strong commitment to the messages he sang and when I began to do even further research and discovered that part of Formulla’s ultimate goal is to use his music as a catalyst and a method to fund what he hopes will be a center for children in Jamaica. If his dedication to that task is as great as it seems to be to his music (and one might even argue that said dedication is one in the same), then you may just see the ‘Meaningfulmuzic Learning Center’ opening someday soon in St. Thomas (and as you might imagine, should you choose to pick up a copy of this album (and you should), it would go to help the eventuality of building Formulla‘s center). Now, of course all of that begins to take on a life of his own, but we’re here to discuss music and having already, in a sense, discussed the quality of Meaningfulmuzic, the question now becomes - How good is it? It’s very good. The word which came to mind after the third spin through or so was ‘SOLID‘. There is absolutely nothing amongst the fourteen tracks on this album which I’d describe as “filler”. It’s just all very well done. The result is a very PASSIONATE album and one which, although most certainly geared towards the sensibilities and tastes of a certain type of fan (more on that at the end of this review, of course), amongst that type of fan Meaningfulmuzic rather easily lives up to its lofty title.
Although Formulla sounds like one artist or another at various times throughout the album, besides a very slight ‘airy’ type of tone he has in common with Garnet Silk (and Ras Shiloh), I can’t say exactly who his voice reminds me of. I would say that, however, something about his style, in terms of just his commitment is very similar to Mikey General in my opinion for some reason, another artist who routinely makes very meaningful music. Formulla makes his case and his attempts to live up to the title of his album, Meaningfulmuzic beginning with a very strong crop of tunes, the first of which, ‘Righteous State Of Mind’, may just be the best of that bunch. “Yes, I’m in a righteous state of mind, a way of thinking words cannot define”, became my own personal punch line from the tune and it is just one of a number of powerful statements Formulla makes on the stirring tune which essentially tries to help people stay on a righteous track and path in life. This song should DIRECTLY help a lot of people, given the opportunity; it’s very strong and entertaining at the same time and definitely one of the finest tunes on the album. Formulla goes a bit more ‘pedestrian’ on his next offering (and I mean that in the best way possible), the social commentary ‘Local, State & Federal’. The song primarily deals with dishonest politicians and public figures (“You said you were gonna fix the road and fix the light - Just wait until after election night. And then you took our votes and ran, you’re an awful man, we’re right back where we first began”), but as the ‘spreading’ title would seem to allude to, I don’t think taking this one on even a global level is completely out of order. Again, besides being a tune which makes a powerful statement, it’s also very easy on the ears and it’s another highlight for Meaningfulmuzic. ‘Shoulder To Shoulder’ is my least favourite of the opening three, but that’s not even its ‘fault’, it’s following two very large songs. This one is also very nice with its acoustic guitar helmed backing and yet another powerful message (you should just go ahead and get used to me saying that here). This tune focuses more on unity as a concept and one which is to be put into actuality by EVERYONE (“this one goes out to you no matter where you are today; because I know it is the only way”). The album gets off to about as strong of a start as you could’ve imagined in total.
As strong as the opening for the album is, however, it’s just the beginning as the balance of the album maintains the quality and even steps it up in some spots. To my ever discerning ears, the biggest ‘step-up’ and the most meaningful of Meaningfulmuzic checks in at tune #5, ‘Seek A Friend’. While there’re are ostensibly stronger tunes on the album, this tune is just so SMART and CRUCIAL that for me it rose to the head of the class as, taken a lesson from his Grandmother, Formulla reminds all so wonderfully to “seek a friend before you need a friend“, and in my opinion, even further, to just keep a bigger joy and allow good meaning people in your life (“see progress goes where unity lingers. You need your friends just like your hands need your fingers”). HUGE HUGE tune! And while most certainly that tune is the biggest vibe that I found on the album, there is absolutely no shortage on strong messages to be found here. Check the tune which just precedes ‘Seek A Friend’, the very strong ‘Money Can’t Buy You Love’. This tune features Formulla going a little bit of Sanchez (and I think on the Far East Riddim) on the pitch and in doing an excellent tune. The title basically speaks for itself, but of course it goes a bit deeper than that with Formulla dealing with and just PROMOTING humility amongst the masses. In that respect, the tune is quite original (especially the ‘road’ on which he travels to make his point) and another strong statement to Formulla’s lyrical prowess. That ability is also evident on the tune ‘Moving Forward’. The song is probably one of my least favourites on the album after just a single listen or so, but when you get into on a deeper level it really developed quite nicely. I’m hearing a few different messages of humility and being upful, but the prevailing sentiment, to my opinion is one of self improvement and determination and there’s certainly nothing wrong with that (particularly when Formulla takes the tune to a GLOBAL level). And I’ll also mention in that same vein, ‘Save For A Rainy Day’, another tune which I’m not crazy about, but one which is heightened and improved because the lyrics on the song are just so strong (and definitely it’ll take a few spins to truly appreciate, because with just one or two spins through it sounds VERY simple).
Formulla takes things old school and he did so in the most unexpected of ways with ‘Punchynello’. This song is pretty much just a straight forward love song and it’s just a very COOL song. For me, while the tune may not be paid much attention to, it shows a bit of versatility from the singer as if you are a Reggae vocalist you almost NEED to be able to turn a song such as this one and Formulla shows himself to be capable of just that (and that one-drop is SWEET).
And that is it! The remaining tunes on Formulla’s Meaningfulmuzic represent, either in full or nearly, examples of a master class. The strongest of them is probably ‘Journey To Jamaica’. This tune, with its very mellowed by ‘hulking’ vibes, isn’t very much of a surprise (given Formulla’s very socially conscious style, you could see it coming) because it finds him just espousing on the MANY beauties of Jamaica, but it still so warmly impresses. It’s that good (it also potentially features one of the best lines of the entire album when he says, “You should come take a walk on the other side, where tradition, music and culture collide”). Not too far behind that one (literally and in terms of quality), is the BLARING ‘Looting & Shooting’ which goes to show the not so beautiful aspects of Jamaica and ghettos around the world. Formulla doesn’t just leave it there; instead he takes the opportunity to make a very strong social connection with the state of the world. I really thought that this one was one of the strongest tunes on the album in so many aspects. With the LOUD nature of its riddim, Formulla seemingly goes out of his way to sing over the it (thankfully) and thus delivers what is probably his single greatest vocal performance on Meaningfulmuzic altogether and it’s also very strongly written and of course on this album, that is saying a great deal that it sticks out to such a degree. The very familiar ‘Muzic Is In My Body’ took awhile to get going, but it’s another very strong one as well. This one features Formulla making the connection between the actual music itself and The Almighty, almost like it’s a vehicle for His JOY. That concept and the way in which he presents it is very nice and while I’m certain that it’s a point likely to be lost on the masses for the most part (because they’ll be too busy dancing to stop and listen), for people like me (and probably you at this point) who tune in on every single word, it is absolute GOLD. And as things wind down on the album, the quality doesn’t take a dip at all. ‘Waste Of Precious Time’ is a song about life and learning to let things go which are weighing down your conscience and to just try to enjoy things more. It’s a very relatable song for many people I’m sure (yours truly included) and hopefully it gets to the ears that need to hear it. The HEAVY ‘A New Direction’ is actually the name of Formulla’s second album, so consider it a sign of things to come perhaps and now I’m REALLY looking forward to digging into that album as well. And fittingly, the final tune on Formulla’s Meaningfulmuzic album is ‘End Of The Show’. He definitely sends things out on a high note as the tune finds the star simply saying thanks for listening and hoping that the listeners take what they’ve heard forward and to use it in their lives. I really like the way it’s presented like a live show and Formulla even says, “. . . and when you leave share what you’ve seen and be careful ‘til I see you again”. Well, I’ve just shared what I’ve received and hopefully you’ll do the same and spread the word about this wonderful artist.
Overall, this one is a very easy recommendation in my mind, but only for the right type of listener. If you’ve just kind of found your way here and are a very loose fan of Reggae then even though I’d still suggest you pick it up (it is for a great cause, after all), it may be quite some time before you’re FULLY able to actually appreciate it. Meaningfulmuzic is for a very experienced and mature Reggae fan. Ostensibly, I think many would latch on to Formulla’s voice and perhaps expect a Lover’s Rock singer and album, but Formulla (at least going by what is here) is much more of a full on Roots singer and he’s an OUTSTANDING one and I’m even more surprised after scrutinizing this album that I haven’t heard more about him previously. He is probably one of the best WRITING singers that I’ve heard in some time (assuming that he writes all/most of the lyrics here) and such a quality is one which could mean longevity for a career. Hopefully that’s the case here as Formulla’s music is DEFINITELY full of MEANING and provided that you’re to the point where you can receive that meaning, picking this one up may just add a sleeping GIANT to your collection.
Rated 4.75/5
Meaningfulmuzic Records
2008
CD/Digital
Nice Vibes Riddim [Burton Records]
Smiley - Lively Road [Love & Unity Music]
