Artist Interview: Master See
Ā Asher (WMUC): Iāve been listening to 4EVA Music since Jason [manager] sent it to me, and I really dig it. First question: you describe your music as SoulBeat, which is a combination of soul, reggae, and a couple other styles. What do you see as the mission of SoulBeat music?
Ā Master See: First, let me tell you a little bit about how I came up with that term to describe me style. That was inspired by Fela Kuti. He described his style as Afrobeat. Very much influenced by music from the U.S., so he took elements of that and incorporated that into what he did. When I was thinking about what I do, itās basically centered around reggae music, but Iām not Jamaican, I didnāt grow up in the Caribbean ā I grew up in the United States ā and so I have no intentions of losing that connection to my growth and development here, musically, in the U.S. We have a very powerful tradition here in the U.S.; black folks in the U.S. have created many different styles and genres of music, which I grew up immersed in, from blues, jazz, all the way up. I wanted my style to reflect that connection to the musical history in the U.S. Sometimes I would think, āthis isnāt really reggae.ā So I said I need to help folks along ā itās natural to want to categorize things. I wanted to help people grip what I was doing, so I used the term Soul to describe what was happening musically in the U.S., to encompass all those things, and added Beat to it, to reflect music.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā In terms of what Iām doing musically, the thing thatās most important to me at this point is that music is a very powerful thing ā it can really alter your consciousness. That can happen in many ways. If a person is looking for love, love songs can really do something, change your thinking in certain areas, almost in anything. Iām very interested in whatās going on in the world, whatās happening to people. I grew up listening to music that affected my consciousness, in different genres, not just reggae. Thatās just what Iām all about.
Ā WMUC: Sure. You grew up listening to music that helped shape the way you look at the world, so you want to help other people look at world, shaped by the music you put out.
Ā Master See: Right, as inspiration, you know. People think alike in many ways. People may think thatās a stretch, since thereās so many people out there, but the reality is that weāre more or less thinking the same kinds of things, have the same kinds of aspirations, generally speaking. Thatās why music and art have such a universal appeal. Artists do that. We express what itās like to be a human being, the kind of things we go through day to day.
Ā WMUC: In a lot of ways, your music seems especially human. You have messages about how we need to come together, overcome the difficulties that face us as a group of human beings, not just individual communities.
Ā Master See: We go from the particular to the general. Thatās one thing artists are good at. In all the arts, thatās why art is so powerful. We perform a service for people: we take particular things that we experience ourselves, or we see happen to others, and we translate those things in a way that people can take it in. Thatās what makes it so powerful.
Ā WMUC: So then, when you perform live with your band, youāre trying to get the people there to be inspired, and to go home with a changed mindset, or an expanded mindset.
Ā Master See: Yeah. And even those who are already pretty progressive, it gives them the affirmation that you know what, Iām not just doing this by myself. I know at times, those of us who are particularly sensitive can feel kinda lonely, at times. We can engage with a piece of art, music, painting, whatever, and say, hey, you know, there are a lot of people who see things kinda like I do. That gives you a feeling that you have other people in the world like you in many ways. That can get you to hold on through tough times.
Ā WMUC: Absolutely. So when you come to a concert, you see all these people coming from all over, all there for the same reason. Youāre creating a community of people there with you, all together. Itās a beautiful thing.
Ā Master See: Absolutely.
Ā WMUC: Tell me a little bit more about your live show. Whatās it like?
Ā Master See: We usually perform about 6 or 7 pieces, musicians depending on the event. I have some vocalists I work with, two ladies with great voices. The vocals, we always get a lot of positive comments, myself and the two ladies. Thatās really, really one of the strength of our performance. Itās interesting to me that there are people out there doing things, and the music sounds good, but the vocals arenāt so good. (laughs) Thatās something we take a lot of pride in, the vocals. Itās a strength for us. The other thing is that Iāve been at this for a minute, and Iām peaking musically, I think. The music itself is interesting, and other people find it interesting, because itās not a forced marriage between musical styles. Itās more organic. Itās something that has developed over time. I feel very good about how things are going, and people really respond to that. Iām very pleased that young people here in the U.S. really enjoy what Iām doing, and that really motivates me.
Ā WMUC: Thatās especially because you have so much energy in the music. Even on the studio recordings, you can just hear it coming out in every track, just right there. You bring a lot of energy to the table; I can only imagine itās ten times more impressive in the live show. It makes me want to come out and see you.
Ā Master See: Well sure. You talk about energy and dynamics, thatās very important to me. I think at its best, artwork is in tune with the times. If the times are energetic and dynamic, it seems to me that to a great extent, the art should reflect that, to be instep with whatās going on at the time. So weāre moving at a breakneck pace right now, the kind of change weāre seeing in the world is incredible. The internet plays a big role in that, because now everyone is connected in a way weāve never seen in the history of humanity. So for me, I think the music should be dynamic as well. It should be, like, BAM, you know? (laughs)
Ā WMUC: Can you tell me how Peter Tosh has influenced your music, in the few minutes we have left?
Ā Master See: Peter Tosh obviously is one of the founding members of the Wailers, and he has not gotten his just due. We hear about Bob, and much respect to Bob Marley, incredible artist, incredible soul, we all acknowledge that. At the same time, Peter Tosh had his own strengths, which the other Wailers didnāt as much. Peter was probably the most political member of the group. He said things in his songs that I didnāt hear too much in other artistsā songs, he talked about imperialism and colonialism, and you didnāt hear that otherwise. He was focused on very fundamental concepts. He said that justice was the most important thing in terms of interpersonal relationships. People talk about one love, and peace and unity, and all that; and thatās powerful and we need it, but I think Peter was right. We need the foundation of justice for the rest to flourish. Justice has to be there, or thereās not going to be any love and peace and unity. He was a very courageous man. Undoubtedly many of us see that as leading to his death at a very early age. So he had a tremendous influence on me, musically. His lyrical style tended to be very dynamic, probably the most dynamic musician of the three ā definitely the best musician of the three ā and also the most eloquent. He had a way with words, as many people know. He was able to touch your consciousness in terms of just speaking. He was a very powerful influence upon me.
Ā WMUC: I can see that in your music as well, because the Wailers werenāt just trying to be entertainers, they were trying to spread a message, and Peter Tosh was the one who did that the most. Youāre picking that right up, not just trying to be an entertainer; youāre trying to get people with the music, and keep them with the message.
Ā Master See: Absolutely. Thatās key.
Ā WMUC: Itās been a pleasure.
Ā Master See is a reggae artist from Hyattsville, MD. You can listen to Master See at: http://www.reverbnation.com/mastersee
