30-08 reggae agenda meets selah sound (rotterdam)Selah Sound was formed in 2003 by a group of Bredrin based in Rotterdam. In between the years of 2004 and 2008 they played in almost every big city in the Netherlands and some milestone sessions in Belgium and France. After ten years they are back playing their own newly build Soundsystem. The first session was at the Eendracht Festival in Rotterdam. On the 21st of September is the first solo session in this brand new sound. We linked up with bredda Maarten, Jagatmohandas and Cedric of Selah Sound for some Q&A.
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Reggae Agenda meets Selah Sound from Rotterdam
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First of all welcome back of course! How did it make you guys feel playing reggae music on your own sound again in the city center of Rotterdam after ten long years ?
Maarten: it was great even though it was only a short warm-up. Jagatmohandas: First of all, we deal with Rastafari. Yes, it was a good experience, a new start after such a long time. Cedric: It also felt like a reunion, doing session again in Rotterdam, linking up with the audience and working with Zed-I and Jah Rootz. What a blessing! But also nice to see lot of new and joyful faces. Maarten: But during the session it felt like we never stopped. And we were surprised by the nice sound of the new system. Where have you guys been and what have you done the past decade Maarten: Spiritual journeys, surviving in Babylon. Jagatmohandas: Living Jah truth and righteousness, spreading Jah positive vibes. Cedric: Trying to put into practice what I have read from Scripture and living according to the messages of the music which inspired me. But experiences in life teaches the highest wisdom. Some of you went to Ethiopia others to India or the Holy Land. Any- thing you can tell us about that? Did it bring you what you expected ? Maarten: Ethiopia was above all expectations. Cradle of mankind. Cedric: Trodding to Ethiopia for me was in a sense the fulfillment of the works and mission which we had spread through sound system. Jagatmohandas: In India I have experienced through spirituality and discipline to transcend the material. This was a very important thing to realize and witness. Cedric: The reason for me to live in the Holy Land was to deepen my knowledge in Scripture and livity. To my surprise, the most powerful connection I felt with Jah was after almost seven years, when I linked up with the Rasta bredrin over there. The spiritual circle was complete…I came to the realization that Zion is primarily a state of mind and moving out of Babylon is not just a physical thing. Yes one love to Bredda Congo, Moshe, Salomon and Shay! (Interview continues after Youtube link) |
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Reggae Agenda meets Selah Sound (Rotterdam)
What can the massive expect from a Selah Sound session when they come around ?
Cedric: I have no expectations with Selah Sound, only humble ambitions. And with that mindset I would also like people to come to our sessions. Come with your spiritual ambitions and just free up. A session is a gathering of the scattered people, and its purpose is to empower people so that when they leave the session , they will be more enabled to prevail in Babylon.
Maarten: The pure physical movements of dancing to a riddim in combination with conscious lyrics, in a spiritual atmosphere has a liberating and meditative effect.
Jagatmohandas: The music which Selah Sound plays is the Word of Jah and its central to the message of Rastafari. Through His Word and Love, people will be liberated and during a session its possible to experience that.
Things and time will always change but the love of Jah is here to stay.
What are the biggest changes in comparison with ten years ago ?
Maarten: On a personal level nothing really changed. Maybe we got more realistic and more mature but our ambitions are still the same. We still just want to praise Jah, play conscious music and lift heavy speakers. Nothing more.
Cedric: I feel that doing sound now has a more profound emotional significance because of our experiences in life. The message in the music for me has become more personal and relevant. Also the fact that most of the crew has reunited, and despite all separate experiences the love between us still feels natural, is truly a blessing.
How did the Reggae scene in Rotterdam develop over the last decade ?
Maarten: The sound system scene has become more ambitious. When we started almost fifteen years ago, sound system was still a new concept and we had lot of doubts if it would work. Because of the works and success of the present scene it’s maybe possible that now more people are interested in our sessions. On the other hand, we were running sound in the underground and I feel things now have become more businesswise when dealing with venues.
Jagatmohandas: But because of these changes we also have to constantly question our motivations for doing sound. It has to remain a conscious mission.
Cedric: When we started doing sessions, the people that initially showed up was the traditional reggae concert audience. So playing steppaz at the time was truly a revolution and a style people were not used to. So as time progressed we had to build up a new scene which mostly included people outside of the reggae scene. Nowadays things seem totally changed. The people are coming primarily for the steppaz and UK dubs and are surprised when you play a Sizzla tune or other modern JA roots riddims! I have a lot of respect and admiration the way Masego has built up the scene here and put Rotterdam on the sound system map of Europe. Sound system in general has become more and more a unique culture. Off course this has lot of positive aspects, but for us it is just an humble expression of our daily roots and culture. Our ambition is to spread Jah name and not our fame.
Cedric: I have no expectations with Selah Sound, only humble ambitions. And with that mindset I would also like people to come to our sessions. Come with your spiritual ambitions and just free up. A session is a gathering of the scattered people, and its purpose is to empower people so that when they leave the session , they will be more enabled to prevail in Babylon.
Maarten: The pure physical movements of dancing to a riddim in combination with conscious lyrics, in a spiritual atmosphere has a liberating and meditative effect.
Jagatmohandas: The music which Selah Sound plays is the Word of Jah and its central to the message of Rastafari. Through His Word and Love, people will be liberated and during a session its possible to experience that.
Things and time will always change but the love of Jah is here to stay.
What are the biggest changes in comparison with ten years ago ?
Maarten: On a personal level nothing really changed. Maybe we got more realistic and more mature but our ambitions are still the same. We still just want to praise Jah, play conscious music and lift heavy speakers. Nothing more.
Cedric: I feel that doing sound now has a more profound emotional significance because of our experiences in life. The message in the music for me has become more personal and relevant. Also the fact that most of the crew has reunited, and despite all separate experiences the love between us still feels natural, is truly a blessing.
How did the Reggae scene in Rotterdam develop over the last decade ?
Maarten: The sound system scene has become more ambitious. When we started almost fifteen years ago, sound system was still a new concept and we had lot of doubts if it would work. Because of the works and success of the present scene it’s maybe possible that now more people are interested in our sessions. On the other hand, we were running sound in the underground and I feel things now have become more businesswise when dealing with venues.
Jagatmohandas: But because of these changes we also have to constantly question our motivations for doing sound. It has to remain a conscious mission.
Cedric: When we started doing sessions, the people that initially showed up was the traditional reggae concert audience. So playing steppaz at the time was truly a revolution and a style people were not used to. So as time progressed we had to build up a new scene which mostly included people outside of the reggae scene. Nowadays things seem totally changed. The people are coming primarily for the steppaz and UK dubs and are surprised when you play a Sizzla tune or other modern JA roots riddims! I have a lot of respect and admiration the way Masego has built up the scene here and put Rotterdam on the sound system map of Europe. Sound system in general has become more and more a unique culture. Off course this has lot of positive aspects, but for us it is just an humble expression of our daily roots and culture. Our ambition is to spread Jah name and not our fame.
Reggae Agenda meets Selah Sound (Rotterdam)
What role do you see for roots reggae music in modern day society ?
Maarten: Roots Reggae is the music through which the revelation of Selassie I was made known to the world and which gave birth to a new consciousness.
Cedric: True. But we deal with reggae music only as a vehicle to spread Jah message. The music is the means, but Jah is the true meaning.
Jagatmohandas: Our goal is to spread Jah message into the society and distinguish our sessions from negative elements of society.
Cedric: The revelation and works of Haile Selassie I is to manifest godliness into this world and that’s how Selah deals with reggae music.
What is the role of Rastafari in your daily life ?
Cedric: Jah is life.
Maarten: To give Jah thanks for everything and ask for forgiveness every day.
Jagatmohandas: Yes, and share this daily livity with other people.
Which sound(s) do you consider your biggest inspirational source ?
Maarten: King Shiloh without a doubt. Not only because of their sessions but mostly through their support and inspirational personal contact. I also enjoy listening to sessions of Channel One, but I have never been to their sessions.
Cedric: Yes Channel One, saw them once in Brixton together with King Shiloh and Aba Shanti. Also went to Jah Shaka that weekend. Aba Shanti in Tel Aviv last year was my first session after a break of long years. That session and the reasonings with him there was a true turning point for me. But off course, King Shiloh was and remains the biggest inspiration.
Jagatmohandas: We feel blessed to have witnessed their sessions in the past which had unique spiritual vibrations.
When was the moment you decided to build a new Soundsystem ?
Maarten: The first plans were in May 2017 and the first drawings were made in November 2017.
Cedric: At first, my plan was to do sound in the Holy Land and I went to Holland to pick up some things and linked up with bredda Maarten and Neil from Shiloh. As Jah plan changed, I moved back to Holland and those links and groundwork for the new sound system were used as the foundation for Selah Sound 2.0 in Rotterdam.
In 2017 the original Selah Sound crew came together by a, like you call it, ‘Mystic Calling’.
What can you tell us about that blessed occasion ?
Maarten: After 2008, everyone went on his separate spiritual journey. But through Jah, separate contact lines within the former crew remain to exist. When everyone physically returned to the same place, Jah restored the contact between all bredrin. Despite our different journeys and spiritual progress, we respected each other and were able to restore the unity to move forward again and start to do sound together.
Maarten: Roots Reggae is the music through which the revelation of Selassie I was made known to the world and which gave birth to a new consciousness.
Cedric: True. But we deal with reggae music only as a vehicle to spread Jah message. The music is the means, but Jah is the true meaning.
Jagatmohandas: Our goal is to spread Jah message into the society and distinguish our sessions from negative elements of society.
Cedric: The revelation and works of Haile Selassie I is to manifest godliness into this world and that’s how Selah deals with reggae music.
What is the role of Rastafari in your daily life ?
Cedric: Jah is life.
Maarten: To give Jah thanks for everything and ask for forgiveness every day.
Jagatmohandas: Yes, and share this daily livity with other people.
Which sound(s) do you consider your biggest inspirational source ?
Maarten: King Shiloh without a doubt. Not only because of their sessions but mostly through their support and inspirational personal contact. I also enjoy listening to sessions of Channel One, but I have never been to their sessions.
Cedric: Yes Channel One, saw them once in Brixton together with King Shiloh and Aba Shanti. Also went to Jah Shaka that weekend. Aba Shanti in Tel Aviv last year was my first session after a break of long years. That session and the reasonings with him there was a true turning point for me. But off course, King Shiloh was and remains the biggest inspiration.
Jagatmohandas: We feel blessed to have witnessed their sessions in the past which had unique spiritual vibrations.
When was the moment you decided to build a new Soundsystem ?
Maarten: The first plans were in May 2017 and the first drawings were made in November 2017.
Cedric: At first, my plan was to do sound in the Holy Land and I went to Holland to pick up some things and linked up with bredda Maarten and Neil from Shiloh. As Jah plan changed, I moved back to Holland and those links and groundwork for the new sound system were used as the foundation for Selah Sound 2.0 in Rotterdam.
In 2017 the original Selah Sound crew came together by a, like you call it, ‘Mystic Calling’.
What can you tell us about that blessed occasion ?
Maarten: After 2008, everyone went on his separate spiritual journey. But through Jah, separate contact lines within the former crew remain to exist. When everyone physically returned to the same place, Jah restored the contact between all bredrin. Despite our different journeys and spiritual progress, we respected each other and were able to restore the unity to move forward again and start to do sound together.
Reggae Agenda meets Selah Sound (Rotterdam)
You worked with quite a few artists like King Shiloh, Covenant, Forward Fever.
Any collaborations the massive should look out for ?
Cedric: Behind the scenes we have already many fruitful and blessed collaborations, for example with King Shiloh, Masego, Food Bass…these unity works helped us rebuilding and restarting the sound.
Maarten: Concerning future sessions we are willing and able, Jah guide and provide.
Jagatmohandas: Time will tell.
Next session in Roodkapje Rotterdam in the 21st of September. Why should people run come rally round ?
Maarten: To hear Jah Word, dance and to have a time-out of the rat race.
Jagatmohandas: Yes, and to share in our joy.
Cedric: It’s important to have a day of rest where a person can spiritually recharge itself and express ones joy to the Creator. This is what a session means for us and what we want to share.
Any last words for our readers and the massive out there ?
Maarten: Jah live, one love. When will the marihuana plant be free in this so called free society? Plea for the plant! More mercy and guidance and be in reasoning with Him.
Cedric: Give thanks to Jah who makes all good things possible, and gave us the honor and blessed us to praise His Name again by doing sound. It’s a nice way to praise Jah and spread his Word.
Jagatmohandas: Yes, when you feel that Jah is pleased with the works, you truly feel His blessing and beauty.Selah!
Any collaborations the massive should look out for ?
Cedric: Behind the scenes we have already many fruitful and blessed collaborations, for example with King Shiloh, Masego, Food Bass…these unity works helped us rebuilding and restarting the sound.
Maarten: Concerning future sessions we are willing and able, Jah guide and provide.
Jagatmohandas: Time will tell.
Next session in Roodkapje Rotterdam in the 21st of September. Why should people run come rally round ?
Maarten: To hear Jah Word, dance and to have a time-out of the rat race.
Jagatmohandas: Yes, and to share in our joy.
Cedric: It’s important to have a day of rest where a person can spiritually recharge itself and express ones joy to the Creator. This is what a session means for us and what we want to share.
Any last words for our readers and the massive out there ?
Maarten: Jah live, one love. When will the marihuana plant be free in this so called free society? Plea for the plant! More mercy and guidance and be in reasoning with Him.
Cedric: Give thanks to Jah who makes all good things possible, and gave us the honor and blessed us to praise His Name again by doing sound. It’s a nice way to praise Jah and spread his Word.
Jagatmohandas: Yes, when you feel that Jah is pleased with the works, you truly feel His blessing and beauty.Selah!
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Reggae Agenda Nederland - 2018 (c)
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