Bitty McLean: "Unity is strength"

Op zaterdag 21 november wordt de nieuwe zaal Zappa door de reggaeliefhebbers uitgetest!  Deze grote locatie op het Antwerpse Kiel is al wel bijna een jaar in gebruik, maar nu kunnen ze zich verwachten aan een hele hoop reggaeliefhebbers. Bitty McLean komt ons nog eens allemaal inpakken met zijn ongelooflijke stem, originele Treasure Isle riddims en veelal zeemzoete lyrics. Velen kennen hem van z'n herwerkte Fats Domino-hit 'It keeps raining' uit de jaren '90, maar zijn beste werk kan je ongetwijfeld vinden op het album 'On bond street', met de hits 'Walk away from love', 'Dedicated to the one I love', 'Over the River', 'Cruisin", 'Here I stand' en natuurlijk 'Baby tonight'.  De zalige sound van toen zal nog wel even doorgezet worden want Bitty brengt ook de doorwinterde Saxon Sound mee uit de UK.  Deze Britse soundsytem starte in de jaren '80 en in 1994 wonnen ze de World Cup clash.  Vibeshouse entertainment en soundsystem Mystic Breeze Collective programmeerden ook nog Civalizee Foundation, die Bitty toen in Kaaiman programmeerde. Een ware reunie als het ware, met gegarandeerd een zwoel en zwaar feest als resultaat.

Dit is een interview met Bitty de dag na zijn show in de Antwerpse Kaaiman op 18 maart 2006. Buda van Civalizee interviewde hem op de weg naar de luchthaven en Snipaman schreef het mee uit.

Who is Bitty McLean and what was your first experience with music ?
"My first influence was through to my dad. He was born in Jamaica / Montego Bay and left Ja when he was 16 to settle in England. Before he left Ja, he had a vision of starting a soundsystem. The sound was called C.W.S and he was the first one to build up a sound in the little community were we lived as kids. I was born in 1972 in Birmingham and my dad started the sound like around 1970 and as a young kid the first musical memories go back to when we gathered with the family on a Friday night to listen to my dad's records all together as a family thing. So I really have to say my dad gave me the first insight to Jamaican music and soundsystem, like building up your own big speakers, using the turntables and all of that."

Did you sing on your dad's sound ?
"Well later yes, when I was about 8 or 9 but my dad never really finished playing the sound so it became the big house hi-fi in a special place in the house so when my dad and mom went to work we would plug in the mic's and sing on the versions , just like the show last night !!! ( laughs) But it was all for fun in those days. Me and my brothers would just mess around with the microphone."

What was your first recording you ever made ?
"Mmmh , around 88/89, when I started college. I was then singing on local soundsystems in Birmingham, where I grow up. Well actually, the first time I recorded something was when I was on sound recording-course when I was 16 had the opportunity to use multi-tracks and the mixing desk and all that equipment. I started to build my little demo's. But 88/89 was where I started to develop myself as an artist. My first release was in 1993 with the song "It keeps raining" . I recorded all of the songs of my first album in the spare studio time because in those days I was working with UB40 and I would stay late in the studio to do my thing." 

How did you come up to do the "on bond street" album because it's a complete different direction then your first album which was more a pop/ vocal album ?
"It's funny you mention that, cause for me the first album was really a homage to the music I got influenced by as a child and also the music that influenced reggae in many way's. Artists like Fats Domino , Louie Jordan etc . Well my dad didn't grew up listening to Ska & Reggae music. He grew up listening to Jazz and Rhythm & Blues , that was there dancehall back in that area. Alot of people said "Look Bitty is just making a pop album and he's not doing reggae", but for me actually, if you look at the depth of songs like "It keeps raining" it is just like now I am singing Justin Hinds and Treasure isle, old music. That first album was for me a tribute to foundation music. The music that influenced us all, your mom & dad, reggae music, real foundation . So for me, my first album is the same natural thing as the "on bond street" album I did . Just go back and pay tribute to the people who started and originated the music I got influenced by and pay them a musical homage and respect." 

"But to answer your question like how the "on bond street" album got born : " it was a concept I really wanted to do for a long time now. I approached Trojan like 5 years ago but they were like no one is doing new stuff on old riddim tracks and they were not really interested, so I kinda let go the idea for a while. But then a few years later I had a conversation with Chris Peckings, who runs a record store in London, about that and he gave me a new relick of a Treasure Isle riddim which sounded nice, but I was like wow, if I could really voice on the old orginal one's. I would love to work with it and he explained he got the rights or could get the rights of old Treasure Isle release's and I was like : "yes, that's something I really want to do". Most of the tracks i re-arranged myself or sampled some of the old versions. Like the riddim from "walk away from love" is from Alton Ellis his hit tune Rock steady and I actually sampled it from a vinyl record from my dad's collection. I had to figure out how to put the sample's together and make it sound like a natural riddim plus keep the vintage sound but add something fresh to it. I started to sample in 1990, when sampling was kinda new to the reggae . I was already experimenting back then, sampling Justin hinds and stuff like that. Once we got started, the album just flowed out. Naturally i meditated on some songs , but in overall the whole album was a natural thing .... I didn't have to think about it. I am not the kinda person that writes songs with pen & paper. I just plug in my microphone and kinda vibe & freestyle. A very natural process , and I think as a listener you can kinda feel the purity & vibes of songs like "only you" & " baby tonight" and really just feel the nature of the songs."

It does really sounds like the ruff sound of that area is melting with the crystal sound of nowadays. I found out you are really into the use of old equipment and vintage gear in the studio ?
"That is really a passion of mine. Home hi-fi, equalizers and tube amplifiers. I think my wife is gonna kick me out if I keep on buying all that stuff!! ( laughs ) But for recording, I always have been interested in old equipment and old microphones etc ...., It's funny cause when I started the project for "on bond street", I was talking to a friend and he was looking for a special flight case. I had that particular one, so I told him we could swap or trade it because i didn't want any money for it. He told me he got this old mic which he didn't use. When he gave it I saw it was one of those beautiful old Reslo ribbon microphone's from 1957 just like the Beatles used. When I plugged that mic in and sang it was like wohoow. It sounded like those old recordings from Nat King Cole , that warm old sound . I thought this is THE microphone i need (laughs) But seriously it was just the sound I was looking for "on bond street". Not all the songs were recorded with that old mic , but songs like "Only you" the old Ska song that is on the album , all the saxophone arrangements that Dean Frazer played it's just such a warm sound ..... but then again on the technology side I have always been very interested in to the color of sound , so it was really challenging to keep that warm vintage sound and use all kinds of techniques in the studio and experiment to get the proper sound I wanted. Don't get me wrong, still I love the use of digital material , but sometimes it tend to be cold, so just the blend of analog and digital recording works perfect for me. I think we got that balance in the album : like yes it sound old , but in the same time it sound so new."

You really seem to have set a trend in terms of singing on Treasure Isle riddims and brought back attention on Treasure Isle to the new & younger reggae audience.
"Yes I think it really brought Treasure Isle into the 21st century, but personally I think the key to the success was that Treasure Isle was never really touched before. It was never really done and beated out . Like Studio 1 you have year to year new relicks of those old riddims. Like the song "walk away from love" from Alton's Rock steady , no one could have predicted the power of that song and how it blow up all over the world. The riddim track is so infectious and I think that is the power of Treasure Isle music. Roger Robin , Lloyd Brown and many more are singing on Treasure Isle now. Last on the radio I heard a Capleton song on a old Observer riddim so I think the concept of singing on old riddims seems to catch the attention and please the listeners of reggae today! I think the trend is a good thing still, cause you have a young audience who never knew about that music and are all discovering that now, and start listen to the whole spectrum of reggae from bashment to foundation."

Is that something you want to keep on doing now ? Like that musical road your walking now ?
"I think what we created with the "on bond street" album is special and I don't want to beat that out. I am not the kinda artist that once you have a success formula to keep on doing it over and over and use the same formula. For me it's quality over quantity and write good & decent songs that make's sense , even with new riddim tracks . Like now were talking about doing a Studio 1 album , which I would love to do but for me there is absolutely no rush for it. It will come and write itself naturally at the right time. I want when people listen to a Bitty record they know it will be a quality record in terms of songwriting and production. At this moment I am really in a kind of writing mood , and that is something I really want to concentrate on. There are a few covers on the album, but still writing my own lyrics is something I like very much and even if its not for myself . I am in the stage were I want to make a transition write for other artist's as well and get a publisher and all of that. That is something i really wanna concentrate on and one of the goals I have : writing !"

Did you get offers to voice for some Jamaican or other producers ?
"Yes yes there have been a few offers, like a dancehall producer who had some huge success last year with his one drop riddims wanted to make a album with me. But I see myself as a one man army : I produce and write my own music. Like on the bizniz side of the music , we all have to live and take care of our family, so we need to make some money. But I am really not inspired by fame or money , all I want to do is build up a catalogue of music of my own on my pace, build my own little empire and not compete with the other producers and artist's out there. I respect them all but for Bitty Mclean I think only Bitty productions fits my style and taste (laughs ) . But I never say never ! I really respect people like Jammy's, Donovan Germain and alot of other producers they are really standards in modern reggae music."

Do you like the return of vocals and sweet reggae riddims in the dancehall now ?
"Absolutely , that is really what reggae needed today you know. We need a balance and that was missing like the last 10 years in reggae music. there was alot of dj music and no balance with vocal music. Its important to keep in touch with the roots of the music like conscious music and all of that. I try to listen as much new reggae music as I can. I really like new artist's like fantan mojah. I just keep the radio on and what hits me hits me . Any artist can surprise me old or new , hype or not .... I try to keep myself open minded when it comes to music."

Is there alot of interest to perform all over the globe ?
"I performed with Downbeat in the US a time ago , and promoters from Bermuda , Japan , and Europe and USA are requesting shows now and showing interest. The album "on bond street" kinda took of slow , people seem to start to discover it now , so the interest is out there now. Time is the master , I am not really rushing into things . I wanna do the right shows with the right promotions and stay away from the hype you know. But still I am really looking forward to perform and promote this album all over the globe."

Your a father , husband , singer and producer , what other things are you passionate about ?
"Well I teach music course's and do seminars and tell the youths about my experiences and how I got into the music, how it is like to be a independent artist, the struggle's to promote your music, get airplay and distribute your music. You know that is really hard work if you want to come out with your music as a young artist. It keeps me fresh and with both feet on the ground to see those young kids work hard and struggle for there music. But talking about passion it will be always music and family. Whether if it's producing , singing, teaching , and collecting .... music is my thing!"

You worked with UB40 and a dutch band called BEEF.
Yup, I kinda rolled into the project with Beef and got assigned as the producer. That was a very pleasant job but a hard one too. Like the band want that and you want to pull it the other way so you have to find a balance and it was very interesting for me to do that project. I think Beef is very talented and are good in what they do. They have alot of time to develop themselves and keep on making music. I wish dem a lot of success, really !! From working with UB40, I learned alot about the music industry. We got success in the same period when "it keeps raining " came out. They blew up too and were like the biggest band around for a period of time. That was really a busy period in my life and I learned alot about it. You had to live that, its not something you can learn. I traveled around the world, and lived and learned all kinds of experience's good and bad .... yeah, u cant buy that , you really have to be in that position . Back then they also worked like me in a unorthodox way and didn't have a structure set , so we had definitely the same kinda vibe going on . So my work with UB40 gained me alot of experience actually ..... like the do's and don'ts in the music industry!( laughs )"

Do you follow the nowadays soundsystem culture ?
"In Europe yes, in the UK there seems to be not a big scene anymore beside the clash's. The clash thing is not really my thing., I like to go out and hear a good and different selection and dance with my wife and have some fun but in UK there doesn't seem be alot place for that anymore. Its more like the club's and the radio pirate dj's are the scene now in UK . When I come to Germany , Switzerland , Holland and now Belgium, when you hear the sounds and there selections .... I really love it man."

Any favourites ?
"Yes yes , Downbeat is great and I love Supersonic sound from Germany , Rodigan also off course . There are so many sounds to mention , and so many sounds i haven't heard yet . I should book the Eurostar more often and make some long weekends and just come to check out the sounds. I actually really love that . You know the soundsystem is still the core of reggae. We don't have any major radio stations , we are not played on MTV so the sound is still the key of promotion in reggae, from way back when to the time when my father used to play soundsystem, he would promote the music and people would go out and look for it and I think that still lives in Europe and worldwide. You know just pushing the music we all like: reggae music." 

So Bitty now we talk about soundsystem culture, tell me the mystery about Bitty Mclean dubplates. Do you voice dem or not ? Cause I heard some killer tunes from Downbeat.
(Laughs very hard) "Yes yes Downbeat, I have to pay him respect. But to answer your question: I don't do dubplates. Dubplates and specials are 2 different things for me . A dubplate is when u just mention a soundname in a song and that's it and a special is something that no other sound can play and if you hear a Bitty Mclean special you will never hear any other sound in the world play that. I would sit down and write that for you and make it very special very personal , but then again I am very selective in that. So Bitty does dubs : NO. If you would ask if I do specials : YES. That's how I approach this whole specials & dubplate thing. You will never see me hang around other studio's or voice a special in a hotel room. If I do that for you, I would do that in my own studio you know. Quality and make time to write something out for your sound. And you would have to represent Bitty Mclean to fullest you know."

I heard you turned down hand's full of money to do dubplates .
"Well that is the proof that it isn't all about the money. The money doesn't motivate me to sit down and write a song. Like I am saying : you have to represent Bitty Mclean to the fullest. It's not because I have a hit record I should ask crazy money to voice specials, but rather who will buss me if I don't have a hit tune out there. I see it more on that perspective. There are certain people I know regardless if I have a hit record who will still buss or play Bitty Mclean music or specials and still say hear this wicked artist and so on .... just because they really represent regardless the hype ! That's also what I respect about certain sounds. They don't bug me with money for specials. You know when it happens it will happen and they will be glad they get it ..... you know I never say never that I will voice this or that special for certain sounds. Time will tell , I am just very selective in that becaise for me its not about the sound with the most money."

It's almost the other way around , like you are paying the sound back for representing Bitty.
"Exactly yes , don't get me wrong. Sounds will pay for specials but I want to be very selective in that , i don't want to be a artist that people are tired to hear and I think in this stage people are not yet tired of me ( laughs ) Especially because only 2 sounds in the world can play my specials right now. There will be a few more soon but not too many ... You know when there is a hit record out and every sound have it on special, I think it kinda kills the life span of that record. We should give some records more time and space to grow instead of killing it to put it in those words."

Ok some quick questions. Bitty's Charts. Favourite foundation singers?
"Justin Hinds , John Holt & Delroy Wilson"

Favourite modern reggae singers ?
"Luciano, I love Luciano lyrically and vocally. That is a artist that is very much needed in reggae. He's got a positive message and soul."

Besides reggae ?
"Sam Cooke , Marvin Gaye ... I love old vocalist's. For me they really touch the spot also lyric and vocal wise . That is really what is need nowadays you know artist who got soul , and not just shaking there booties. Nothing wrong with that still ( laughs ). Alicia Keys she got soul that's music u feel you know, just to name a modern artist."

Favourite Treasure Isle riddim ?
"'Rocksteady' from Alton Ellis. That record I used to play at home when I was like 8 over and over and the riddimtrack brought me one of the biggest hits in years ... amazing!"

Did Alton Ellis like it ?
"Well I met Alton at Peckings record shop and he was very complimentary and for me it was really nice to hear a person that I respect so very much, speaking so highly about me. Nuff respect to Alton & all the foundation singers & producers who gave me some nice compliment. It gives me positive vibes and keeps me humble. There is no room for ego or hype when u hear the elders speak or sing."

Who liked the project, from the music industry or people you look up to ?
"Bunny Lee as a producer , he started in Treasure isle actually and he was also very complimentary about the album , BB Seaton, one of my heroes is a big fan , Beres Hammond as modern artist told me he loved the album, Freddie McGregor as a Studio 1 artist loved it. He took like a box with records with him to Miami to give to dj's and I was like wow respect man. It really warms my heart when I hear the people I been listening to when I was young, give you so much compliments. I really love how the young people rate this project and love it, but when the elders speak that's really the most important for me. They grew up and originated this music and it has passed the test of time, regardless all hype , really once again we must respect the elders."

Favourite Studio 1 riddim?
"Woooooow! ( laughs) 'Ten to one', that's my favourite riddim, and everything The Heptones did, and Freddie's 'Bobby Babylon'... Too much to mention."

Ok thank you very much Bitty for this interview. Anything else you want to share with us ?
"Yes, all the people out there who are struggling to have a musical career and especially reggae, stay strong. It's not about being famous. I think it's about keeping up good network's, keeping strength with your local community, a local sound , a local radio, the local artist's. They all have to stick together and start this little movements. That's how I started out actually. My friends worked in a record shop and I had a friend who worked at a small pirate radio station and when we played my record on the radio, we were very proud and like wooow maybe 1000 people are listening now to a Bitty record. Like stick to your family and friends and have this little network yeah, thats perfectly how I see it. When "it raining" got picked up by a label and got major airplay, it sold like 300.000 copy's and that was all grown from the little seed of friends and family who supported me. The unity between the soundystems is also very important. That kinda mashed down the scene in UK , but if you look at Europe even, when there is a clash, the sounds are still bredrin and that is so important that the soundsystem community keeps united and have a mutual respect for each other. That can only push artist's forward to make music and give it to the sounds and promote it. Unity and learn from each other and pass networks. Reggae is a struggle. We don't have the majors supporting us .... so we all have to stick together and help each other out. It is really not about fame , one hand washes the other ..... Unity is strength."