Sadeke Brooks, Staff Reporter

Following in the steps of his mentor Bob Marley, Icientcy Mau says live music is his only focus, as he has no interest in computerised music.

The Trench Town-based reggae artiste was laid-back with his leg over the arm of the chair when he visited The Gleaner recently. But his demeanour changed when The Sunday Gleaner asked who produces his music.

"No, no, no, no," he shouted, sitting upright in the chair. "I spend my own money. I do my own thing. I have my own farm. We don't beg from people. I don't give away my work. It's a family thing. I don't mek anybody produce me."

He added: "Every time it's live music. Original live bass guitar. No computer nothing."

The artiste, whose real name is Junior Desmond Williams, said he rehearses with his band, the Mau Mau Warriors, before going into the studio. When this is done, he said, less time is spent recording the songs.

"Live music is where it all started. You feel it and it always draws you. You accomplish everything with live music. It will live forever. I don't like anything but live music. That's why I love Bob Marley and the Wailers so because they stress live music also," said Icientcy, who is the chief coordinator of the Bob Marley Earth Strong Festival that is held in Trench Town, Kingston, on February 6 each year.

Mentor

While explaining why Marley is his mentor, Icientcy reminisced on the time he spent around Marley.

"Gong has always been one of my mentors. We always down deh, when Bob dem a rehearse and come off tour. When dem get the house at Hope Road (now the Bob Marley Museum), we were one of the first set of youths to go up there. We did know seh him woulda become a world superstar. All Bob business bout was music," he told The Sunday Gleaner.

"Every day and night, straight music," said Mau Mau Warriors lead guitarist, Jermaine Reid, in reference to Icientcy's dedication to his music like his mentor Bob Marley. Other members in the band are Jermaine Wilson, Ricardo Lawrence, Jeffrey Graham, Nina Karle and Damion Benjamin.

And, like Marley, he also wants to have one of the best bands in reggae. He believes this is now achievable as, he said, the music has taken back its rightful course with authentic reggae music at the top.

"It is wonderful to know that more people are coming to the fore and getting the chance to be heard with the real music. I know my music now has a chance to be heard," Icientcy said, while commending artistes such as Jah Cure, Queen Ifrica, Etana and Tarrus Riley.

Previously, he said, hard-core dancehall music was at the forefront until the Broadcasting Commission became stricter on the type of music being aired on radio and television.

Privileged

He said he has been very privileged, as he has been getting favourable airplay for his songs like Struggles and Give Thanks And Praise on several radio stations. He also has videos for Works To Do and Give Thanks And Praise.

Icientcy Mau and the Mau Mau Warriors has performed in Grenada and Trinidad. The group's upcoming album, When Works Come To Life, will include about 12 tracks and Icientcy stressed their music is serious business.

"We don't do music for joke thing," Icientcy told The Sunday Gleaner. "Even the baby can listen and feel the essence of what we are saying. It can be played 20 years down the line. Everything that we do is history."

Most of the songs, he says, are inspired by the plight and struggle of black people.

"We are very authentic. Authentic one drop reggae music. We feel it in the one drop and we always have time to rock," Icientcy said, leaning back in his chair, smiling.

Icientcy was previously a member of the duo Finnigan and Junior Ranking in the 1980s. However, being part of a band is what he always wanted.

"This is what me always wanted, so this is easy for me. While with Finnigan, I always have some youths 'round me and call dem wi band. It is easy for me to work with mi bredrin dem. We love what we doing and it's part of us," said Icientcy Mau, who pointed out he is an ardent reader of African history.

While he is in touch with his music and culture, Icientcy Mau also serves in other capacities. He works with the Jamaica Tourist Board, hosting tourists in Trench Town. He is also a member of Culture Yard.