1980 concert by The Police opened Freddy Browne’s eyes to reggae
Published:Sunday | October 30, 2022 | 12:06 AMStephanie LyewSunday Gleaner Writer -
Music that was innovated in the 1970s and 1980s shaped the way US-based artiste, producer and DJ, Freddy Browne, visualised rhythms and combined beats in his head. Initially, it was the transitional era from funk to disco, then house, rock and other alternative music forms, but one concert would change the way the popular US-based industry professional played and produced.
“I was fortunate to be in the audience of a concert at the Syracuse University in New York which English rock band The Police headlined in 1980. Black Uhuru was the opening act,” Browne told The Sunday Gleaner, adding that, “there is where I began my embrace of Jamaican music and the incredible history of its artistes”.
The first reggae album he would purchase was Black Uhuru’s 1983 Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, which was first released in 1979 under the title Showcase. A disc jockey and producer, Browne boasts that his productions incorporate multiple genres of music and that “at different periods, projects may embody different sounds”.
He has a professional motto that reads, ‘No barriers no limitations, nothing to hold back the sonic explosion’ and he is bold in his musical conquests, and known to push the envelope.
Browne’s exploration into the indigenous sounds from Jamaica led him to discover the work of Sly and Robbie, who he names as his musical idols.
He said, “Sly and Robbie will always be a major part of who and what I am musically, today and tomorrow and the days after. Having seen how their work has crossed into every genre, from Black Uhuru to No Doubt to Grace Jones – who, by the way, I’d really like to work with. She is another important Jamaican figure for me and thanks to Sly and Robbie, too, their work with her remains next level. And bless Robbie’s spirit as he continued to make music with Sly until his dying day.”
Browne said that the greatest gift and lesson the legendary musical duo have given him is embracing versatility. Both Sly and Robbie are featured on two tracks which he is working to complete to be ready in time for his new album which will be released under his SOON Records label. He explained that the acronym ‘SOON’ stands for Something Out Of Nothing, which is a description of the way he creates music, he said.
He has already shared a track from the album – the Everybody Feel Nice (Skank and Move) collaboration with Devin Di Dakta – in partnership with The Orchard and Sony Music. The video for the song has amassed more than 400,000 views on YouTube. Devin Di Dakta is featured on another track titled Move to the Bassline that will be included in his upcoming album. Now, he is gearing up for the release of All Falls Down with reggae-dancehall superstar Shaggy and seven-time Grammy-nominated songwriter and producer Andre Fennell, a Jamaican who is currently residing in New York.
“Andre, who has written for Shaggy, invited me to the reggae artiste’s house in Long Island, NY, where I’m originally from. I was in a room at the house when Shaggy walked in, heard what I was playing, and immediately began singing over my track. That’s how we met and decided to collaborate. He’s so versatile in his music,” the producer said. “The music for All Falls Down was written several years ago. The sounds are a mix of electronica, reggae, analogue synthesisers, trip hop, and pop and so much more. I recently re-upped production and mix, then the track was ready to be heard.”
The song was released on all digital streaming platforms last Friday. He also shared that he has an interest in recording music with Shabba Ranks, Sean Paul, Buju Banton, and Beenie Man.
“In my DJ sets, I never know what I’m going to do until I play. The set is a performance that happens in real time, in the moment, which is how I create music. So, it is always interesting to watch music grow, genres expand and sub-genres emerge. I continue to merge and blend what feels great, pushing the envelope and breaking new ground is always a key component of my work. It’s highly rewarding to work with Jamaican musicians. Each time, I have created something new, something different and blaze new trails and new sounds,” Browne said.