“Music must uplift the people, make them feel good in themselves, inspire gifts and feeling from the music, ‘dah love deh’, passion, just give thanks for everything, every time”, says young guitarist, vocalist and upcoming producer Nnamdi Robinson. Just 25 years old and has already played all over the world, in countries such as Holland, Japan, Sweden, Morocco, Israel, Kenya, Ethiopia, France and New Zealand just to name a few. He shares his ‘upfulness’ sounds with a global society, as he plays strings with the Zinc Fence Band.
Reggae music, instrumentals and just an irie culture is a regular day in the life of Nnamdi Robinson. Imagine eating, sleeping and breathing your passion, waking up and doing exactly what you have dreamt about doing since you were a child. This echoes what most people believe as the unthinkable. So how exactly did this musician make it to the forefront of the industry?
Nnamdi knew from day one that music was his life path. Growing up with parents of a musical background, his mother Marcia Robinson being a singer and his father Nambo Robinson a trombonist; it was almost predictable that he would consider a career in music. Setting the foundation with private guitar classes as a youth, then attending the Edna Manley Collage of the Visual and Performing Arts, he was ready for his life’s work. But what cemented this eagerness was being exposed to first hand experiences of tours with his father, and Sly and Robbie. Nnamdi reminisced on this, especially when his own career brought him back to the same spot.
He didn’t wait for the music to select him though. As he was never the regular waiting for someone to see him, ‘so him can buss’ type of guy. Even when going to school, he was making himself known, establishing his music. Playing with Jah9 and Romain Virgo as well as at shows like Jazz and Blues and Rebel Salute, he kept himself abreast in the integral parts of the Reggae platform. That was learning how to perform and interact with people and culture itself.
How did he become a part of such a legendary team?
When asked how he got to play with Chronixx, Nnamdi told such an fascinating story. He and Chronixx were both performing at Jonkonnu Lounge at the then Hilton Hotel as upcoming musicians. Listening to Chronixx he thought “dah youth ya bad enuh, but him need him own band”. At the time Chronixx was just playing with the provisionary band. It was then and there Nnamdi and his friend Joshua “Flubz” Jones approached Chronixx with a proposal and he most definitely accepted it.
“If yuh willing, we willing.” – Nnamdi
Working with the Zinc Fence Redemption is like a brotherhood, Nnamdi mentioned. This is what keeps the music being produced at such a high standard, making it so easy to craft hit singles and rhythms.
“Just di love of the music, is just our joy, doing weh we love and enjoy weh we love”. – Nnamdi
Nnamdi recognizes the integral role music plays in Brand Jamaica and is ecstatic that he is able to be apart of this. He sees himself as a travelling musician who is able to allow persons to experience the Jamaican culture by living through the music. One is able to feel Jamaica, by just listening to a specific rhythm and the lyrical content of a song. As a people, we must try and maintain this authenticity of our music. We must realize that we have something that others want to engage in.
All this travelling makes one appreciate traditional concepts that come across daily in our culture and our music. It provides this opportunity for one to seek out where everything is coming from and give the music it’s own identity. This makes you realize how the world is so connected through these musical ideologies and sounds. It is about just learning from all ways of life and using the learnt ideals to better or improve on the music. This in itself is motivational.
Nnamdi ten years from now will be producing music and singing, but most importantly he will be fulfilling his father’s many visions that he had in his lifetime. This includes a well awaited concert to showcase young music talents and to aid in the betterment of their craft and give them experience.
Truly a very inspiring young man, whose pathway will aid youths with a passion to stay driven and committed to working consistently on their craft, whether musically or not.
“Respect the music and give it yuh all. Yuh can’t go half and expect to get all of it. To get the rewards yuh have to put yuh all, have to love it, practice, spend time on yuh instrument, spend time on yuh craft. You will never find perfection, don’t get comfortable, always strive to be better than you were yesterday!” – Nnamdi
