Da Fuchaman is a reggae artist who I saw perform at the Forwards Festival in Bristol on the 1st of September. I was immediately taken by the music he played and the message of love and light that he spread to every corner of the festival on that Sunday afternoon. It was a pleasure to watch people come together to enjoy music that felt so warm and sunny – even when the sun wasn’t entirely shining. I got the chance to catch up with him a week later, to talk Forwards, musical influences and his most memorable live moment.
Meg: I want to first chat about your Forwards performance. I loved how high energy it was and how it felt like the whole festival lit up. Everyone was so filled with love and positivity, does that come naturally to you and is that something you’re trying to spread in your performances?
Da Fuchamann: It is a natural thing and everywhere I go, I try to do the same thing, whether it’s thousands or one person there. Thankfully, I never play where it is just one person. I also understand that we live in difficult times and people do pay a lot of money to come to these gigs and you need to make sure that when people Pay their money and come out and see you. They can let go of their troubles. People need to feel something different from what they are feeling every day which is like the inch of the struggle. We have a responsibility as entertainers that when people come out, they know they are loved and appreciated for the effort they make to come out and see you. There is no greater joy to know that you made something, you give it to the people, and you watch them enjoy it. Real joy, you know?
Meg: What do you enjoy most about connecting with your audience?
DF: I think one of my greatest joys is spreading my music with people and whenever I go to a festival, I’m always just so happy to be there, I just really want to have a good time with the people. I just want to be a part of it, you know? I’ve known about the Forwards Festival for a little while now, and I’ve seen it advertised and people have been talking about it and when the opportunity came to go to the Forwards Festival. I was really excited to come and perform in Bristol.
Meg: I guess it’s a hometown gig as well, isn’t it? It’s probably even more special, right?
DF: It is very special that I get to play in Bristol. People are always asking, “When are you playing in Bristol?” and when you’re travelling to different places, you just really feel like you want to bring it home. It’s always good to show your local and long-lasting supporters of your growth and where you’re at with your music.
Meg: Do you have any pre-show rituals, would you say?
DF: I wouldn’t say it’s a ritual, but sometimes I like to stretch … jump and do some squats. Just try and loosen up my body and fingers crossed I don’t pull anything when I’m on the stage doing my madness! I like to just let myself go; it’s not planned exactly what I’m going to do.
Meg: What would you say is your most memorable moment when performing live?
DF: I’ve had a few, but one of the nicest ones for me is that I did a festival last year, it’s called Cider, Rum & Reggae Festival and this guy asked if he could propose to his girlfriend on the stage when I was singing my song “I’m Going To Love You”. I thought it was such a beautiful thing. Of all the things that have happened over the years, I think that is one that is going to stay with me for a very long time. I just hope they stay together forever now.
Meg: Fingers crossed! I saw that you brought your son with you to the performance at Forwards. I was wondering, what is his favorite song of yours?
DF: He goes from place to place … song to song, but right now he’s really gripped on a song called Jah Never Fail and Lai Lai Lai Lai. He can play both of them on the drums as well! He’s been coming to the band rehearsal over the summer holidays and he’s been getting involved in the drums. He’s absolutely amazing and it’s my responsibility to promote it, you know.
Meg: If I take it back, just a little bit, what was your first encounter with music?
DF: I’d go to Sunday school in Jamaica and grew up in the church, so probably around five years old. I then sang in school as well, and maybe at around 10 or 11, I started singing with my friends. I can’t really remember a time when I wasn’t singing.
Meg: I read that you left Jamaica in 2002 to come to the UK and I was wondering, how would you say that’s impacted your sound?
DF: I would say that it impacted and influenced my sound in many different ways because, in England, I’ve been introduced to a whole lot of different genres, whereas when I was growing up in Jamaica, it was soul, R&B and reggae … maybe a little bit of hip-hop. I came to England and because of the sound of my voice, I was introduced to Jungle music and I absolutely love Jungle music. It’s one of the things that allows me to use my creativity in the way that I sing, you know? Everything surrounding you influences you, we as human beings are like sponges so if something sounds good, then we kind of soak up a little bit of it.
Meg: How do you envision your music evolving in the future and where would you like it to go next?
DF: Well, it’s a good question! For me, I grow more with each festival or everything I do musically. Where I’m coming from, everything that I achieve now is just a part of a dream, some of it beyond my dreams. I came from the countryside in Jamaica, up in the hills where there’s not even one recording studio anywhere close to there. So, I used to have dreams of going to record a song. As a matter of fact, the first song I recorded in a record shop where you have to sing it straight onto the CD, and I gave the guy the only $70 I had at the time for one CD, and I ended up making a mistake on it. Coming from where I was in the recording studio, I just wanted to make one song to now recording my 10th album, EPs and many singles to performing in quite a few countries. To answer your question, I’m just really grateful for where I’m at right now because I didn’t know this day would ever come and I’ve just got to take each day and try to reach more people and hopefully this growth will continue. I’ve got to be kind to myself and say that I’ve come a long way in comparison to where I was. There are millions and billions of people around the world who have never heard of me yet but I’m not going to be too crazy and be hard on myself about that. I’m just going to continue to, you know, try my best and every time I go and play somewhere for the first time, there’s always somebody who has never heard of me including the Forwards festival and all of the other festivals I got to go to this year. So where I’m going is to continue to write the best songs I can write and continue to make sure I do the best I can to perform and entertain the people and let them feel love and have a good time whenever they come and see me. And then hopefully from there the rest of it is in God’s hands and how far he will take me.
Meg: I know we’ve touched on influences a little already, but who would you say is your biggest musical influence and how do you think they have shaped your sound – if they have at all?
DF: I would say this might sound a bit cliche, but genuinely, one of my first biggest artists I love and still love today is Bob Marley. When I was growing up, my Dad was always playing Bob Marley, so even now, I call my Dad Bob Marley … that’s what live called him for years and years. But, the Bob Marley songs that he used to listen to aren’t the typical ones that you heard on the radio; there was some stuff that was more deep-rooted, like even at a really young age, I could actually feel it … he just doesn’t make any sense this guy, you could say that he’s a prophet. So … people like that are a massive influence, which is why my music is all about love and positive vibes and, you know, to uplift people and to give hope. My main ethos is to uplift people and say believe in yourself even if others don’t because many won’t believe in you, and a lot of times when people don’t believe in you, it’s only because they don’t believe in themselves. I just really want to motivate people to be strong and believe in themselves, and I know it is easier said than done, but it is what it’s about because, for me, there’s no greater feeling in the world than to love people and for them to love you back and that’s the reason why I am the way I am. I just love people, I’ve got love for people all over the world, even with people I’ve never met before. If it’s on social media and they send me a comment or a message, I just love people, and it’s so nice to feel love back. You know, you’ve just got to live in the moment.
Meg: I’ve got one final question. Do you have any upcoming projects that you could tell us about?
DF: I’m currently recording my brand-new album. This time it’s a really nice feeling because it’s been produced right here in Bristol and I’m hoping that will come out soon. I’ve got some new singles coming out soon as well, more Jungle and Reggae and a few festivals that I’m doing. I’ve got a brand-new song that just came out on the day of the Forwards festival, but I was so excited I forgot to tell the crowd! I came off the stage and was like, damn!
Meg: You’re like guys … can I run back on and just let them know?
DF: I think everyone should listen to that song and play it to your loved ones. What more can you say to a person you love?
Written by: Meg Ivy Brunning
Featured Image by Giulia Spadafora
