Working with the late Bob Marley’s musicians is guaranteed to get music lovers attention!

It’s these calibre of men that Reggae Artist Scratchylus worked with to produce ‘Reset The Mindset’.

Born in London Scratchylus recorded Reset The Mindset with the Legendary Kiddus I and the Royal musicians of Inna De Yard family including Earl Chinna Smith Sticky, Bongo Herman and Kush, who lent their skills to Marley for many years, in Jamaica and abroad.

Student Times asked Scratchylus a few questions

Firstly can you tell me who is Scratchylus?

Scratchylus is an artist who uses WORDS, SOUNDS and POWER to create awareness of corruption and injustices and to enlighten and uplift. 

 What inspired you to get into the music industry?

My earliest memories of music were listening to my mum playing reggae classics on a Sunday while making breakfast. Since then I have been hooked on Dennis Brown, John Holt, Bob Marley and Ken Boothe among other artists. Scratchylus  hastens to add that he likes all genres of music but his real love is Roots Rock Reggae.

Tell us about your musical journey.

Scratchylus musical journey covers many continents it started in London in the late 1990's on sound systems such as Java, Nuclear Powa, One Love Sound  andmanystage shows up and down the UK. It was while working with all these sounds that I was introduced to laying vocals in a recording studio.

Inspiration for Reset the Mindset came when I went on tour to Belgium in April 2010 followed by a tour to The Gambia where I met His Excellency Dr YayaJammeh the President of Gambia. He told me that the 3 words Reset The Mindset were the most powerful words he had heard from a musician for a long time. He gave me his name Sene Jammeh which means prophet. While in the Gambia Luciano,Mikey  General and I  performed at the national stadium before 40000  fans, the President, and his ministers. When I came to Jamaica I was determined to redo Reset The Mindset with the original Jamaican sound i.e live bass, live horns, and live guitar. The combination with The Legendary Kiddus I was perfect  his voice is melodic as you can hear in his famous iconic movie, Rockers where Kiddus I sings 'Graduation in Zion'

The first musical song I did in Jamaica was called 'A True' a tribute to the Legendary Dennis Emmanuel Brown featuring Bushman.The song featured on many charts and the video can be found on youtube.The second song I did 'Our Story' was with the Legendary Inna De Yard, Sizzlakalonji and my daughter Empress Reggae.It was a big hit in Jamaica, Africa, America and all around the world. It was chosen for Black History month song 2012 in the UK.

Then I moved on with my uptempo 'Dem Can't Visit The Frontline with Junior Reid which is still topping the video charts in Jamaica and around the world. Other songs include slave master a tribute to Gregory Issaac, 'Choose your lover right' which is done with The Legendary Alton Ellis and 'Who built the pyramids google it google it' with my daughter which is playlisted around the world.

Where did you get theinspiration for Reset The Mindset?

The inspiration came to me from my ancestors. It was a vision to cleanse mankind and womankind. The need to have context in education, join the dots, to raise the next generation and it is mind over matter not matter over mind. We encourage people to act accordingly and recordingly.

Any message to our readers?

Prevention is better than cure. Thinking and thought come before words and action. People thinking before their actions are people Resetting their Mindset.

Scratchylus says he would like to give glory to Emperor Haile Selassie 1 and would like to Pay tribute to the Royal Inna De Yard Family,  The Legendary Earl Chinna Smith, The  Legendary Kiddus I, The Legendary Ras Michael, The Legendary Styles Scott,  Steven Stewart (Harry J) Ben-Up(Channel One) Bobby Digital, Junior Reid and The One Blood Family, SizzlaKalonji and Judgement Yard and big up his daughter Champion Empress Reggae.

For more information on Scratchylus

https://soundcloud.com/scratchylus/sets/album-preview-for-promo-only
www.facebook.com/scratchylus.rhymes
www.facebook.com/scratchylus.reuben
Twitter @Scratchylus