INTERVIEW : GENTLEMAN
Interview by : Yann Bossuat
on Thursday, April 28th 2005 - 25 653 views
After cancelling his tour for health reasons at the end of last year, Gentleman was back in the capital, and eagerly awaited. Few European artists can boast such renown. The German deejay has built many bridges with Jamaica, where he has made his mark. He also stands out with his singles, between albums that are always well received. Happy to be back on the road, Gentleman shares his latest thoughts with us.
Reggaefrance / Hello Gentleman, thank you for having us. Your tour this autumn was cancelled because of a hearing problem. Can you tell us about it?
Gentleman / The main reason for the cancellation was the illness of my keyboard player, my hearing problem only came afterwards. He was really very tired, very weak and so we decided to postpone this European tour. We're happy to be back on the road. We've already played at the Elysée Montmartre and we're very happy to be in Paris right now. My deafness came because of stress, overwork... It was a sign telling us we had to stop. After this little break, here I am back
And how are you now?
Good!
Why did you choose Gentleman as your stage name?
No idea. Sometimes I tell myself it's a ridiculous name but it has more to do with the music than with the name itself. My real name is Tillman and people called me Gentleman. I think that even if I didn't have this name, people in Jamaica would call me that. I could change it on the next album... As I say, everything is to do with the music.
Your first album “Trodin On” is quite dancehall-oriented; why did you then focus the other two more on reggae?
Dancehall is a branch of reggae. I think roots has a longer lifespan. Dancehall is more ephemeral, it goes out of fashion faster. Given that at my age I listen to more roots, I prefer singing over roots reggae than over dancehall. Reggae lives longer and I really want to have a long career. I also came to know reggae through roots and not through dancehall. For me roots is more important, stronger than dancehall.
There are always a lot of combinations on your albums. Is that an exercise you particularly enjoy?
I think two artists can give each other a lot, two voices are stronger than one. In the studios in Jamaica, there's a lot of inspiration, there are always lots of people around: artists, producers, musicians, you improvise songs... It's not something that's planned, it's a simple vibe, something automatic. It's a good experience to work with other singers. I obviously sing on my own, but I also like working with others... It brings new influences.
How do you write your lyrics? Are there themes you like to tackle more than others?
I have no particular theme. I write about what I feel, what I think, and I put it all into song. I try to get a message across in my songs. I want to leave something, a mark on this world. I can sing about love, about Jah, about an interview, about a story... I always have lots of ideas for lyrics. I also talk about examples from my personal experience, from what I've lived through.
Your lyrics borrow a lot from Rasta themes. For example, you talk a lot about youth (Younger Generation, For The Children). Is that your inspiration?
I've learned a lot from the rastas, they are people close to nature. As for the younger generations, they represent the future. It's important that I write lyrics that young people can listen to. Some artists are sometimes not responsible enough and not aware of the responsibility of their words. That's why I write conscious lyrics, because these young people are preparing the future, tomorrow's world.
You're not a rasta and yet you often talk about Jah in your songs. What does that word represent for you?
Jah is God, the spirit, love, energy... I don't belong to any religion but I am a believer, I don't believe in any particular God but I know God exists. I talk about things that can't be ephemeral. I write about love, energy, Jah and everything that revolves around that subject. Before God, all men are the same. It's naturally a central theme because I'm a great believer. I'm very grateful to be on this earth and to have found the voice of God.
You sing in Jamaican patois. Why?
I spent a lot of time in Jamaica. When you spend time in a country, you understand the people better and little by little, you learn the language. On the latest album “Confidence”, you hear more English than on “Journey to Jah”. I want people to understand the lyrics better. Deep down, I sing in English with a very strong accent. Patois is a very rebellious music that evolves over time. What's more, with patois, there is no law or limit when writing. It's very symbolic and I love that.
The last time we met you, you answered the questions in patois... You almost speak patois better than English.
I think so too. Sometimes it's hard for me to go back to “normal” English. I can speak patois and you won't understand a thing, or speak more slowly. What matters is that people understand. English is the most widely spoken language in the world, that's why we use it. To reach the most people.
Why don't you sing in German?
I don't like the sounds. Too many “r”s (laughs)! Other people can do it and do it better, like Seeed for example... There are lots of German artists. If I started singing in German, I would have to start again from zero and since I've got well used to patois, I don't want to change. Besides, it's something international, people in Africa, in Jamaica, in America and even in France wouldn't understand me. Whereas in English, everybody can grasp my message.
Have you ever written lyrics in German?
I've never written or sung in German. For me it's easier in English, a matter of habit.
You develop your music on the Jamaican model. Don't you think European reggae could have its own identity?
I believe reggae is international. Of course, each country has its own identity, but you find French productions, German singers and Jamaican producers. Productions are very often international, they go round the world. And that's a good thing.
How is the European scene perceived in Jamaica?
Better and better, but the Jamaicans are still a bit ahead, their reggae is the most listened to. Jamaica is the priority, the mother of reggae, everybody goes there and most of the studios are in that country. You now find productions from all over the world, from France, Germany, Japan, Spain, Italy... which are getting really better. If the sound is good, it gets played, no matter where it comes from...
What difference do you see between Jamaican and European reggae?
I don't see any difference. All the same, you can find a few changes as regards recordings, studios. In Jamaica there are facilities that are more developed than others. They're ahead and have more experience than in Europe. From my point of view, it's quicker for me to work in Jamaica. But as I said, everything is international.
Are the working methods the same?
I think each studio has its own working method. Some work with Pro Tools, others with analogue equipment. Many people can easily make good riddims on their computers. Techniques are more and more varied nowadays.
Your songs and your sound are very geared towards the Jamaican market. Is it important to you to be recognised by Jamaicans?
Yes, I notice that I've absorbed the Jamaican sound, I spent a lot of time in Jamaica. I love that country, it's a bit like my second homeland. Reggae comes from that country, so it's important for me to be accepted. In my view, when you play reggae it's important to be recognised in Jamaica because if you manage to make your mark there, you're accepted by the rest of the world. For me it's really the court of first instance of reggae. But you can perfectly well make reggae without going to Jamaica.
Where do you live at the moment, in Jamaica or in Germany?
On the bus (laughs)... I have a house in Germany, I feel at home in Jamaica and even on the bus. I have family in Jamaica and in Germany, in Cologne. Germany is just one country among others and reggae is international. It's important for me to go to every country, France, America... Germany is not a priority. I've done most of my shows in Germany, I've played in almost every city. I talk with the people who come to the concert and I'm touched by the welcome they give me.
Is it important to you to work with local artists?
Yes, and I'll never stop. From the first album to the last I'll work with German artists like Pow Pow, Silly Walks, Tolga... There's a lot of talent in Germany... but I don't like making distinctions between the nationalities of artists... We all live in the same world, we all make music. We must be united.
Many artists haven't had the chance to go to Jamaica like you...
We all learn from contact with others. Through the encounters we have. If you want to go to Jamaica, go.
That's what you did at the age of 17... Was it love at first sight?
Yes, I had never left Europe before, it was a new experience for me, a new world. I felt something strong, something important. I didn't go to Kingston directly, I first went to the countryside, to areas I didn't know. I lived a lifestyle I hadn't known before, and it gave me a lot.
What are your upcoming projects?
I don't project myself too much into the future. For now I'm touring in France. I could leave for Jamaica tomorrow and prepare a new album... You never know. I don't know what the future is made of.
Do you want to move into production like some artists?
Oh, but I already produce. I have my own studio and I'm setting up my label Bushhouse Records. I came to production quite naturally after spending ten years singing on stage. On “Confidence”, I have one self-produced track and on the next one there will be even more. I also intend to produce other artists.
As a producer, who do you work with?
I've already created a riddim on which I appear alongside Barrington Levy and Daddy Rings, which you'll find on my latest album (see Caan Hold Us Down). I've done remixes for German hip hop artists... It's developing slowly but surely. We want to launch others, there are plenty of artists, opportunities... We want to take advantage of these opportunities.
Do you plan to build a studio in Jamaica?
(Laughs) No, there are already too many studios in Jamaica, you find them everywhere... in every place there's a studio. I plan to build it in Germany, in my house. I'm ready to work.
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