Album of the Month

Jamaican reggae singer-songwriter Ziggy Marley, best known for being the eldest son of the legend Bob Marley, began his music journey in 1979, when the United Nations launched a global initiative called “The Year of the Child,” which advocated for child welfare throughout the world. To donate to the cause, Bob Marley brought his four kids together to record a song he had previously written, “Children Playing in the Streets,” and gave all of the royalties to the UN.

Two years later, Bob Marley passed away and Ziggy fronted the family band, Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers, with his siblings, Sharon, Cedella, and Stephen. This group continued their father’s mission of spreading peace throughout the world with love through reggae music. In 2003, Ziggy Marley launched his solo career with his debut album “Dragonfly.” In the years to come, Ziggy went on to win eight Grammy awards, authored several books, and released nine solo albums with his latest being “Brightside.” The album was released on May 1st, just in time for summer, and sustains themes of wellness, healing, and mental health.

My personal favorite track on the record is “Many Mourn For Bob” because it is Ziggy's first song written about his father. The lyrics that stuck out to me the most were “You lost the battle to win the war…/ Yeah it's more than words can say/ You live the life you love / Grow the wings of a dove.” These lyrics convey that although Bob Marley faced adversity and passed away from cancer, his energy and soul are immortal and will never be forgotten. In addition, the track’s embedded audio interludes of Bob speaking adds a lot of emotional weight and makes the song more meaningful. I also love the track “Sweet Divine.” This song has a groove that stands out from the rest of the album because the orchestral string section featured in it, which adds to the vibe.

What makes the whole album unique is the fact that in an industry where most songs are tuned to 440Hz, Ziggy Marley chose to record the album in 432Hz, which gives the music a warmer and more meditative feel. This frequency also matches the natural vibrations of the human body and the earth, which makes the music feel more grounding. Overall, this album is incredible. While some artists continue their careers for fame and profit, Ziggy Marley pushes onward to spread the positive, impactful messages of his father for the future generations.