Published March 2001

BERES HAMMOND
Music Is Life

Over the course of a 30-year career, very few Reggae artists have enjoyed the level of success of this Jamaican gem. One look of his impressive musical resume as a singer/songwriter and you will see that his status in the Reggae music industry is nothing short of legendary. With an uncanny ability to capture audiences which spans, easily, three generations, Beres Hammond continues to provide listeners worldwide with music for the soul. His unmistakably soulful, smoky-sweet voice has drawn comparisons with the likes of Otis Redding and Teddy Pendergast.

Hammond's relentless drive to make a difference with his music has resulted in hit after hit. On the eve of the release of his latest album, Music Is Life, wherein he pleads "Father bless me with a song to make the whole world sing along," one senses that this possibility may not be far at all.

WORD recently caught up with Hammond on a promotional tour in New York City in an interview that easily confirms that, just like the sweet harmonies over which he pours out music from his soul, he is the genuine article.

WORD: What are your goals or aspirations for this album?

Beres: I just want everybody to hear it. That's what I've always wanted for all of my albums. I have already made the songs and I think they are worthy of people hearing them. We are trying to target audiences everywhere. I would love for them (the marketing team) to push it all the way.

WORD: What is the source of inspiration for songs?

Beres: From people.The people around me,supporters, and people I meet in my everyday life. People are beautiful and people are crazy. So I don't need to go far for inspiration.

WORD: It seems that your music is always positive. Is there ever a time when you get discouraged in the music?

Beres: Yes, but you can't even use that, you can't pay that any attention because life is of such. You just have to try to mend your fences and hope that people will follow if they see it as something positive. Even though lots of things around me are negative, I have to think of ways for people to see a positive move because if they emulate you, they will probably follow you with that positive move. A just so mi deal with my ting, you know?

WORD: Your album is titled Music is Life. Can you explain a little bit of that for me?

Beres: Music is life. Music can change the course of life.Music does what the politicians cannot do to you, and the pastor in the church is soft when it comes to what music can do to you. You have to have the sound of music to make things happen. Music is life itself.

WORD: So the music breeds life?

Beres: Breathes life son! Sounds funny but it's the real thing, and I don't think they've found a better title for it.

WORD: How do you feel about the direction that reggae music is taking in terms of its cross-over in the mainstream?

Beres: Reggae is presently enjoying very good popularity but we need to make use of the popularity by making songs that everybody can understand. The thing that I come across in the foreign countries is that they want to enjoy the music but they would much prefer it if they could understand what you're saying. So, even though I don't want to stray too far from my dialect, you have to give and take and you have to understand that we're not dealing just with Jamaican people. This is why when a foreigner takes up the music and do it, they always tend to sell more because people understand them better.

WORD: Wyclef Jean, one of the guest stars on your album and who in one of his songs, says it seems as though you need a soft porn video to sell a song these days. How do you feel about that?

Beres: We need to lock those things away. We are getting too perverted. Some of the things that used to be very sacred we are bringing them too much into the open. Things like sex, things that you're supposed to share behind closed doors, we're bringing them too much into the open and putting them onto the screen and to me that's perverted. That means we don't have any secrets anymore.What is life without little secrets? If this is what I have to do to survive in the music business,then I don't need it... I am forced to leave it. I'm not thinking of the music now, I am thinking of myself as a man, a man who detests certain things. I don't think you're going to find that much in any of my stuff, I have more positive things to say and I have my little youths.

WORD: A track on this album called Rock Away speaks of those days when love used to reign. Is there a conscious movement on your part to bring love back into the music?

Beres: Well, I have been doing that all my life.With the number of singers and deejays and musicians out there, I personally feel it would be better if more artist picked it up. It would make the music better and more appealing internationally. Me, in my little own way, I am getting attention. Can you imagine if a dozen of us were doing what I am doing? But I am not stopping.

WORD: Are there any artists out there whom you'd like to collaborate with?

Beres: Not immediately, although I would like to do some collaboration with some 1970's artists like sister Patti Labelle. I want to sing a song with her and show her how the reggae business goes. I want to hear her on a lovers rock(tune).

WORD: If you could sum it up where does Beres want to take the music?

Beres: It's not where I want to take reggae music, it's where I want to take the message - everywhere! I would love the opportunity for my songs to be heard everywhere. Let people let refuse it, but don't deny them of hearing it.

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