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The popular reggae singer tells Davina Morris why women are the greatest and how his mother nurtured his talent

ONE of the much-loved reggae singers of recent years, Tarrus Riley is particularly popular amongst the ladies. He might not possess that stereotypical ‘sweet boy’ appearance. But behind those rugged good looks, is a smooth and sultry voice that can bellow out romantic riffs to make women swoon.

The ability to connect with the ladies in a mature, uplifting and non-degrading manner, has made the Jamaican singer a firm favourite amongst the sisters.

His massive anthem She’s Royal is a beautiful ode to ladies; Cold Kisses is a touching tale of a heartbroken man who feels he’s losing the love of his lady; and Start A New encourages a woman to walk away from an abusive relationship.

So, Tarrus: let’s talk about ladies.

He laughs: “Woman… what you want me fi tell you bout woman? Mi love woman!”

AFTER a quick chuckle, Riley stepped into serious mode to gush a little more his love for the ladies. Naturally, I didn’t stop him.

“I have a high level of respect for women,” he says. “I grew up with my mother, who was a big inspiration on my music. I have sisters, I have daughters… I love women! Women are the mothers of creation.”

Preach on, brother! What’s particularly interesting about Tarrus’s tale is that he credits his mum for his nurturing his musical talents. Born to veteran reggae singer Jimmy Riley, you’d perhaps expect Tarrus to have received his musical push from his father.

“It wasn’t that he wasn’t encouraging,” Tarrus explains. “He just always gave me the free will to choose what I wanted to do. He never pushed me in any one direction. My mother, on the other hand… you know how mothers are with their sons! She was the one who really encouraged me to do music. She saw I had a talent so she really pushed me to do something with it.”

Still, his dad did have some words of wisdom for his son…

“He told me to look after my money so that nobody robs me! Back in his day, artists weren’t really making a lot of money so he encouraged me to look after mine.”

Well, both his mum’s encouragement and dad’s words of wisdom seem to be paying off for their son. Having performed successful shows in countless countries and garnered a legion of fans along the way, Tarrus has made his stamp in the world of reggae music. And yet he remains modest.

“I just love to make good music; some nice story-telling through the songwriting. I don’t even like to talk about it too much; I like for people to hear my music for themselves and form their own opinions. The current album, Contagious is just as good as any other Tarrus Riley album because I always give my work the same amount of attention. I always do my best. I like the album – and I wouldn’t give people anything I didn’t like myself!”

His outlook on his career is interesting. Rather than citing any one opportunity as his big break, or pin-pointing a particular experience as the key to his stardom, he says he believes that people make their own success.

“I don’t think success comes from anywhere – I think people come with their own success. Anyone who’s looked at as successful had to be working for a long time. Marcus Garvey – a man much smarter than me – said that preparation and opportunity brings success. It’s not money or having a number one that makes me successful. I came with my own success. That’s not to sound arrogant; that’s just the truth.”

Is there anything he considers to be his greatest achievement?

“Just doing what I’m doing,” he says proudly. “Being able to make music and go on tours. I’m doing what I love and that alone keeps my spirit high. I enjoy my work. Once the music starts to play, you forget all ill-will. It never feels like a chore because I’m doing what I always wanted to do.”

Contagious is out now on VP Records

Published: 07 December 2009
Issue: 1401

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