It's no secret that reggae music and the culture surrounding it are cornerstones of Bungalow as a brand and to me as a person. My journey with reggae music picked up in 2020 during the COVID quarantine period when I used that time to learn and research many new things I found in my free time. I had obviously always known reggae existed from a very basic level and its cultural impact, but during this time, I was made aware of the sheer power of reggae music.
Through this deeper exploration and research, I realized Americans have a really strange relationship with reggae music because they see it as music to smoke weed to and associate the music and its artists with marijuana culture. A lot of people hear reggae music, but they don't listen to it. There is a BIG difference between listening and hearing, and I feel many people are cutting their experience short with this music by not fully connecting to it on a spiritual level.
When you open your ears and heart to listen to this music, you will realize many of the songs you hear as anthems of positivity actually describe a life of poverty and civil war in Jamaica. The primary purpose of a lot of this music is to heal a very damaged and sad society through its vibrations, words, and religious connection. There are many songs about the deeply spiritual connections rastas have to marijuana, but it is not all sunshine, rainbows, and weed like many Americans have made this music about.
Please use this blog to find a deeper connection to reggae music through my recommendations of films, DJ mixes, and other resources that may help you dive deeper into the music and culture surrounding reggae music.
Films
Rockers
I first saw Rockers in my friend Dom and Gino's basement on New Year's Eve 2020. I had gone up to Connecticut to watch the Phish NYE stream with them as our usual tradition of seeing Phish together was canceled due to COVID-19, but this trip, like all my trips to see Dom, became a cultural revelation.
Rockers follows legendary reggae session drummer Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace as he sells records around the ghettos of Kingston, Jamaica in the late 70s on his motorcycle. Problems arise for Horsemouth as his bike is stolen, and he must devise a plan to get it back from a local group of mobsters who have been stealing the possessions of a lot of other people in the area.
One of the things that stick out to me the most about Rockers is the cast of reggae legends in the movie, such as Gregory Isaacs, Kiddus I, Dillinger, Burning Spear, Bunny Wailer, and others. Rockers is the movie responsible for making me go from casual fan to full-blown fanatic, as the soundtrack has classics throughout that serve as a perfect jump-off point for folks trying to dig deeper into small, lesser-known reggae artists and tracks.
Rockers is free on Youtube
Rockers Soundtrack
Lovers Rock
Steve Mcqueens 2020 short film "Lovers Rock" is a tender, atmospheric short film that immerses viewers in a single night at a 1980s West London house party. The film follows two partygoers, Franklin and Martha, as they fall in love and dance the night away to reggae and lovers rock tracks until the early hours of the next morning.
Aside from the absolutely KILLER soundtrack this movie is truly one of the most beautifully shot films I have ever watched. From the moment it starts, you feel like you are a bystander in the movie with the characters, and that continues when the movie and party reach its pinnacle with its dancing scenes that genuinely have you feeling the emotions of the music and movement in the room from your couch.
This movie also had a prolific impact on Tyler, The Creator as he said he watched the movie and was influenced to make Sweet/I Thought You Wanted to Dance and even sampled the 1978 track "Baby My Love" by Fil Callender and Jah Stitch which is played in the movie.
You can stream this movie on Amazon Prime Video. Here is the trailer!
Lovers Rock Soundtrack
Mixes
Fonki Cheff
Fonki Cheff is a Dj from Spain who has some of the best reggae mixes Ive ever heard and directly influenced me to want to DJ. His track selection, riddim juggling, and energy are always such a delight to listen to. All Hail Fonki Cheff! You can find all of his reggae mixes here!
My Analog Journal
My Analog Journal is a YouTube channel that celebrates the art of vinyl records and the beauty of global music exploration. The channel offers both a deep appreciation for crate-digging culture and an invitation to discover rare and eclectic sounds from around the world, making it a favorite for music enthusiasts seeking tracks they havent heard before. The following are my favorite reggae mixes from the channel!
- Foundation Roots Reggae with Danniella Dee
- A Journey into Reggae from Dub to Dancehall with Ras Jammy
- From Roots Reggae to Dancehall Ragga: A Musical Odyssey with Last Of The Lions
- Dub, Roots and Lovers Rock with Haseeb Iqbal
- Roots Reggae and Classic Dancehall with Charlie Dark
Shore Stylee
I'd be a fool not to direct you to the sound system page on our website so you can hear some of the mixes I have made! You can find those here!
Other Resources
Roger Steffens: Oral History of Bob Marley
Roger Steffens' Reggae Archives
