"Native Wayne" Jobson

Native

Wayne Jobson

Interview by Lon Levin

(cont)

to watch Cat Stevens produce and record, and watch Chris Blackwell produce Bob Marley. My first album was produced by the eccentric genius Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry and my band leader was Joe Higgs, the Godfather of reggae music (who taught Bob Marley to sing). So I was able to stand on the shoulders of GIANTS!!

How did that evolve into “Native Wayne” ? Were you encouraged or discouraged by family, friends, teachers, mentors?

Native Wayne, is a Jamaican record producer of European ancestry. He has worked with such artists as No Doubt, Gregory Isaacs and Toots & the Maytals. He hosts the weekly radio show "Alter Native" Sunday afternoon on Indie 103.1. He previously hosted a similar radio show, "Reggae Revolution", at Indie's main competitor KROQ-FM. Jobson is also known as a musician. He recorded an album in 1977 produced by Lee 'Scratch' Perry at the Black Ark.

When did you first think about writing and producing music as something you wanted to do?

I grew up in Jamaica where my cousin Diki Jobson helped to start Island Records with Chris Blackwell. So I was was blessed enough to go to the studio

My band was called "Native" with my brother Brian and some friends.Everyone was very encouraging, and Bob Marley and Jacob Miller came to our very first show. You try doing your very first gig with the Master Marley observing you with mystic eyes!!

What kind of kid were you? Where did you grow up? What were your influences?

I grew up in the misty mountains of Jamaica, about 9 miles from Bob Marley’s birthplace called 9 Mile. It was a magical spiritual place and my parents were friends with Bob’s mom Cedella Booker. My main influences were the two Bobs, Dylan and Marley, and of course the most important group in history, the Beatles.

I watched “STEPPING RAZOR-RED X”, and it was fascinating. How was it like to put that project together? Any interesting behind the scenes stories that happened?

My Peter Tosh documentary “STEPPING RAZOR-RED X” was my first film project and it got nominated for a Canadian Academy Award.

I used to hang out with Tosh and he is still the greatest rock star I have ever met (including Marley, Bono, Jagger, McCartney etc). He was a genius musician, singer, writer, performer as well as a poet and revolutionary. Peter had a brilliant mind and an incredible sense of humor. During the documentary shoot I had to bluff my way into Death Row in Spanish Town Prison, the most dangerous prison in Jamaica to interview Leppo who had murdered Peter. I hid a tape recorder in a book and recorded the conversation and took some pictures (which all appear in the film). The Head of the Prison busted my crew shooting outside and nearly got me!! But I said we were shooting a documentary on the classic historic buildings in the town and his prison was so beautiful. He believed my story and let me go. But it was close, and the worst place to get busted is in a prison, as they can just announce “Welcome home! You will be a guest with us for a few years. Our future.

Do you still perform? As a DJ or singer?

I still DJ and have performed in London, Berlin, Santiago (Chile), Calgary, Los Angeles, Jamaica, and Kauai.

Your musical style and way of handling your music business is very unique. How did you arrive at that way of doing things and why?

With Native we were one of the first bands to combine reggae with rock. I remember recording at Bob Marleys studio and he came and stood at the door to listen. I heard him ask his friend “I wonder if these guys have the sound that is going to take the music to the next level”. We opened a show for Bob Marley who then came on after us and sang in front of our ‘Native’ banner, and that clip was featured on 60 Minutes on CBS TV. Wicked!! As far as business , I have a Masters in Entertainment Law from Kings College in London, so I am able to do my own deals etc. But I much rather write a song than a contract!! Right Brain/ Left Brain, feel no pain. Rock station in Dallas on my computer while I answer your questions. The internet has changed everything.

"The worst place to get busted is in a prison, as they can just announce “Welcome home!"

Which performer did you enjoy working with the most?

It would have to be Keith Richards and Willie Nelson. If we are all 50% spirit and 50% dust, then Keith and Willie are 80 % spirit and 20% dust. They are ethereal!

How has the advent of the computer affected your work?

Of course nothing beats the sound of analog tape in the studio, but Protools has made recording a hundred times easier. How we record, store and transfer sound has opened up a new world for all aspiring artists.

Did you take the performing name “Native Wayne” to allow yourself the freedom to create a persona that can be whatever you want?. What is the concept behind that?

When I started as DJ on the World Famous KROQ in LA it was the #1 station in America and the #1 Modern Rock station in the World!! I had never done radio, but they liked me so I just ran with it.I needed a name to associate me with my band, so I just said Native Wayne.

Does living in LA give you a certain tone to your work that you couldn’t achieve living in Jamaica?

I move back and forth from Jamaica to LA so get inspiration from both places. LA is fantasyland, but Jamaica is pure reality, so it sobers you up and showers you with spirituality.

Did your roots as a reggae artist influence No Doubt and their songwriter and arranging?

I helped to break No Doubt at KROQ when they were just starting, so I told them I would take them to Jamaica and we could create some magic along with Sly and Robbie. No Doubt had sold 15 million albums, but they had never won a Grammy. The first two songs we did with them in Jamaica won two Grammys! Was it luck or the magical Jamaican smoke or the wicked Jamaican rum?

Do you prefer creating music or producing film…or are they on an equal plane?

I am a storyteller, so whether I am telling the story in a song or film or production, that is my mission. And I hope that the audience relates to it like I do, as I am just trying to explore the depth of the mind.

What’s the future hold for Wayne and “Native Wayne”? Any ultimate goal?

I have some amazing stories that I am doing as documentaries and feature films so I am always working. The album that I just produced in Jamaica with the legendary Donovan (Mellow Yellow) is called Jump in the Line and is a tribute to Harry Belafonte. It has one my songs on it called Jamaica Time. I also put together an album of great blues songs done in reggae, called Red, Gold, Green and Blue. Its on BMG and the singles are I Put a Spell on You featuring Mykal Rose, and Man of the World featuring Toots and the Maytals. Zak Starkey from the Who was band leader and guitarist.The main producer was Youth ( McCartney, Pink Floyd)