Christopher Hawley
Singer-songwriter Christopher Hawley opens up about the inspiration behind Jah Rollers, his first fully reggae-focused release, reflecting on spirituality, travel, nature, healing, and a lifelong connection to reggae music.
1. Your upcoming EP Jah Rollers blends reggae, spirituality, surf culture, and personal experience. What inspired you to bring these different aspects of your life together in one project?
It has taken me some time to arrive where I am now, and that is the biggest inspiration for bringing all of this together at this moment. I’ve reached a point in my life where I can speak more from personal experience than ever before. Time is the best teacher, and unfortunately, our culture mostly ignores that fact. We are obsessed with youth, so much so that we accept as normal what is mistakenly thought to be youth enhancing. Sometimes the best things come to those who wait.
2. Reggae has been part of your musical journey for many years, but Jah Rollers is your first release fully dedicated to the genre. What made this the right time to create an all-reggae EP?
I’ve never put out an album with songs of only one genre. I love so many different types of music, and I’ve always been inspired to write in many different genres. I found myself with a backlog of unrecorded reggae songs. Some didn’t start off as reggae songs, but I decided to reggaefy them, and their meaning has come through to a greater degree through reggaefication.
I mentioned to a musician friend that I was going to make a reggae album, and he said, “Well then you’ve got to have Santa Davis play drums.” Having a drummer who played with Bob Marley pretty much sealed the deal. He brought in George Hughes Jr., who is currently on tour with Ziggy Marley, to play keyboard and piano. I am already looking forward to making the next reggae album!
3. You’ve spoken about the influence of your childhood experiences in Haiti, as well as artists like Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. How have those early musical and cultural influences shaped your own approach to reggae music?
I was just thinking about that last night as our band played a song called The More of You I Know at our show. I couldn’t help but smile, remembering that the lyrics of the chorus came to me in a dream at my grandparents’ house in Haiti. I had been jamming with Haitian musicians as a teenager, and they taught me some local rhythms. TMOYIK employs a syncopated compa beat from Haiti, and that was probably the closest thing to reggae that I first played.
4. The songs on Jah Rollers explore themes of optimism, healing, nature, and unity. Which track feels the most personal to you, and what story or message does it carry?
My Mother’s Voice is the song that’s most personal, and the message I’d like to convey is that one can always choose to tune in to any specific feeling or vibration. You are always one breath away from healing. Each breath can be deeper than the last, oxygenating your blood, activating your mind and body, and truly loving yourself to a greater degree. We can choose to connect with the peace of Mother Nature, whether in a forest or an airport. We are part of Mother Nature! It’s a choice we have at every moment. Sometimes this is more challenging than at other times. The more you practice making this choice, the easier it will become. Soon you will have no choice but to find the beauty in everything.
5. The EP features legendary musicians such as Santa Davis and George Hughes Jr., both of whom have strong connections to reggae history. What was it like collaborating with them, and how did their contributions impact the final sound of the record?
It was a true joy to have them in the studio. Both Santa and George were super kind, passionate, and of course, professional. Their contributions to the songs really enhance the authenticity and musicality. I love Santa‘s drum fill intros. It’s almost a call to listen and a clearing of space to allow the music to unfold. George’s organ and piano parts added so much color and melody, and we discussed our mutual love of the ocean. He has yet to take me up on my offer of a free Surf lesson for him and his son.
6. As a musician, surfer, yoga teacher, father, and traveler, you’ve experienced many different paths in life. What do you hope listeners take away from Jah Rollers and the message behind its songs?
I hope to share courage and empowerment through this music. That’s what I’ve learned in my travels and forays down these different roads. I began all of these journeys except music and travel much later than most. Take that first step without fear, and you’ll be surprised and perhaps delighted by the path you find, cultivating gratitude, and thus an infinite multitude of more to be grateful for.