Niyorah Feels Tribal Ties to Jamaica
Born Nigel Olivace, "Niyorah" is a combination of his childhood nickname Niyo and his reverence for the omnipotence of the sun, Rah. He was born October9 1980 in the coastal village of Pointe Michel, Dominica. By age 4 his family moved to St Thomas US Virgin Islands, where he grew up listening to reggae greats such as Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer, Burning Spear and Lucky Dube. At age 16 he began chanting on the streets about life experiences of the Savan ghetto in downtown Charlotte Amalie.
Coming from a background of a musically gifted family, it is no surprise that at age 18 Niyorah decided to pursue a career in reggae music. His grandfather is an award winning vocalist and his aunt an international French-speaking artist known as "Dominica's Songbird."
"Reggae music had one of the greatest influences on my life. It's the type of music I cling to for some mystical reason. The most High guided me more than me myself". Niyorah's songs speak on a wide range of issues including cultural living, care for nature, spiritual growth, and the strengthening of mankind - especially Africans. He has toured the east and west coasts of the United States, Guan, Venezuela, and the Caribbean, and performed in front of thousands at various music festivals including the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival and World Social Forum, among others. Niyorah has shared the stage with renowned artists such as Sizzla, Capleton, Buju Banton, Marcia Griffiths, Eryka Badu and many others. His live performances with his band, Jah Current, are truly an unforgettable experience.
Niyorah's previous albums have been released under I Grade Records, one of the Virgin Islands top reggae labels. However, his latest album titled Feel Your Presence is being released by his own label named Dankenesh Records and was produced in Jamaica in 2009. The album features Jah Mason on the track "Bruk Down Barrier" and the late, great legendary Sugar Minott on the track "World Jungle."
The spiritually conscious Ras is about bringing a message of positivity and righteous living to the world. He recently sat down with Zojak World Wide to rap about his latest album and his views on people and life.
Zojak: Talk about the Album and why it was different than the others.
Niyorah: Firstly, the main difference is that it is produced under my own label and is the first album to be released under my label. I executively produced this one on my own. Secondly, the album is unique because apart from Pressure, I'm one of the only Virgin Island artists to work with a producer from Jamaica, Andrew Bassie Campbell, in affiliation with a label from Hawaii.
Finally, I have support from the east to the west coast, basically the whole world supporting I because of what I have done before as an artist. This made is easier to market this album because my works were already out there. Hard work pays off so I give thanks to the Most High. The album is being supported although it is independently produced.
Zojak: You told me that you wrote these songs while producing the album in Jamaica. Do you always write songs when you are there in the moment, or is this the first album that you did this with?
Niyorah: Well it actually varies because some of those songs were already written and the rhythms just matched them perfectly. Like African Verses. It is a serious variation because sometimes a rhythm sounds so blessed that you just have to write to them and record them and sometimes it's already written but the music sounds so sweet. So it's not something I do all the time and it's not something I do sometimes.
Zojak: It's cool how the album sounds like it came from parts of all the islands but somehow ended up in Jamaica. Why is that?
Niyorah: Well I was born in Dominica and raised in St. Thomas Virgin Islands. My connection with Jamaica is more than music. There is a spiritual connection between I and Jamaica. I think the tribe I originate from in Africa is the same tribe in Jamaica because I gravitate towards that frequency. That energy that the Jamaican people have through the struggle they live, that expressive energy is powers. Jamaican people have the ability to invoke that power but it's up to them to choose which direction they want to go in. There is a whole heap of cosmic force in Jamaica, and I definitely feel that when I'm there.
Zojak: What are the plans tour-wise now that the album is done?
Niyorah: The plan is to do another album and another, and another... to do as much work as I can. To continue the works which need to be done, even if it isn't music. Just the works that need to uplift the youths whether through seminars or symposiums. I just ask the Most High to keep I healthy as an instrument and Keep I sharp.
Zojak: What else are you working on besides music?
Niyorah: I'm working on making sure that my children are being raised in the most righteous and disciplined way. Youths need guidance. It's a father's responsibility to provide security, not just in a physical sense but also in educating them on a spiritual discipline and principles of ancient Africa, especially Ethiopia. So I'm training them to be integrated in their community so they may be leaders and not followers.
Zojak: Niyorah has a very spiritual energy that is beyond the physical element of this world. He speaks about wanting mankind to be able to overcome fear and do what is necessary to make things work properly amongst one another. He believes the world needs to be in a much better place physically, mentally, and spiritually.
His views on people and life:
Niyorah: Every Human being should focus on ascending - the downward spiral energy not working anymore. People focus a lot on negativity. I'm not saying it doesn't exist but sometimes by just focusing on the negative we create it. What's in our minds and motivation creates the great bliss or the meltdown. The whole notion of "Feel Your Presence" is about mankind getting closer to God and living a life of unity and peace. All righteous people should strive for this.
There is too much subtle fears among people that need to be wiped out. We are all growing, even myself as a man. I'm attempting to do what is right, and the more I try the better things manifest themselves.
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