Lee Perry Today

Lee “Scratch” Perry, the producer responsible for numerous reggae masterpieces through the ’60s and ’70s, has recently released Repentance—a contemporary work that acted as a canvas for Perry to paint his new life on. After burning down his Black Ark studio many years ago and swearing off drugs and alcohol, Perry has laid low, doing small projects here and there. Repentance, on Narnack Records is the return of a legend, bursting from his new cocoon of music production, technique, and style.

The new album shows the Upsetter in his seemingly more natural territory of having, well, no territory. The boundaries are hard to define on Repentance, and with coproducer Andrew WK, it is no wonder Perry has hit us with a more abstract, entertaining album. With influences of everything from hip-hop to pop, and guests like Moby and Brian Chippendale of noise-rock group, Lighting Bolt, Repentance is a contemporary work that reflects on Perry’s past, but strays away from his previous works at the same time. Wax Poetics got the scoop from Pipecock Jaxxon himself, while touring the States to promote his new gem.

Do you think your new album will be received well?

Yeah, people say they like it.

What made you decide to record and release a new record at this point in your life?

Well, it was the company’s idea…[something] to dance to.

You had help from producer Andrew WK; how did you meet him?

Well he was doing an interview with me on a radio station, and for a television station. And that’s how we meet. He do the interview with me, then he come along to do this session, I say, “Yeah, why not?” and he come along and then we start on this together in the studio.

Would you say the new album is still influenced by your reggae roots?

Yeah, everything is coming from the reggae roots. You have the reggae roots, you can branch out the reggae roots, and do anything you want with it. When you have the roots, the bass, the drum, you can make lots of changes.

Did you produce this album differently than how you would go about it in the past?

Yeah, sure I did. No camera, no [interruption] of what goes on, no movement of the people. So, different; it has different vibrations.

How did you choose the guests on your new album? For example, Brian Chippendale of Lightning Bolt is an odd choice, and Moby makes an appearance as well.

Well that has something to do with the rhythm climate—the climate and the vibration. [This album] is about changing your life and changing your style, letting people change.

So your new record is trying to create a contemporary atmosphere, with different influences of different styles of music?

Yes. To make the people happy, yes.

How does it feel to still be making music at your age?

It’s different; I am different. When you are original, you have originality, you can make [things] possible.

Do you think you have improved in making music?

I think it’s improvement; I would say I’m improving. You have to make what people like, what people love, and prove you can satisfy the [people]. I think it’s great.

Last but not least, you have always been careful with the name “the Upsetter,” explaining that there are different ways to be upset. Do you think your new album will upset people?

No, this one won’t be upsetting; it is entertaining. The upsetting is like, people who think they want you not rising to a higher level, you think about upsetting them. But this time it’s not about upsetting people—it’s about uplifting people. Loving songs, teaching; stop smoking so much cigarettes, what you eat you become, worry about alcohol, worry about nicotine—these are different vibrations. This is like teaching, not upsetting.