Reasoning with Niko: Kumar “Fyah” Bent
Niko Tripoli | One Drop Sessions | Team Upsetta | Upsetta International
16 November 2020
Niko: Welcome one and all to another One Drop Sessions and upsetta.com‘s Reasoning with Niko. I’m your host Niko One Drop and I have on the line with me straight from Jamaica, the Grammy-nominated singer Kumar ‘Fyah” Bent. Welcome to the show Kumar. It’s a pleasure to have you on the line.
Kumar: Yeah man, thanks for having me. We deyah Niko, give thanks.
Niko: You know, we’ve kind of known each other a little bit and this is our third time chatting, which is definitely a blessing on my end and I’m definitely very appreciative of it. So we haven’t talked for, I think it’s been about five years and there has been obviously a ton of changes with your career and what’s been going on. How can you help the people understand what’s been going on with you…. before we get into the brand new record Kulture Walk. I (also) want to talk a little bit about the work you’ve been doing in your home Parish of Saint Elizabeth. How can you explain to the people your journey the last few years?
Kumar: Yeah, well ya know, my journey has really been somewhat, you know, exciting at times and also very trying at times and other times, you know, it’s a learning curve. (I left) Raging Fyah almost two years, going on three, you know, I have been doing a lot of recording and soul-searching and new music…. just learning about the business a bit more for myself, you know.
Niko: Yeah, definitely.
Well, alright, you dropped the album Kulture Walk, a brand new thing, first solo record for you, in May of this year. Talk a little bit about what it was like to release a record during this global pandemic and also touch on how you and your family have been doing and all this and how you how your community is.
Kumar: Yeah, well, you’re releasing a new album, Kulture Walk, during these times as well, I’m glad you said that, in Covid. A lot of people said, Kumar why you releasing that now, why don’t you wait until…. I don’t think there’s ever a bad time to release great music. I think if you believe in your songs you can release them any time, once you think it’s great. There’s always an ear to give listen. With that being said, I just kinda wrapped my head around the album in the sense of, from a community perspective where you know, where I could do events in my community with the same name as the album, as well as start little businesses around just to encourage people and show people in my community that, ‘yo…..you can make something from nothing.’
I walked away from Raging Fyah for a lot of reasons, you know, not something that I wanted to do, but upon leaving I realized that I have a lot of work that I’m going to have to do to get back on a level where people want to work with Kumar or book Kumar continuously. So that in itself was a challenge but I think I hold steadfast and pushed through and you know, it’s getting
much better right now and I still have that respect from the Raging Fyah days so I think it has helped me as well too, you know, maneuver my way with releasing this new album and having people interested.
Niko: I mean that’s a huge… a huge blessing and it must have been felt like such a huge risk in some sort of way, while you’re making the decision to step away and to go out on your own. You know, the what-ifs and all of that.
Kumar: Yeah. It was like… I cried when I was leaving because I knew the work that I put into Raging Fyah and that we had put in as a team. You know, not to take anything from the guys. I know, ya know, I had really done a lot of work and I didn’t want to have to walk away from it, but circumstances were far beyond any of our control, to fix whatever needed to be fixed. So it was very difficult to move on but then I realize that… I used to make music before Raging
Fyah, so I think that doing it from my soul was what actually, you know, allowed Raging Fyah to get to the level. So I’m very grateful that I was a part of the band and able to see myself as well, you know, from a very spiritual point of view, growing up with the guys and playing and touring. Now (I’m) doing it on my own with my own album. Yeah, it’s a lot more work. But it’s also a lot more freedom a lot more space to make mistakes and grow, you know?
Niko: Yeah, definitely definitely. Well, let’s talk a little bit about the album. Why don’t you talk a little bit about what your creative process was? There must have been some amount of time that went into writing the songs and figuring out which musicians you wanted to work with, where was the record recorded. I know that you produce it yourself (but) were there any collaborations production-wise? Talk a little bit about the whole creative process if you could.
Kumar: Well, you know some of these songs were recorded over a period of time. I can remember Trading Places being the first song on the album. (When) I left Raging Fyah, like, within a week, I had that song Trading Places done up. So that was the first thing that triggered my emotions toward recording some body of work. Then, Remember Me, I had had, you know, some of that music (for a while) so I kinda realized that I have songs. It’s just a matter of working with the right producer. So I ended up in Italy working with Bono who gave me the vibes to really push through and make some music; like with M1 from Dead Prez. He made the connection and that happened very well, and so many things were wonderful. For example songs like Loyalty, my good friend Shante; you know Shante, he was the drummer for Raging Fyah when I was there in the last part…..Yeah, Patrick Anderson wrote Loyalty and produced that track on the album. So I was a little bit more free to express myself and work with other people in whatever capacity that I wanted, you know, but lyrically, you know, I’m usually just always writing so the songs are usually there.
Production-wise, it’s just a matter of working with right genius. Like for example, Robert Livingston and Lamar, or Notice Records and with Unga and Welch or Week Day and Jahvy from Tru Ambassador and you know, all of these things, you know contribute towards the sound that I was going for, you know for this particular album. Lots of people say ‘oh Kumar changed from roots rockin’ Reggae to Hip-Hop and to a modern sound but it’s no change. It’s really just an expression of myself. So I have a Roots album. I have Roots Music but I think people need to understand that Kumar is versatile and he’s able to create music, you know, even for the five-year-old.
Niko: I mean, that’s something that definitely comes across in the album that it’s definitely a step away… well not a step away. It’s a different sound but it’s sort of broadens…..really, it shows people what you’re capable of. Do you have a favorite tune off the record? I know that’s a big question…..
Kumar: You know, they’re all my babies still, honestly, I love Dry Bones as a track that I can get intimate with and sit and perform and extend it and whatever on the piano. So, Dry Bones has a special place with me, but if I should go favorite, you know for me, I really really really really enjoy singing, “before I’ll be a slave I’ll be buried in my grave.” All the other songs are dope tracks that I would enjoy and stage but just something that hits home with me every time you know?
Niko: Yeah, man, I mean, it’s so funny that you should say that because that’s exactly the line off the record that sticks in my head the most. Talk about what that line means to you? Why did you write that line? If you don’t mind me asking…
Kumar: No, I don’t mind. It’s more of not becoming a slave to anything that controls you. So people say slavery days done, cane field days….yes, I agree. But then also you could become a slave to smoking, to drinking, to friends, to bad people, you know, so I realize that it might be very hard and some fear to say, ’Oh, so you’d rather die than just…’ whatever, and it’s not a matter of dying physically, you know, just a matter of not becoming a slave like I want to live. You know, and I would rather, you know, death over, not living. You know what I mean? So, if I’m alive and I’m on Earth, it makes no sense to be just alive and not experiencing the world or the way that you would really want to experience it because you are a slave to whatever that controls you, you know, so I think that hit home with me over a period of time and kind of…the food we eat, I speak of Dr. Sebi in the song, ya know, there’s the banking system as well as, referring to them as pigs because they’re never filled. You know, I had a piggy bank at my house when I was a child and every time it’s like, why a pig? Why I keep banking money in a pig? If you have pigs at the house, you could feed them whatever and they eat it, you know, so it’s just a matter of showing people that you need to analyze a little bit more and don’t become victims to the system.
Niko: It’s a super-powerful song, a powerful line, and one that definitely struck home. Which is commonplace in our conversations. I was listening back to our last chat and talking about you writing Wondering (with Raging Fyah) and that whole process. Again on a personal level, it’s a great pleasure to hear these tunes and to be able to connect with them myself.
Let’s step back for a second if we could, and talk a little bit (about) one thing I don’t think we’ve ever talked about, your upbringing. Talk a little bit about how it was for you as a kid growing up.
Kumar: I grew up in rural south St Elizabeth, yuh know, close to the ocean as well as up in the mountain so I have the best of those worlds. (We were a) farming family, went to Monroe College, my high school, you know. (It was a) a tight-knit community, you know, grew up in the church as well. That’s where I started to play music. You know, me from the church, leave High School, ended up in Kingston, and studying mechanical engineering for a year. Then I quit that to go to Edna Manley (College of the Visual and Performing Arts). After Edna Manley, that’s when my life started in music with Raging Fyah at a major level where we did an album and started a tour…. I’m only 31 years old. So I’m pretty young still, you know, I have a lot more experience to experience but you know, I think my upbringing from you know being a country boy, growing up on the farm and with parents who are teachers, educators. I grew up in that space where I love reading, you know, so I’m always on the ball with knowledge. And just trying to increase my knowledge so I can be a little bit more wise with decisions. Yes, I think even with my writing. Yeah man, so that’s, really, in a nutshell, Kumar from a country, you know, I’m back at country living right now.
Niko: Are you back in St. Elizabeth right now?
Kumar: Yes.
Niko: Word, man. You said you grew up in the church, (and) started singing there. Was it really that moment in Edna Manley or before you entered school there……when was the moment you (decided) “music is what I have to do. I have this voice inside me. I need to share it with the people…”
Kumar: Yeah, well, you know what you see people in St. Elizabeth right now and all over you know, people are very happy for Kumar. For the first thing we realize, the fact that I’m doing something that I love. This video Remember Me, right? We shot Remember Me in St. Elizabeth, in my hometown. You know, out by my old school, the Chapel that’s in the video, that’s at Monroe College. That’s out by the school that I went to and Lovers Leap, right down the road from my house and people in the video are people from the community…
Niko: Wow, that’s great.
Kumar: Because I’m trying to highlight them. I’m trying to bring light to my area, my likkle community, in whatever way I can. And releasing this album, you know, it was a major step Niko, me know you understand, in terms of moving from point A to point B. In between that, I remember recording for Upsetta Records, a song called Change which really hit home with me as well. Cause you don’t know what people are going through you don’t know what they are facing each day you before judgment and all of these things, so it has been tough, you know, but I think everything a work out right now. It’s coming right back around.…
Niko: Let’s talk about that tune, Change just a little bit. I wanted to ask you about a song that I find, personally again, to be very uplifting and one that I go back to when I need that little extra bit of motivation, musically speaking of course; was there something that was happening in your life at the time that inspired the tune or were you just trying to help lift people up in a moment.
Kumar: Both of them. Because I was trying to help someone in the moment. And I was also helping myself, reassuring myself, you know, that your life can change bro.
Niko: Yeah man well, I mean it definitely can and that’s something that changes a lot sometimes especially this year. I think a lot of people have been experiencing a lot of rapid change, you know, so it’s something that’s so important for all of us to remember; it’s gonna happen. Let’s just talk for a second about the events you were doing around Reggae month in February around St. Elizabeth (throwing) these different concerts….. you had Ken Boothe play, you played, I believe you even had Journey come and play…
Kumar: Yes, yes
Niko: So you’re trying to highlight artists from your Parish. Tell us a little bit about that.
Kumar: All right, just before me guh deh, Niko, Wickie Wackie, if I think about Wickey Wackie, like that’s me. That’s Kumar’s baby or brainchild. We started out with Wickie Wackie as Raging Fyah, but it was a vision of mine from then, to just always have an event and instead of doing it once per month like Wickie Wackie. You know, I arranged to do a two-day festival. I can remember Chronixx coming on that stage for one of the first times. (It was) one of the first times he’s going live on stage as Jamar back in 2011. One of Koffee’s first performances, (her) main performances was on that (stage). I can remember before I left Raging Fyah, Koffee, and I were best friends like we a par every day. I brought Koffee to Raging Fyah too, so we could have Koffee and you know produce her album and work on the songs; her first video was done at Wickie Wackie. So I’m saying, all of these things were happening, so, you know, being there I kinda realized, Kumar, you have a knack for finding artists and pushing them, usually, there’s nothing in return for me, but it’s a fun thing for me to realize potential and help push… Journey. I met Journey like years ago. He’s my neighbor in St. Elizabeth. I know Journey years upon top of years and he approached me in 2014 while I was a part of Raging Fyah asking Raging Fyah to manage him and his band. So, you know when I left Raging Fyah and he joined Raging Fyah, you know, that’s when he was linking and say ‘yo, I’m gonna join’ and now he’s out of Raging Fyah and when I realized he was out, I was like ‘yo its gotta be difficult for somebody to go into something and leave.’ So I was like, come in Journey, I’m doing something in the Parish, come in Kenny Smyth. Come in Shari, Uncle Ken Boothe, come give me a strength. Me a try something again with this Kulture Walk and see if I can do it for the (whole) month of February instead of every month.
Like what I was doing with Wickie Wackie and Raging Fyah, so now once a year for the month of February, I want to do a Kulture Walk series where I feature young talent from across Jamaica, (but) mainly my Parish, St. Elizabeth. It’s just another event that you might see a star rise up (from). Kenny Smyth a come forward and he’s very good. You know Journey a come and release his own music and it’s very good. So I think all of these things matter, you know, and that’s just my personality and I would never want that to change.
Niko: Yeah, I mean that seems like the special thing about your personality is that you really want to share in what’s going on, on the stage, with as many people as possible which is a beautiful thing and, you know, if it helps lift up young artists, that’s what the name of the game is. You know, I mean, this is it’s not a competition right? It’s this is a mission for all of us that we’re on, whether we’re performers or musicians…..
Kumar: Exactly. So yeah, for me, I never hold back when it comes to that sort of thing. Like, you know, when I think about it, I mean, I’m very happy for Koffee and Chronixx and everybody cuz I’m like yo, they were right there beside Kumar. I know they’re great. I know their potential. I love the fact that…. they inspire me. So I know that, yo, Kumz, keep going. Even though you haven’t achieved the level of notoriety, you know, as some of these people but you’re actually doing great because you’re just right there with them, you know, you just need to get better at doing your business and just do better at what you need to improve on. I think that’s the important thing to take from, you know, most of the lessons that you’re learning in life. You know you got to realize that….okay I’m weak in this area and I’m strong in this area. I need to improve what I’m doing and, you know, events (are) a part of my thing. I’ll never stop doing events, you know, so it’s just a structure that needs to come around it and a lot of artists passed through Wickie Wackie, and a lot has passed through my Kulture Walk in this February, from Notis to Zuggu Dan, who is coming up, ya understand, lots of artists.
Niko: Yes, I just got a tune from Zuggu Dan a couple of months ago actually…. Kumar: Yeah produced by Phillip from Earth Kry.
Niko: Fire, man. He’s real real good…..
Kumar: Yes, he’s one link man. So I mean, so we were trying to create something where if Kumar is not keeping the shows and everybody’s recording songs. So which stage are you going to perform on? So you see, I’m trying my best to be an outlet as well, you know, so there are shows happening all over Jamaica, so we need to get involved. I have to be an option as well when an artist need a look a stage show fi go up deh or supm. ‘Yah know, Kumz, they have a good audience, let’s get on that show,’ you know, that’s how it builds. And if you do the same thing and invite me, then this great….
Niko: Exactly. All right, man….. Actually, I’m going to step into a sort of a bigger question and then we’ll finish up after this. (I want to) ask you to talk a little bit about what’s been going on in the States and worldwide.
I’m sure you know that we’ve witnessed the murder of yet another unarmed black man here, George Floyd, about a month ago or so. Whether or not you saw the video, you know we don’t have to re-traumatize everybody going through it again, but you know, this time it’s sparked this uprising in the world. There have been demonstrations everywhere around this country (USA) all over the world, in Jamaica as well. (Is there) anything that you’d like to say about all this continued oppression that we’re hoping we’re going to end this time, you know. Kumar: Right, truth, and honesty….the system has gotten out of control, really and truly in my eyes, because they’ve trained people in a way, over centuries, of a certain period of time, so it’s very difficult to get people to agree with the Black Lives Matter movement and everything.
Like there’s this rights that rights (these) rights inside the same movement. So, I think it’s very hard….. the world needs a shake-up and I think, you know, the Most High realized that. Black people in America and of the world have been oppressed and it’s not every black people all the while that face the oppression even though it exists (for) some of us who might not be under the police brutality every day, might not understand fully. What the people dem who a go thru it feel, so that’s why we have to really stand in solidarity with anybody who’s been oppressed. That is the key thing about this like when oppression reach your door, you a go ask for help. So I think everybody who is oppressed need to support everybody, you know. I think when you kill a black man like that in a broad daylight and nothing, you know, really we have a block (the) road and everything fi get some justice. It says a lot about people and not just America. I think a lot about people, you know, and what we mean to one another, you know, so I think it’s very sad. You know and sometimes when I think about it, I realize you can point fingers and say white man and this man or that man but I think we’re all one people, you know, but the fact of the matter is there’s a set of people that has been disenfranchised and separated from economic and whole heap an other, you know, valuable viable things in society, which needs to change in order to strike some form of balance and equality amongst people or it’s going to continue to be like this, you know, it’s going to continue to, people crying out for justice and it’s just a never-ending vicious cycle. Unless something drastic happens, you know.
Niko: Yeah, do you think that this is the time for a change and you think that there’s enough momentum right now?
Kumar: Well, you know, I fear dis- there’s momentum but there’s a lot of information and a lot of confusion happening as well. So it’s easy to be infiltrated right now. It’s easy for people to behave as if, ‘Okay okay, let’s give them what they want so they shut up, and let’s get back to business in the back.’ It’s like you get paid for our show, but nobody tells you that you have mechanical royalties. You know, you can get it from the front but there’s money in the back that you didn’t know about. Right? So I’m saying there’s something with all these riots and movements, there’s so much happening in the background of all these political organizations and even the Black Lives Matter movement. I stand with and support (them), but the organization itself, like when you think about who’s spending money and funding and the politics involved it makes you think about like, okay, so will we really get justice or is this just another coy fi really, you know, get people to move forward because once a slave always slave. And at the end of the day, now you’re a slave that’s been leased. You know, (did) Babylon system really give you a job? They’re leasing you. They’re giving you enough money to come to work, you know, so it really kind of have economics bigger than morality.
Niko: Yeah man, I definitely hear ya. Wow, on that note……. Tell the people how they can get in touch with you, where they can find the record, all those sorts of things.
Kumar: Yeah, well, you know it’s @kumarfyah on Instagram and I have a YouTube channel, so you want to go on YouTube and check @kumarfyah and you’ll see all my songs and my videos. The album is available on all digital platforms.
And there’s www.kumarmusic.com.
Niko: Perfect. And I know it could be a while, but are you trying to put together some sort of tour for once the world goes back to normal?
Kumar: Yeah, definitely, because I have a fresh album, I’m getting calls from all over. From Mauritius to the US, to Europe, to Kenya, to certain places…. they’re calling, they want a tour but you know, it’s not possible at the moment. So I think once things free up…. I definitely want to be touring the US again, I have not toured the US in two or three years, I would say. But it’s a good look, fans they’re still hoping that I come back with something special.
Niko: Well, I know that I’m definitely one of them. I hope you come back as soon as the world allows it Kumar. Thank you so much for taking the time to join us, the album is great, people make sure you go get it, and we’ll talk to you very soon.
Kumar: Give thanks family, blessings.
Niko: Yeah man, bless up
Kumar: Honorable!
Kumar “Fyah” Bent: Reggae Interview (Audio)
