5 Questions With Mortimer

Mortimer McPherson is known to fans simply as Mortimer.

The Rastafarian roots reggae message music minstrel has been on this journey for more than a decade, having released his first EP in 2014. The four-song project, via VP Records, was produced by Jay Crazie Records and titled Message Music. With ears tuned to the then up-and-coming Mortimer, he was introduced to reggae singer, Protoje, and subsequently, Grammy-nominated producer Winta James, whose outfit he now calls his musical home.

Protection, a collab with Protoje, helped to further establish Mortimer’s street cred and by 2020 he was hailed by the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JaRIA) as the Breakthrough Artiste of the Year, besting nominees Govana, Stylo G, Lila Iké and Kemar Highcon. JaRIA also awarded Mortimer the coveted Song of the Year title for his mega hit, Lightning.

The awards have kept coming, with the most recent being the Reggae Impact Award at the 2024 Caribbean Music Awards.

Last Friday, Mortimer finally gave fans what they have been craving, his début album, From Within, which is produced by Winta James. Following Mortimer’s much-talked-about performance at Skyline in Jacks Hill last week, 5 Questions With ... had a one-on-one with the singer.

1. How did you make the transition from Seventh-day Adventist Christian to Rastafarian Kingman, and are you comfortable in this life?

Well, I am the same person. It’s just life and the changes that come with it. And … yes…. [I am] super comfortable. I have always been very comfortable.

2. It has taken you a long time to get to your début album. Why is that?

It tek long nuh true? (laughs) It’s been a while …. but nothing before the time. And I am happy that we got the time that we did to work on it properly, to retouch, to go back and revisit some ideas and explore some new ideas ... because this is a special piece of work and special things take time.

3.What was the high point for you with this entire production?

All of it was the high point. I love being in the studio, it is my favourite place to be. Another high point for me is all the breakthroughs I have made with myself. I am super grateful for all that life has taught me, I am grateful for my family for holding me down ... and for holding me up as well … all of it has been the high life and the highlight.

4. What inspires you to write the songs that you do and are you amazed at how reggae music is received internationally?

Life … everything that I observe… everything that I feel. Those around me ... the whole revolving of the time. Everything inwardly and outwardly. When I am writing my songs I am sitting down in a room in a dark space just writing them to myself and then it is amazing for me when I am on stage ... how everybody just knows the songs. I am grateful for that. As to reggae music, the people love it. There is a much greater appreciation for reggae music, I think, abroad than even here in Jamaica. They will stand in the rain to listen to you ... no umbrellas... that is the kind of love I am talking about.

5. How has being a father of four impacted your life, and what do you think your own father would say of your views on fatherhood?

The kids teach me patience in a good way. Some of us like to pretend that parenting is a bed of roses … but it’s not. It is a great responsibility that we have and it’s not always a cute and cuddly situation. Sometimes yuh haffi get rough because yuh teaching another human being how to function in life and you want to make sure that when that kid grows up … if I die early, or even if I’m alive … they can function in society, that they have love for themselves, love for everyone who’s around them, that hey have basic things like compassion, respect for self and others. It’s a great responsibility … you are literally in charge of the next generation and it’s a big work and a blessing at the same time. They bring me great joy ... and pain at the same time ... in my [three-letter word] by the way (laughs). I am sure at some time I was a pain in my father’s [three-letter word]. Just today I was talking about the story of the baby pig who ask momma how him mouth so long and momma seh when yuh grow up yuh will come and see. I have grown, I have been maturing and I see a lot of what my parents were saying. But, I still try to parent differently from how they have parented me. I want my kids to be free to express themselves ... free to be themselves. I am not forcing anything on my kids … any path they choose, as long as they want to be good human beings I will support them 100 percent.

BRAWTA

Share with us what touring has been like for you.

Touring has been interesting, tiring, eye-opening. It takes a lot for me physically and mentally to, but the warmth of the people is what keeps us going. And the mission that we are on to spread love throughout this world and to add whatever bit of light we can add to all this darkness and what better way to do it than to express yourself through this God-given gift. It is a blessing to be able to tour. When I went to London, for example, I was super shocked that my show was sold out... at the Jazz Café. That was in April and it was amazing.

yasmine.peru@gleanerjm.com