From: rn3517@u.cc.utah.edu (Robert Nelson)

Here's the transcript of a phone interview I did with Luciano during my 
radio show, Oct. 14.

Robert
==================

RN: Greetings Luciano and welcome to Salt Lake City and Smile
Jamaica. I'm glad we have a chance to talk to you this afternoon.

LU: Thanks for having me on the program.

RN: We just heard, while we were waiting for you to call, we spun
the title track to your new album on the Island Jamaica label,
"Where There is Life". It's a wonderful, nice kind of 70s ride on
that riddim there. Tell us a little bit about this album.

LU: Yes, thank you very much. Actually, I see it as a kind of
spiritual album. I try to portray as much spirituality as possible
in my songs. So I can get people to realize the importance of
godliness and spirituality. I realize people are becoming more
materialistic now a days. Rather than having the reverence and
respect for each other. So I try to portray that spirituality as I
said. With songs like "Where There is Life" reminding people even
(with) the struggle in the street. Even tho things are hard, you
still can survive. And even to identify there is still life. And
while there is life there's hope. With songs like "Just Like the
Wind", "People Come and Go" you can see directly where I'm coming
from in terms of concept. Elements of people, of soul and spirit,
coming to manifest in the space time dimension. So as I say, I
always try and portray as much spirituality in my songs cause I see
myself as one who has volunteered them. (One) who is willing to
educate people through music.

RN: You can almost see that on the song titles of nearly every
song. It seems to be livicated to the Creator: "It's Me Again Jah",
"Lord Give Me Strength", "He Is My Friend", "Good God".

LU: Right. Right.

RN: Now are you a Rasta yourself? Have you sighted up Rasta?

LU: Yes. I'm a true Rastafarian. I see myself as a spiritual man in
the sense I eat more like...vegetable. If any meat, it's like fish.
I try to keep away from intoxicating beverages and so on. I try to
live an upright life. I have respect for other people. Show love
and expect to get love.

RN: I heard that one time you had left in the middle of a
performance and just kind of disappeared into the hills. Would you
like to speak about that or is that a little too personal?

LU: I went on stage and did about three songs. And then I announced
that I would be taking a spiritual break. I think that every one in
life needs a break at some time in his life: to get away, you know,
to reflect on his past and to see how better he can deal with the
future. That's all I did. I took a spiritual break; recuperate,
reformulate my philosophy. And here I am, you know, rejuvenated and
strengthened. And I'm ready to continue with the other leg of my
mission: spreading love and unity across the nation.

RN: Was the 40 days a coincidence or was that something like, you
know, Moses wandering for 40 days in the wilderness? 

LU: (Laughter). Actually, I didn't say anything about 40 days and
40 nights. Well you know, people love to put things outta context.
And put things their way; bringing this 40 day and 40 night thing.
I only said I was gwan take a break...which I did.

RN: So the 40 days was more of just a sort of biblical allegory
where somebody just kind of said, "Luciano went away. And yes it
was for 40 days, just like Moses." You've put out a lot of singles
lately and a lot of them seem to have that spiritual vibe. I'm
thinking of the Xterminator 7" you did with Mutabaruka.

LU: Yes, with Mutabaruka. Psalm 24.

RN: Is Fattis Burrell your favorite producer? Do you work well with
Fattis, this album is produced by him?

LU: Actually, I see Fattis as a very serious producer. And he's one
who has kinda produced that kind of (spiritual) environment for me.
That I can actually go deeper within myself and come up with some
original stuff, you know? He made it firmly known that he didn't
want no cover versions. Which to me was a kinda.....a push towards
creating my own lyrics. I find him as a very serious producer in a
sense that when I finish a song, in the studio, it may take weeks
or going into a month to complete the song: overdubbing, piano or
guitar, saxophone by Dean Fraser, backup singing and all dat. It's
a whole network and we've been dedicating our lives to the mission.
And so we are really happy to see how things are really taking off
now.

RN: So that's really kind of an unusual recording experience. Did
Island Jamaica commission you to put this album out for their new
Island Jamaica label; you know the reborn Island? Or did you record
this, take your time, and then present it to Island?

LU: Everything was taken care of, cuz we arranged what we wanted
and we had to know our objectives and then we decided to work (with
Island). We met our own expectations. We've been doing well
together so far. And I'm really happy to know I could get a link
with the Island records. Cuz this, to me, is a stalwart of strength
and energy behind the mission. So we can expect the message to
reach further.

RN: Yes, because their distribution and promotional capabilities
are probably one of the strongest in the country. Stronger than any
reggae label in American could hope to get.

LU: That is true.

RN: So my second question regarding that is: are they going to
support a tour of the United States for you? Or Europe? What are
your plans for the winter coming up?

LU: Incidentally, I have a tour lined up for Europe during the
later part of November. And I look forward to some tour of the USA
in like the early part of next year.

RN: What are you doing in the meantime? Are you just gearing up for
that or are you recording any new Jamaican releases?

LU: Actually I am really here to help to promote the album, "Where
There is Life": some interviews, TV and radio, magazine. Meeting
some people, signing some autographs and so on.

RN: The song I'm going to lead out with is a nice 12" mix of "It's
Me Again Jah". What else can you tell us about this? The very first
single off of this album is also the lead off track of the album
and many times that is either the artist's favorite track or
strongest track. Tell our listening audience, here on Smile
Jamaica, what is it that makes this song especially nice for you?

LU: Well actually, I see "It's Me Again Jah" as a personal prayer.
I did it with a sincerity from my heart asking God to give me
additional strength and energy to push on with what I see as my
mission. Now before I knew it, people had accepted it as their
*own* personal prayer. And now it has become a public prayer. And
I feel good, in a sense, because it has kinda given me that
spiritual kind of respect that I've always been looking for. I
never wanted to be seen in the light of an artist who has come
about for fame and popularity. I always wanted to be respected as
a spiritual man.

RN: Thanks for sitting in with us today. It's nice to hear that
sort of attitude again in the dancehall, coming around to
consciousness. And promoting other peoples' works: in this case the
Creator.

LU: True. And let me say thank you also for playing your part in
the whole role of getting across the message. Without you playing
that music, people never get a chance to hear.

RN: Yes I. And I hope you can come out and tour in the West and we
can get a chance to meet and see you in person and hear these great
songs live.

LU: Yes man, I really look forward to that. Jah Guide and
Rastafari.