I Wayne, your uncle is none other than Ansell Collins, legendary keyboard player of ‘Double Barrel' fame. Did he have some part to play in your musical upbringing?
I Wayne: "Well, let me clear that up just a bit; Ansell is not my blood relative but he's married to one of my aunties. I spent a lot of time around him when he was practicing on his keyboard, a privileged position because as you said he's one of the master keyboard players on the island. Sometimes he would just start playing a riddim on his keyboard and I would sing along."
When you were still in high school, you were part of a band called Vibes Machine.
I Wayne: "Basically we just played reggae fused with some dancehall, but we always kept it clean, though. After a while we broke up because some of the band members moved away."
You spent part of your youth in Portmore, in the rural part of Jamaica. Did that play an important part in your upbringing?
I Wayne: "It's not that I spent years in the country, I just travelled back and forth between the countryside and the city and sometimes it were the urban vibes that inspired me, while at other times I would enjoy listening to the river running by. I never rush my music; I like to take my time and keep it real."
You were born Clifford Taylor; when did Clifford become I Wayne? How did you get that name?
I Wayne: "My parents always used to call me Dwayne and one day a brethren of mine called Ground Fire just started calling me I Wayne instead and the name stuck. We did a collaboration together called 'Thin Line'. (starts reciting the song) "Binghi living on the thin line & edges, among the bald tails and wolf dreadies. The solid rugged rock is what my bed is; I never steal from courts or geddies, cause I know that the green gold and red is life light, so kushites live up right with clean medies, shod off to glory hill far from where the dead is. No rum, no milk beverage, straight fruits and veggies.""
You're talking about the ital way of living there. As an artist you're on tour a great part of the year; is it difficult to uphold an ital lifestyle in these circumstances?
I Wayne: "No it's not difficult at all! In Jamaica we have a saying that goes: "Govern yourself whenever you're on the road.", meaning you have to I-troll (control, red.) the situation you find yourself in. Wherever you are you can always find some fruits and vegetables and if the chance presents itself you can even find an ital restaurant. You simply have to keep your eyes and ears open and take care of yourself. Where meat is concerned, I can only tell it like it is (cites the lyric from 'Life Teachings'): "Teach the youths the truth and don't lead them astray, give the children the fruits and throw the bloody meat away.""
What dish do you really look forward to enjoy again when you return back in Jamaica after weeks of touring?
I Wayne: "Jamaican cuisine is very diverse and rich, but something that is typical for the island are various types of stew dishes. Personally I also like peas, any type really: congo peas, red peas or even lentils or beans. Plantain porridge is another favorite of mine."
How does Rastafari fit into I Wayne's life?
I Wayne: "First and foremost I see Rastafari not just as a righteous way of life, but as the righteous way of life and to me it's definitely not a religion; it's a livity. Rastafari burn religious war."
Your most recent album to date was entitled 'Life Teachings'. If you compare the I Wayne who debuted with 'Lava Ground' to the I Wayne of today, what are the great life lessons you've learned?
I Wayne: "Above all else, I learned to love life more and I always try to teach the youths the truth. There's a track on the album called 'Wise And Fearless' that goes: "Be wise and fearless, don't be stupid and careless! Life has also taught me to address women in the right way; don't treat them like objects. Don't start spreading slackness, just because it's an easy way to make the crowd jump. It's like I say in another song ('Burn Down Sodom' from ‘Life Teachings'): "Life ain't no play thing star, the little kids the bugger they're raping star. Burn out the fag thing star, cause it's the truth I'm stating star. I no stoop to get applause, neither rating star." I'm not about no hype thing; I want the people to know I'm serious about life. Burn racism as well; I&I don't segregate. If you're truthful, life is easy you know because you never have to pretend and liars always get caught eventually. The truth will set you free. Also try to do all the good you can today, because you might not live to see tomorrow."
Most of the tracks on the album you recorded with Loyal Soldiers Crew.
I Wayne: "Yeah, they have been with I&I from the very beginning. When I was just starting out, Sonny Spoon (Ronald 'Sonny Spoon' Wright, red.) was at a sound system party where I was performing and when he heard me sing, he went up to the selector to ask who was singing. We linked up that same night and a couple of days later I sent him a demo tape. In his turn Solid Spoon linked me with Patrick Henry aka. Mr. Z of Loyal Soldiers and that's how the whole thing started. The first thing he sent me was the Father Jungle Rock riddim (aka. No Warrior riddim, red.) which I used to write 'Can't Satisfy Her' on 'Lava Ground'."
Instead of doing collaborations with well-known artists, you seem to choose to put forward lesser known talents.
I Wayne: "As an artist you cross young talents all the time and most of the time all these youths are looking for is a chance to prove their talent, to show what they can do. As a Rastafarian I believe in the philosophy of each one teach one; if we all help each other out we only strengthen the whole."
Jamaica is celebrating its 50th year of independence this year. What does that anniversary represent for you?
I Wayne: "I Wayne loves redemption and I guess the independence of Jamaica was already a step in that direction, but dutty Babylon still has a mighty grasp on the people, you know. It's as if they've played a mind game with the Jamaican people; telling them the chains were lifted and they were free now, while all the while they were already forging new ones to put on them."