Ulovili smo priliku za intervju sa saksofonistom francuskog reggae benda Danakil, Mathieu Dassieu. Danakil su svoju karijeru započeli 2000. godine kao skupina studoša koji su jednostavno voljeli reggae, a s mnogobrojnim nastupima su postali jedni od najvećih reggae sastava u Francuskoj. Broje mnoga izdanja i nastupe, a njihovo zadnje izdanje s OnDubGround također plijeni pozornost. 

Reggae hr: Prošli ste put od studentskog benda do europskih reggae zvijezda. Da li vam se popularnost dogodila iznenada ili ste ciljano radili na tome?
Mathieu (Danakil): Potrebno je puno vremena. Prošlo je više od deset godina prije nego što su nas počeli smatrati velikim reggae bendom u Francuskoj. A i neke druge godine prije nego što smo počeli imati turneje diljem Europe. To je dug proces. Kao reggae bend, nemamo nikakvih jakih radijskih ili televizijskih emisija kao što to imamo u drugim glazbenim stilovima. Samo se možemo promovirati kroz nastupe uživo i kroz nezavisne medije kao što je vaš. Dakle, treba vremena. No, to također omogućuje izgradnju prave i vjerne publike.

Reggae hr: Danakil je pustinja u Etiopiji, jeste li ju kolektivno posjetili i koji su dojmovi?
Mathieu (Danakil): Susreli smo "Danakilove ljude" kada smo obilazili Afriku prije pet godina. U Djiboutiju smo imali tri nastupa, odmah pored eritrejske granice, gdje se nalazi Danakil. To je bio veliki doživljaj za nas i važan kulturni susret, vratili smo se u Francusku s jakim dojmovima u našim glavama. Posebno je jedan koncert bio nevjerojatan, u gradu zvanom "Tadjoura", gdje smo upoznali lokalnu publiku koja nikad nije čula pojačanu glazbu. Bilo je divno podijeliti te trenutke s njima.

Reggae hr: Iako su vaši tekstovi društveno angažirani, vaša glazba je pitka. Je li to zbog pitkosti francuskog jezika koji se vrlo često stopi s otkucajima reggae glazbe?
Mathieu (Danakil): Pjevanje na francuskom jeziku je važno za nas. Omogućuje nam da izradimo pjesme oko važnih društvenih tema. Ne želimo reći "zajedničke stvari", koje možete naći u mnogim pjesmama ... Imamo svoje ideje, važno je da ih možemo izraziti na najbolji mogući način.

Reggae hr: Živimo u kompleksnom vremenu koje nam pruža pregršt informacija u svakodnevnom životu. Postoji li receptura kako potaknuti ljude na promišljanje kroz glazbu?
Mathieu (Danakil): Glazbi je uloga podizanje savjesti ljudskog uma. Međutim, to je kao i sve. Morate razmišljati o tome bez sustavnog razmatranja, to je čista istina. Također, imate loša razmišljanja i stihove u glazbi. Ali u pravu si, glazba može gurati ljude da razmišljaju o vlastitom stanju, i tako izgraditi svoj um na pozitivan način.

Reggae hr: Kako je došlo do suradnje s OnDubGround kolektivom I kako se zadovoljni s izdanjem?
Mathieu (Danakil): Volimo to izdanje i njihov remix rad na ovom albumu. Napravili su nevjerojatan posao oko Danakilovih pjesama. Upravo onako kako smo sanjali. Susreli smo Ondubground na turneji, to su dva brata, vrlo ugodne osobe i lako je raditi s njima.

Reggae hr: Koje vaše viđenje francuske, a i europske reggae scene? Poznajete li reggae scenu na Balkanu (Hrvatska, Slovenija, Srbija, Bosna ...)?
Mathieu (Danakil): Europska reggae scena je živa! Sretali smo velike bendove iz mnogih zemalja: Belgija, Francuska, Njemačka, Velika Britanija i tako dalje ... Imamo jake festivale koji predstavljaju našu glazbu i kulturu posvuda, a i specijalizirane medije u svakoj zemlji. Pokret je ovdje, mislim da se poboljšava iz godine u godinu. Da budem iskren s tobom, ne znam balkansku scenu, ali bih volio otkriti bendove i projekte koji dolaze iz tih zemalja. Trenutno radim na istraživanju jer ja sam veliki obožavatelj tradicionalne balkanske glazbe (ja sam saksofonist u Danakilu, a volim brass glazbu koja dolazi sa Balkana). Siguran sam da ću naći prekrasne bendove.

Reggae hr: Koje je vaše viđenje reggae glazbe, što ona pruža tebi kao glazbeniku I što ti želiš dati svom slušatelju?
Mathieu (Danakil): Reggae je univerzalna glazba. Želimo dati ljubav našoj publici, i dobru glazbu kako bi nahranili svoj um te pritom se suočili sa svojim životom kroz pozitivne vibracije. Nismo ovdje da dajemo pouke ili savjete. Samo da širimo dobre vibracije bez obzira na to razumijete li ili ne naše tekstove. Samo osjetite pjesme i uzmite ono što želite.

Reggae hr: Svirali ste na velikim festivalima i dvoranama, s mnogim legendarnim reggae zvijezdama. Možete li izdvojiti neki zanimljivi događaj?
Mathieu (Danakil): Naučili smo promatrati druge bendove i glazbenike koji sviraju reggae glazbu. Sigurno, jamajački izvođači su na nas dosta utjecali u prošlosti. Bili smo prisustvovali svakom Sly & Robbie showu. Isto kada su i Roots Radics svirali negdje. Bio je to blagoslov za nas, shvatili smo to kao masterclass. Vi gradite svoju glazbu na putu. Način sviranja, način na koji nastupamo na pozornici uvijek je bio pod utjecajem našeg susreta s drugim bendovima i glazbenicima na turnejama. 

[english version]

Reggae hr: You passed the path from the student band to the European reggae stars. Did your popularity happen suddenly or did you work in that direction?
Mathieu (Danakil): It takes a long time! More than 10 years before we start to be considered as a major reggae band in France. And some other years before starting to have a real touring activity all over Europe. It’s a long process. As a reggae band, we don’t have any strong radio or TV broadcast as we can have in other musical style. We only can promote ourselves through live performances and independent media like yours. So, it takes time. But it also permits to build a real and loyal audience.

Reggae hr: Danakil is a desert in Ethiopia, did you visit it collectively and what are the impressions?
Mathieu (Danakil): We met the “Danakil people” when we were touring in Africa 5 years ago. We did 3 shows in Djibouti, just next to the Eritrean border, where the Danakil people is located. It was a major experience for us and an important cultural meeting, we came back in France with strong souvenirs in our heads. Specially one gig was amazing, in a city called “Tadjoura”, where we met a local audience that never have heard amplified music. It was wonderful to share these moments with them.

Reggae hr: Though your texts are socially engaged, your music is potable. Is this because of the ease of the French language, which often assimilate with the beat of reggae music?
Mathieu (Danakil): Singing in French is something important for us. It permits us to build songs around important social thematic. We don’t want to say “common things”, that you can find in many songs… We have our ideas, it’s important for us to express them in the better way possible.

Reggae hr: We live in a complex time that provides us with a wealth of information in our daily lives. Is there a recipe for encouraging people to think through music?
Mathieu (Danakil): Music as it role to play, to make the people uplift their conscience and mind. However, it’s like everything. You have to think about it without considering systematically that’s it’s a pure truth. You also have bad minds and lyrics in music. But you’re right, it can push people to think about their condition, and so to build their mind in a positive way…

Reggae hr: How did came to collaboration with OnDubGround collective? Are you satisfied with the release?
Mathieu (Danakil): We LOVE the release and their remix work on this album. They did an incredible work around Danakil tracks. It’s exactly as we were dreaming of. We met Ondubground on the gig road. They are 2 brothers, very nice persons. It’s very easy to work with them…

Reggae hr: What are your views on the French and European reggae scenes? Are you familiar with the reggae scene in the Balkans (Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Bosnia…)?
Mathieu (Danakil): The European reggae scene is alive! We are meeting great bands coming from many countries: Belgium, France, Germany, Uk and so on… We have strong festivals that represent our music and culture everywhere, and specialised media in every country. The movement is here, I think it’s improving year after year. To be honest with you, I don’t know the Balkan scene…but I would love to discover bands and projects coming from these countries! I am doing to do some research right now as I am a huge fan of traditional Balkan music (I am Saxo player in Danakil, and I love brass music coming from Balkan area.) I am sure I am going to find wonderful bands.

Reggae hr: What is your viewing reggae of music, which it provides you as a musician and what do you want to give to your listeners?
Mathieu (Danakil): Reggae music is universal. We want to give love to our audience, and good music to feed their mind, and to face their life with positive vibes. We are not here to give any “lessons” or advice. Just to spread good vibes. Whatever if you understand or not our lyrics, just feel the songs, and take what you want to take inside.

Reggae hr: You have played at great festivals and halls, with many legendary reggae stars. Can you extricate some interesting event?
Mathieu (Danakil): We learnt through watching other bands and musician playing reggae music. For sure, Jamaican players have influenced us a lot in the past. We used to attend to every Sly and Robbie shows. The same when the Roots Radics where playing somewhere. It was a blessing for us. We took it as a masterclass. You build your music on the road. The way we play, the way we perform on stage, has always been influenced by our meeting with other bands and musicians on the road.