Fyah-ed Up

Inevitably, he’s been dubbed “the new Bob Marley”. McNaughton is all humility when he picks up his (muffled) mobile. “Greetings,” he says formally. Musically, the teetotal singer/producer, only 22 years old, has his own voice, and outlook, but he shares Marley’s mission – to spread the love. Playing to diverse audiences is “a good feeling,” he says. “It probably is the greatest thing about making music – the fact that you can impact people from all around the world.”

McNaughton was destined for a career in music, his father the reggae act Chronicle. The so-named “Little Chronicle” began writing songs in childhood. McNaughton didn’t necessarily aspire to be in the spotlight. “I never even wanted to perform as an artist.” He would have been content producing, but as a young Rasta, McNaughton recognised that he could use music as a “vehicle”.

Indeed, for McNaughton, reggae is ultimately part of a cultural movement – a way of life. “Music is about making change, music is about making an impact, music is about communicating life, to the people of the world – it’s about teaching, it’s about love and it’s about respect.”

"Who knows if I’m going to do an album?” It’s about the message, not the medium."

Today, McNaughton is linked to a surging reggae revival. In 2010 he presented his debut EP, Hooked On Chronixx. Two years on, Diplo’s Major Lazer (and Walshy Fire) repped him on the dancehall mixtape Start A Fyah. Earlier this year, McNaughton issued The Dread & Terrible Project, a “project” rather than an EP or LP, which topped Billboard’s Reggae Albums Chart. It takes in his catchy hit Here Comes Trouble – and the fun Spirulina. “I wanted to produce music to communicate what is really happening right now, which is the resurgence of Rasta, musically, among youths,” he says. “I myself am one of those youths.”

McNaughton played Here Comes Trouble on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon – and has gigged in New York’s Central Park with Mick Jagger in the audience. He’s unsure what will come next. “Who knows if I’m going to do an album?” It’s about the message, not the medium, McNaughton explains. “It should be about doing projects that are meaningful.” Aside from “meaningful”, McNaughton is partial to the words “relevant” and “appropriate”. And, surely, one of his most relevant moments was that buzzy mixtape Start A Fyah, which McNaughton describes as “a great thing”. “It goes to show that music is a vehicle.”

Incidentally, Diplo also produced the post-gangsta, re-born Rastafari Snoop Lion’s Reincarnated. McNaughton may not endorse rap’s Babylonian materialism but, he stresses, hip hop is, like dancehall, a vehicle that can transport “a bunch of gold chains”, “diamonds” and “half-naked women” or, conversely, promote something more “spiritual” – “positive change in society, love and respect for the youth, love and respect for humanity…” Says McNaughton, “I don’t have much knowledge about the hip hop culture, I’ve never lived in a hip hop culture, I’ve never truly experienced it, but I can truly say that the music – hip hop music – is as pure as any other music in the world.”