ANNOUNCING “Roots & Culture EP” for the World!
Roots and culture yeah, really, roots and culture. So simple, so sweet, it's not the first time somebody said roots and culture. This time I was saying it. This time I was saying with purpose, with the meaning, I thought all the music was in my head right away I got the rhythms that inspired me. I got a piano again for the first time in 30 years at least as a reasonable electric keyboard until I can upgrade. I had two authentic djembe drums. Adding a few little instruments like flute, other acoustic and string, I was ready. There is all my own reggae music roots and culture burning in me. I never could imagine the journey that would be the journey of growth, self-reflection, center. Since I decided to come out in music the journey has been so extreme. Always under a microscope, always invisible at the same time. You're under a microscope and it’s, so difficult.
Building a brand nowadays with social media people jumping in your face with all kinds of gimmicks to look so professional and sound better than you…
It can be a scary world, especially in music. Next paragraph for me in the culminating stages of “Roots and Culture EP” hopefully I can soon laugh. For much of the process I felt like I was pregnant with five children that didn’t want to come out. Many have touched and guided my EP. Oftentimes getting frustrated, I kept telling myself to re-voice each song over and over. If you keep re-voicing it will work. Only because I don't want somebody to mix it again and loose. I like the sound that I created in the studio so obviously I need to voice it in a way that's going to preserve that quality no matter the mix no matter the mastering, no matter the editing.
Good work and good life and good deeds are about editing and reflection, self-reflection and self-love. This project tells me so much about the roots of reggae how I want to pay homage to those roots of reggae how I will always have Jah Rastafari in my spiritual mind, heart and soul. How I had beautiful parents that made me feel as if I belonged to a tribe although I knew my tribe was always missing. When they called me “N knots” because of my knotty hair when they called me “wild women of Borneo” because I ran around barefoot my dark hair twisting in the breeze and my eyes always absorbing in the entire environment.
Mom passed away about 15 years ago she was our “tribal queen” our “tribal warrior” for some reason nobody in the family would accept me as the queen and my sister who was the elder did not want the responsibility of being the queen. It's really sad how I lost my tribe; I lost my family. I didn't just lose my mom. She gave me the strength and courage to stay righteous, spiritual convicted, to hold my own lane, to stay creative.
She and my dad showed me what true love what true roles and roots and culture can be about. When family is the true love and your home is your own church.
To writing “Roots and Culture” hello, I love everybody that's been on this journey with me to write to prepare this massive 5 song EP. I love those along the way that treated what they saw and never communicated with the real me who took money and time and played around with my sound all while I just continue to wish to lift the world. Now with roots and culture ready for the world, I am nearly done doing all the work growing myself. I am so proud of the accomplishments and I hope you all love the sound of Marilana Ras Dumpling her vision, her dream her real “Roots & Culture” Her evolution of music and her love of reggae natural mystically inspired by JAH “Roots & Culture EP!”
Meet Marilana RasDumpling originally from Valley Stream New York and now long time resident of Southern US and the Miami area, Marilana almost forgot she was an artist raised with Latin Orchestras and fashion schooling when in 2019 she overcame several health struggles. Fire burning in her, she played around with many genres of music as she developed her own powerful, sexy and clean style with a strong focus on Roots Reggae. You don’t want to miss the masterful production of each of the 5 songs on her roots & Culture EP releasing July 23rd 2024. While Roots & Culture presents the deep roots of her music, she is funny, energetic and an infectious personality of dance, pop, and internationally pop originals.
The Title track “Roots & Culture” is currently #13 on the African Song Charts; “Sweet Reggae Music” present a rock style Reggae classic; “Dumpling Love” is the sweet raw vibrato that everyone loves and it is the song that got the most attention and pressure; “How Dare You” a true original topic in Conscious Reggae and she winds up with “Evolution” trending modern classic Anthem. Sit back relax and look for “Roots & Culture EP” Pre order and download for your listening pleasure right away!