Internationally-acclaimed Reggae musician, Lasana Bandele has announced his return to the Reggae scene with his newest project, Blowin In The Wind.
The single, a cover of rock superstar, Bob Dylan’s legendary song signifies the triumphant return of an eclectic Reggae musician who’s enjoyed a storied career, spanning five different decades. It also marks the first mainstream single that Bandele has released since his 2005 song, Don’t Wait.
Bandele debuted on the Reggae scene in 1974 with the hit single, Hanging Locks followed by his 1976 effort, Send Us Home. Additionally, Bandele became synonymous with Reggae fans through his poetry; doing regular readings of his work on JBC Radio’s Groundings and earned a 1981 Certificate of Merit from the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) for his poem Prison.
However, fans mostly remember Bandele for the 1990 smash hit, Living In Shacks which earned mass airplay locally and internationally; regarded by many as one of Reggae music’s signature hits and earning him a spot on the Reggae Sunsplash show that year. His album, Storitela also was well-received within the Reggae industry; featuring singles such as Subway Blues, Break Free and the title track, Storitela.
Over 20 years later, Bandele attempts to re-assert himself within the Reggae industry while proving his talents remain top-billing with Blowin’ In The Wind. The Reggae-influenced version of Bob Dylan’s song showcases Bandele’s poetry and musical skills fused into an infiltrating sound reminiscent of his style made famous during the 80s and 90s.
In the song, Bandele asks “How many years can some people exist, before they're allowed to be free? And how many times can a man turn his head, and pretend that he just doesn't see?”
Considering the message that Dylan’s song carried, it’s no surprise that Bandele chose to perform his own rendition of this classic song which was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. Given its protest theme, condemning the wrongful acts of an emerging society, Bandele hopes his song will spark messages of peace and understanding lost in this day and age.
Bandele’s rendition of Blowin’ In The Wind was released last month in the United States and is available for purchase via iTunes.
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