Some ten years-plus since his last solo studio album, reggae-funk-ska-roots maestro Nicky Bomba has taken time out from his other band projects – Melbourne Ska Orchestra, Bustamento and Bomba – to focus on a new record.
While 'Food & Shelter' is only the second solo album from the world renowned multi-instrumentalist, producer, singer-songwriter, it's Nicky's 24th of his career.His music life began in the late '70s when Nicky formed a cover band with his brother (Michael Caruana); Nicky's career began taking flight in the '90s with his funk band The Truth, who released two albums.
Towards the end of the decade, after a short-lived time with jazz band Banana Oil (who won an APRA Music Award for Most Performed Jazz Work in 1998), Nicky formed his own band called Bomba. The reggae-funk outfit remains active.
The early 2000s saw Nicky join John Butler Trio (John is his brother-in-law, married to younger sister Mama Kin) from 2003-2004 (and later on between 2009-2013) as well as creating his gigantic music ensemble Melbourne Ska Orchestra.
Then in 2012 during his second spell with JBT, Bustamento formed as an avenue to play mento music (a style of Jamaican folk music that predates and has greatly influenced ska and reggae music).
But for now, Nicky is focussed on his solo adventures, and hanging out with the local neighbourhood cows; more on that later.
It's been more than a decade since the last Nicky Bomba solo album (you've kept busy during that time with other projects); how does 'Food & Shelter' showcase the artist you have become in those ensuring years?
I think I'm always developing as an artist and this album comes at a good point in my playing career.
I love trying new things and playing different instruments but there is a moment where it feels really natural. The songs are a real present time, fresh representation of all my musical journeys combined.
Flavours and tones we can expect to hear on this album? The presser says 'ethnic folk music, '70s funk workouts and quirky twangin' surf sounds'; sign us up pronto, sir!
Flavours and tones. . . I like that. Well a musician's musical palette is a direct reflection of the journeys experienced, problems solved, demons slayed.
I tried to dig deep and get to the essence of my musical expression capturing the sights and sounds from Ethiopia, Morocco and Malta, to my own take on the funk and reggae hybrid, which is forever developing.
I like that each song is its own mini movie and I still have a lot of things to share. Hybrid is the key word with my music and in a world of growing diversity I think I’m getting closer to the universal resonance.
Have the events of the last 18 months shaped the creative direction of the album at all?
Absolutely. Lockdown has essentially enabled me to stop and distill my ideas for the first time in years.
I'm constantly writing, but sketches are nothing if they can't be realised. I made full, active use of this time and was also informed by the isolation, loneliness and wisdoms learnt in the process.
My Father passed away during this time, which spearheaded a whole new energy of catharsis in about six songs.
You perform all instruments and recorded/ produced the album entirely by yourself; sounds like a lot of work, but would you have it any other way?
I love working with my musical comrades and will continue to do so. This is just another way of creating. They are all valid in their own right.
I could not have written this album with someone else as much as the Orchestra is a combination of all the heads. I do enjoy the learning process of becoming a better all-round musician and this process also fuels self-belief and self-trust.
At some point you have to be your own captain and get savvy with the jobby jobby. (Eloquence right there!)
Were there any particular inspirations or influences that found their way onto 'Food & Shelter’?
Apart from my Father passing, I kept going back to this sound I heard in Ethiopia – the Masenko – a one-string horse hair, violin style instrument that managed to find a place in at least four tracks.
I also went a bit jangly guitar, indie pop which is straight from my youth. I was never really good enough to pull it off until my chops got to a point where I was able to smile instead of grimace.
The album's artwork is its own adventure; who's behind the creative and did you have an active role with how it came together?
Yeah, the artwork was my brief to my art guru Jarrath who is just a genius at getting my vibe right.
Basically what you see is not far from the truth. Living in a valley with mountains of snow, eight-track recorder, homegrown goodness and a high level of self-sufficiency. I drew a couple of pics and he just went to town. He should get an award for it methinks.
The 'Opportunity' film clip looks like it was a lot of fun; did you feel a bit like Andre 3000 from the 'Hey Ya' clip playing all the instruments? The cows seemed like a tough audience as well, haha!
Ha! Good call. The cows were amazing actually.
We were ten minutes into shooting and I swear they all congregated at the fence as if to say 'check this out'. We had to make use of the universal offering!
The studio all playing clip is very much the vibe when I was recording the album. I would get into the zone of whatever part I was playing and zoned into the psyche of the musician at hand. Love that sh.t.
Anyone who knows Nicky Bomba knows you love to perform, meet new people and engage with the touring life; how have you found the COVID world we now live in?
As mentioned earlier, it was a much needed pause for me. To be honest, I think it was a much needed pause for the world.
We live way too fast for how humans are supposed to live with way too much information to absorb. I think a lot of peeps will have a new sense of normal from now on, which I think is a good thing.
On the tour/ live front, fingers crossed the country is open again soon; anything in the works re: a run of shows?
Yeah, things are picking up slowly; Ska Orchestra shows, couple of solo things but I don't think it'll be till next year till it really kicks in.
Away from your solo work, any news to report from either Melbourne Ska Orchestra and Bustamento camps? Bluesfest just got better with MSO's inclusion :)
Lots of things happening in the pipeline with all my projects and a special collaboration with the Orchestra that is just plain sailing kooky. More to come on that soon.
Thanks for your time Nicky; anything else you'd like to add?
We are running a competition where if you buy the 'Food & Shelter' album, you could win a drumkit and cymbals. Bloody beauty maaaaate! Bless!
'Food & Shelter' is now available. Melbourne Ska Orchestra play Bluesfest 2022 (Byron Bay), which runs 14-18 April.
