The Goo 1
Reggae Mick Herrity A-Lone Ark Productions ROBERT
O SANCHEZ: Roberto Sanchez is the finest producer of reggae music coming out of mainland Europe. When reggae in Jamaica went digital a lot of people lost interest in the music. Roberto was one such reggae music lover. He grew up listening to how producers like King Tubbys and Augustus Pablo created identifiable signatures in their sounds. So Roberto eschewed the music that was being created in the late 90’s and sought to build on the education in sound that was being provided by the old masters. Artists like the above, alongside Earl Zero, Yabby Youth, Linval Thompson and his favourite singer Willi Williams. Like most Caucasian people in Europe, Bob Marley was the gateway into the music. In 1991, when Roberto was about 14, There was a celebration of Bob’s music on the 10th anniversary of Bob’s death. Following this Roberto discovered a shop in Bilbao, which is an hour away from where he lives that sold reggae music. The ‘Rasta’ shop as it was called introduced him to the artists that I have mentioned above. The most profound effect that the sounds had on Roberto was learning that the studio could become an instrument. Roberto comes from a musical family and at 15 years of age he resolved to follow his passion with reggae music. 34 Roberto along with Borja Juanco formed the band Lone Watti who played together for about three years. However, Roberto was more interested in building rhythms in a studio. They concentrated on this work. Roberto had no interest in the digital means of recording. He used reel to reel tapes, a proper piano, Hammond organ and organic sound. They practiced in the studio, Roberto being mindful of forging the studio as an instrument in itself. They also made links with a couple of artists in London which led to Roberto recording the London based artist, African Simba. A couple of years later Roberto travelled to London. In London he met a friend Inyaki Garratu from Bilbao. Inyaki is a full time musician who has played in backing bands supporting the best Jamaican artists. Roberto played in a band with Inyaki at Triangle studios owned by The Shanti-ites. Artists like Sugar Minott passing through. Inyaki was responsible for introducing Roberto to Dougie Conscious who had been running his own studios either in hackney or Dalston for over fifteen years, at that stage. Dougie was a major influence on Roberto as proof that one could press ahead with their vision to create and produce reggae music in the studio. Since then Roberto has strived to create reggae music in his studio in Santander with the same care and quality as the roots music that was produced in Jamaica during the 70’s. He has worked with some of the greats whilst studying the production techniques of that Golden era. Linval Thompson rescued over 200 master tapes from Channel one studios that were damaged. He transferred the tapes onto a digital format and passed them onto Roberto. This provided Roberto a way to analyse drum, bass guitar and organ patterns individually. Roberto builds rhythms with an artist in mind. So, for guys like Linval Thompson and Willi Williams, the rhythms are ready before they voice the track. The artists have regularly commented on how they felt the song was just right for them and that’s how Roberto has constructed it. So this year we can expect new releases from the likes of Ansel ‘Meditations’ Gridland. Roberto is currently mixing tracks from Ansel. He is also working on a new album from The Cimarrons . There will be new tracks from Linval Thompson and Clive Matthews. Roberto loves his work and it shows in the production values that he brings to each release. We look forward to hearing more from the Lone Ark studio this coming year.