The new Bronx Music Hall (BMH), which was previously known as the Bronx Music Heritage Center (BMHC), will host the New York City premiere screening of the acclaimed documentary “STUDIO 17: The Lost Reggae Tapes” on Feb. 1.
This event comes as preparation to kick off Reggae Month, celebrated in Jamaica every February.
In an interview with Caribbean Life, Reshma B. shared some details about her upbringing and the journey that led her to create the film. People who know her as a music journalist and filmmaker might be surprised to know that she has a chemistry degree. However, her love for music led her in a different direction.
She sees her mom as the earliest influence on her path as a filmmaker because she played Reggae all day, every day, in their house while growing up in West London. According to her, West London is a hub of Caribbean sound system culture, which was also a massive influence.
“I was exposed to reggae bands that were popular in London. People like Maxi Priest and UB40 were basically pop stars and played everywhere. That’s why I always say that Reggae is not a niche genre — it’s popular worldwide,” she said.
The film, which, according to Reshma B., actually took seven years to produce, is about the birth of Reggae music from the 1960s and 70s to today.
Discussing the concept behind creating the film, she stated, “For me, this feature film was a deep dive into the roots of the culture and artists who were legends before my time. We have original interviews by some of the greats who we’ve lost along the way, people like Lee “Scratch” Perry, Bunny Lee, Rico Rodriguez, and Lord Creator. The film tells the story of one man’s quest to salvage a treasure trove of session tapes that were almost lost until he found them in a legendary studio in downtown Kingston, Studio 17.”
Clive Chin accomplished this. He produced many great songs and has devoted himself to keeping this legacy for himself, his family, and the culture.
“As a female filmmaker and a woman of color, I am so grateful to everybody who has watched and supported this film and supports me and all my work. You never know who will enjoy your work, so of course, when the late great Quincy Jones watched Studio 17 and named it one of his favorite films, I was over the moon,” she added.
Feb. 1 will also be Dennis Brown’s birthday, and according to Reshma B., an unheard Dennis Brown song can only be heard in the film! She is also grateful to the Bronx Music Hall for setting up the event. “Studio 17 will be the first film to screen in their newly opened state-of-the-art theatre,” she stated.
Reshma B. wants everyone to feel empowered and encouraged by this film, just as she feels empowered and encouraged by continuing legacies.
“By watching this film, by talking about this film, we soak in the roots of a musical genre that has inspired and influenced people from all corners of the Earth. Reggae music is worldwide music, and there aren’t that many documentaries about this powerful culture, so shout out to the BBC, shout out to Widestream films, shout out to Iambic Dream, all of whom came together to help put this together and make it an acclaimed reggae movie,” she continued.
She encourages everybody to go out there and follow their dreams, saying, “If you wanna tell stories, tell them. If you wanna write them, write them. If you wanna sing them, sing them.”
“The film is about all of the people behind the scenes who created the phenomenon of reggae music, including the engineers, the producers, and the musicians,“ she explained, adding, “We spoke with some of the greatest guitarists and drummers who ever lived, people like Ernest Ranglin and Sly Dunbar, and I hope that hearing their stories inspires someone to pick up an instrument and create something the world has never heard before!”
The message she wants Black and Caribbean communities to understand when watching the film is that it is about the birth of Reggae music. However, it also touches on the economics of the Reggae music industry. “The music business is about music, but it’s also about business,“ she said.
For example, she shared the story about Lord Creator, the original writer and singer of the song “Kingston Town,“ which was re-recorded many years later by the British reggae-pop band UB40. “It wasn’t until UB40 registered the song under Lord Creator’s name that he began to get all his royalties, and he was able to take himself out of the streets, build a home for himself, and care for himself and his family for the future,“ she explained.
She shared the Lord Creator’s story to emphasize “how important it is to know about your value and worth and register your creation.“
In her daily life as a music journalist, Reshma B. covers the latest releases, produces and directs short music documentaries, and is always covering the latest news on Instagram @RGAT.
The evening will begin with a reception featuring DJ Madout and food from the Jamaican restaurant 2 Girls and a Cookshop. Following the film premiere, Reshma B. will participate in a discussion with Studio 17 recording artist Carl Malcolm and Sirius XM’s Pat McCay.
Tickets for the event, which are $15 for general admission, can be purchased here: https://ci.ovationtix.com/36821/production/1222219?performanceId=11561153
