This summer, the hearts and minds of the reggae-loving audience of the Rento Stage will be wooed by an artist from the exotic country of Germany. Gentleman, given name Tillman Otto, is one of the most popular reggae artists in Central Europe, and his achievements include hitting the Number One in the German charts with his album Confidence. Mr. Gentleman stopped mid-tour for a telephone interview and answered a number of questions by Ilosaarirock Festival with his thick Jamaican accent, a remnant from the several years spent on the Caribbean island.
Gentleman is a handsome name, but does it really testify to the good manners of its bearer? Gentleman himself cannot precisely remember how he got the name, as it has been with him for such a long time.
– It was a long, long time ago when was given the name Gentleman in Jamaica. I think it must have been about twenty years ago. I was in a bar and somebody on stage called me and wanted me to join the song. As I remember, he said something like “Gentleman, come sing with us!” And suddenly everyone started to call me by that name.
Certainly a name like that makes it easier to deal with people?
– No, I always try to treat others with respect in any case. And I try in general to be friendly to those around me – I believe that your attitude towards everyone should be relaxed and easy-going. I wasn’t given that name because of my character, but of course, it was my habit even back then to open the door to ladies and do things like that.
German reggae is not yet very well known in Finland. Gentleman himself does not want to categorise his music or even describe it in too precise terms.
– Reggae as a genre is so variable, and so are my own songs. My music is reggae, all right, but there are influences from dancehall, for example. Some of my songs are more like roots, others have dub influences, and sometimes there are elements from r’n’b and hiphop. But it’s really difficult to describe one’s own music. I’d rather leave such comments to my listeners. As for my lyrics, I consider myself to be a sort of witness of this time. I keep watching my surroundings and try to rework my observations into lyrics.
As is so often the case with roots reggae, Gentleman’s lyrics bear a heavy message.
– Every song is different. Therefore, you can’t say that every song conducts the same message, but I want to have an absolute responsibility for my lyrics and for the content of my message. People listen to this music very attentively, and it is a serious issue for me. You must not underestimate the power of words. Music is a very powerful tool and it has a strong influence. I’ve realised that if you can write songs with a powerful message and they go beyond being just entertainment, it’s possible to use music to convey a lot of beautiful things with the potential to empower and energise people. I for one have always listened to certain artists to feel that I’m not alone with my thoughts. It’s very comforting. So lyrics are really, really important to me. But of course you first need a melody. Unless you’ve got the right melody, even the deepest and most emotional lyrics will lose their importance, and no-one listens to what you’re trying to say.
Gentleman’s lyrics are often about religion, social conflicts and issues such as the state of the environment. Even if he finds it difficult to describe his own music, he’s got no problem in telling who his biggest influences are.
– Of course Bob Marley is my biggest inspiration. And also Peter Tosh, Jacob Miller, Garnet Silk, Dennis Brown, Luciano, Burning Spear, these roots artists. But also Ninjaman, Shabba Ranks, Sizzla, Buju Banton, Busy Signal and artists such as Jah Cure have influenced my music. There are so many great reggae bands and singers. But I like other kinds of music, too. When I was younger, I used to listen to punk rock and I really liked Sex Pistols and Dead Kennedys. R’n’b also works for me and I love Layrun Hill. Generally, I’m rather open to various genres.
Gentleman has sometimes been compared to Bob Marley, mainly because of his electrifying live shows. But the man himself does not like the comparison.
– No one can be compared to Bob Marley! It’s simply futile. Marley was a prophet who invented music, so to say. I can’t really understand why anybody would compare me to him. I’m not usually very enthusiastic about being compared to anyone anyway. Each one of us is an individual, and we’re all different. Indeed, we’re all part of a great complexity.
As Gentleman’s list of artists shows, the world is full of great reggae artists. However, most of them come from Jamaica. The reggae scene in Germany is not very well known elsewhere.
– I don’t really like the word ‘scene’ that much. But there is something going on in Germany, too. There are soundsystems there, producers and singers. So there is a solid foundation for reggae there. But it’s all rather underground. There are some artists who have made it to the top, such as Patrice and Seeed, but it doesn’t mean that reggae is very popular yet. The radio still plays Lady Gaga and not Peter Tosh. But I don’t think that reggae should get massive airplay anyway. It is a philosophy and an attitude more than anything else, and that counts more than chart positions.
Reggae is popular all over the world, and Gentleman’s got fans almost anywhere on the globe. Even so, it is difficult to compare the reggae audiences in different parts of the world.
– It’s difficult to say because each place has got its own vibes. In Kingston and New York, for example, people like the more hardcore variety of dancehall, and we don’t have that much audience there. On the other hand, if you succeed in these cities, it really feels great. South Africa, then, is a place where roots reggae is really popular. And in Eastern Europe, there is a great deal going on underground, and people have fresh energy and excitement because they suffered under the oppression for such a long time. It’s really inspiring time and again to take up the challenge of performing to different people. I’ve thrown one gig in Finland, too. It was in 2002 in some club – I can’t really remember much of that night, but we certainly jammed the night away then.
– I can call myself really lucky. I have the privilege of making music that even goes up the charts, and playing shows all over the world. I’m surrounded by really passionate musicians, and I’m really thankful for them. I need music, it’s like food or sleep to me. I have this necessity to be creative so that I can stay in balance with myself. It’s an attitude for life.
Gentleman tours with rather sizeable line-up. At the shows, he is accompanied by a saxophone, background singers and a couple of keyboardists in addition to the usual band instruments. You would imagine that touring with such a large team is challenging, but…
– Touring with my people is not troublesome at all. We’re all like one big family, and we know each others’ strengths and weaknesses really well. Because we travel a lot, it is important to accept peoples’ all sides, because that helps in keeping the chemistry right. It is really important to be yourself, because in this group there’s no room for any role-playing.
To round up the interview, Gentleman says hello to the Rento Stage crowd and gives instructions as to how to prepare yourself for the show.
– Don’t prepare yourself at all! I never believe in making up your mind in advance, because that prevents you from seizing the moment. I’m really glad to go to Finland again after such a long interval. I can’t wait for seeing the festival and the audience’s reactions. I’m certain that it’s going to be a fun day out!
This summer, the hearts and minds of the reggae-loving audience of the Rento Stage will be
wooed by an artist from the exotic country of Germany. Gentleman, given name Tillman
Otto, is one of the most popular reggae artists in Central Europe, and his achievements
include hitting the Number One in the German charts with his album Confidence. Mr.
Gentleman stopped mid-tour for a telephone interview and answered a number of questions
by Ilosaarirock Festival with his thick Jamaican accent, a remnant from the several years
spent on the Caribbean island.
Gentleman is a handsome name, but does it really testify to the good manners of its bearer? Gentleman
himself cannot precisely remember how he got the name, as it has been with him for such a long time.
– It was a long, long time ago when was given the name Gentleman in Jamaica. I think it must have
been about twenty years ago. I was in a bar and somebody on stage called me and wanted me to join
the song. As I remember, he said something like “Gentleman, come sing with us!” And suddenly
everyone started to call me by that name.
Certainly a name like that makes it easier to deal with people?
– No, I always try to treat others with respect in any case. And I try in general to be friendly to those
around me – I believe that your attitude towards everyone should be relaxed and easy-going. I wasn’t
given that name because of my character, but of course, it was my habit even back then to open the
door to ladies and do things like that.
German reggae is not yet very well known in Finland. Gentleman himself does not want to categorise
his music or even describe it in too precise terms.
– Reggae as a genre is so variable, and so are my own songs. My music is reggae, all right, but there
are influences from dancehall, for example. Some of my songs are more like roots, others have dub
influences, and sometimes there are elements from r’n’b and hiphop. But it’s really difficult to describe
one’s own music. I’d rather leave such comments to my listeners. As for my lyrics, I consider myself
to be a sort of witness of this time. I keep watching my surroundings and try to rework my observations
into lyrics.
As is so often the case with roots reggae, Gentleman’s lyrics bear a heavy message.
– Every song is different. Therefore, you can’t say that every song conducts the same message, but I
want to have an absolute responsibility for my lyrics and for the content of my message. People listen
to this music very attentively, and it is a serious issue for me. You must not underestimate the power
of words. Music is a very powerful tool and it has a strong influence. I’ve realised that if you can write
songs with a powerful message and they go beyond being just entertainment, it’s possible to use music
to convey a lot of beautiful things with the potential to empower and energise people. I for one have
always listened to certain artists to feel that I’m not alone with my thoughts. It’s very comforting. So
lyrics are really, really important to me. But of course you first need a melody. Unless you’ve got the
right melody, even the deepest and most emotional lyrics will lose their importance, and no-one listens
to what you’re trying to say.
Gentleman’s lyrics are often about religion, social conflicts and issues such as the state of the
environment. Even if he finds it difficult to describe his own music, he’s got no problem in telling who
his biggest influences are.
– Of course Bob Marley is my biggest inspiration. And also Peter Tosh, Jacob Miller, Garnet Silk,
Dennis Brown, Luciano, Burning Spear, these roots artists. But also Ninjaman, Shabba Ranks,
Sizzla, Buju Banton, Busy Signal and artists such as Jah Cure have influenced my music. There are
so many great reggae bands and singers. But I like other kinds of music, too. When I was younger, I
used to listen to punk rock and I really liked Sex Pistols and Dead Kennedys. R’n’b also works for me
and I love Layrun Hill. Generally, I’m rather open to various genres.
Gentleman has sometimes been compared to Bob Marley, mainly because of his electrifying live
shows. But the man himself does not like the comparison.
– No one can be compared to Bob Marley! It’s simply futile. Marley was a prophet who invented
music, so to say. I can’t really understand why anybody would compare me to him. I’m not usually
very enthusiastic about being compared to anyone anyway. Each one of us is an individual, and we’re
all different. Indeed, we’re all part of a great complexity.
As Gentleman’s list of artists shows, the world is full of great reggae artists. However, most of them
come from Jamaica. The reggae scene in Germany is not very well known elsewhere.
– I don’t really like the word ‘scene’ that much. But there is something going on in Germany, too.
There are soundsystems there, producers and singers. So there is a solid foundation for reggae there.
But it’s all rather underground. There are some artists who have made it to the top, such as Patrice and
Seeed, but it doesn’t mean that reggae is very popular yet. The radio still plays Lady Gaga and not
Peter Tosh. But I don’t think that reggae should get massive airplay anyway. It is a philosophy and an
attitude more than anything else, and that counts more than chart positions.
Reggae is popular all over the world, and Gentleman’s got fans almost anywhere on the globe. Even so,
it is difficult to compare the reggae audiences in different parts of the world.
– It’s difficult to say because each place has got its own vibes. In Kingston and New York, for
example, people like the more hardcore variety of dancehall, and we don’t have that much audience
there. On the other hand, if you succeed in these cities, it really feels great. South Africa, then, is
a place where roots reggae is really popular. And in Eastern Europe, there is a great deal going on
underground, and people have fresh energy and excitement because they suffered under the oppression
for such a long time. It’s really inspiring time and again to take up the challenge of performing to
different people. I’ve thrown one gig in Finland, too. It was in 2002 in some club – I can’t really
remember much of that night, but we certainly jammed the night away then.
– I can call myself really lucky. I have the privilege of making music that even goes up the charts,
and playing shows all over the world. I’m surrounded by really passionate musicians, and I’m really
thankful for them. I need music, it’s like food or sleep to me. I have this necessity to be creative so that
I can stay in balance with myself. It’s an attitude for life.
Gentleman tours with rather sizeable line-up. At the shows, he is accompanied by a saxophone,
background singers and a couple of keyboardists in addition to the usual band instruments. You would
imagine that touring with such a large team is challenging, but…
– Touring with my people is not troublesome at all. We’re all like one big family, and we know each
others’ strengths and weaknesses really well. Because we travel a lot, it is important to accept peoples’
all sides, because that helps in keeping the chemistry right. It is really important to be yourself, because
in this group there’s no room for any role-playing.
To round up the interview, Gentleman says hello to the Rento Stage crowd and gives instructions as to
how to prepare yourself for the show.
– Don’t prepare yourself at all! I never believe in making up your mind in advance, because that
prevents you from seizing the moment. I’m really glad to go to Finland again after such a long interval.
I can’t wait for seeing the festival and the audience’s reactions. I’m certain that it’s going to be a fun
day out!
