"This is my mission field. Artists that we sign"

Christafari’s latest release, “Gravity,” starts pulling you in after a few spins on the CD player. For Mark Mohr, this recording project signals a new spin on the band and the man behind Lion of Zion Entertainment.

In the next page or so, I am presenting to you my conversation between Lion of Zion president/producer Mark Mohr in Los Angeles, CA and myself in Waterloo, Iowa.

For 45 minutes, we talked about the new Christafari release, “Gravity;" the many changes with the band; personal and spiritual changes with Mark; and the challenges facing the small Christian reggae label Lion of Zion. Our conversation also brought out some detail on the tremendous talent appearing on the “Gravity” release; in particular, the Blackman family of Trinidad.

We begin this article in slumber, “Because sleep is so nice me no want to get up” – to quote Mark from one of his own songs. As you could guess Mark was napping when I first call at 10 PM Iowa time. I call back an hour later and this time Mark is awake and ready to talk.

Matthew Hundley: The last time we spoke you had told me that “Word, Sound, Power” was such an achievement that it would be hard for you to do another album. For you, how does this album fair in the light of “Word, Sound, Power?”

Mark Mohr: It’s really not fair to compare the two. The critics have been more favorable of Gravity. But they are completely different fruits…more like meat compared to fruit.

MH: Your vocals come more into light on this album than previous releases.

MM: This is really the first album where I take the helm on my own. It forced me to focus and really step up. In the past, I relied on someone else.

MH: How are sales?

MM: I couldn’t think of a worse year to release an album. More people are burning CDs. It’s cool for young artists, but sales are 1/3 of what they should be. And it’s due to the illegal trading of music. It’s just not cool. Legally, it’s the same as someone stealing from my house. If someone can’t afford the new CD I would gladly give them a copy – but please don’t pirate our music.

(Note: The whole MP3 and CD burning phenomenon is one of great concern for this struggling label whose audience is already made up of a limited niche. Aside from the MP3 commentary there were some very good things happening for Christafari.)

MH: The album is charting, which is fantastic. How far up have you gone with this?

MM: We’ve hit number 10 on Billboard's Top Reggae Albums Chart.

MH: That is huge for a Christian reggae act on their own label. On the subject of Christian Reggae, I had to confirm a rumor I’d heard about the new CD. No more Jah?

MM: No “Jah” references. It was definitely a challenge. Part of this is getting away from being a Christafari cover band; same with the word “Babylon.” It was a format that I was getting used to and I kept coming back to, “Am I going to be a Christafari cover band?” It’s like the Wailers – having someone other than Bob trying to be Bob. I don’t want to be like that. It’s been done before and I’m not going to do it again. What’s the purpose of me imitating (what we’ve already done.) I gotta be original.

MH: On Gravity we find a new influence on your songs through the presence of the Blackman Family. Tell me a bit about them.

MM: Their father, Ras Shorty I, invented Soca and Jamoo. (Listen to Track 14 on Gravity, “Kingdoms in Conflict” for a sample of this Caribbean Gospel sound.) Up until now. this was only a style performed by the Blackmans.

MH: So how did the relationship with the Blackman family come about?

MM: I was teaching a music seminar in Trinidad and at the last minute was introduced to them. After hearing them perform, I was taken by their amazing voices.

MH: So you went to Trinidad to record with them?

MM: I worked with Isaac on the demo-ing process.

MH: The cover of Gravity lists Mark Mohr and Christafari as the artist. Who or what is Christafari these days?

MM: Christafari has changed so much. People say, “Didn’t they this…didn’t they that…” I like to think of the Christafari project as a revolving ministry with a leader…like a missions team…not necessarily consistent in its line-up or leadership.

MH: So, what about the leader?

MM: Now I’m focusing on Mark Mohr. Not Tansoback. I’m hoping this will also help my career as a producer. You know reggae is just too small. We can barely get enough shows. As Mark Mohr, the industry can identify better – get to know this person.

MH: And the back up band becomes Christafari.

MM: For a while it was “Christafari and the Soulfire Crew.” I was Christafari - but I’m not Christafari anymore. And the band is no longer the Soulfire Crew.

MH: Is there any chance of seeing a Mark Mohr CD.

MM: No. I’m going to stick to the Christafari project.

MH: Never say never…

MM: If I were ever to do a Mark Mohr album, it would have to be totally different from the Christafari sound, maybe a straight dancehall album, or a world/dub/jungle/ragga project. But I don't have the desire to start with a new name a push a solo project right now, I want to help other artists. I hope to have the opportunity to take other artists on the road. There is a certain credibility that Christafari brings. Right now my focus is on producing other talents.

MH: How is producing going?

MM: It’s the best paying thing I’ve got going. This is really what I absolutely love to do. Before I never really realized how much I love that. I love the creative aspect of it. I’d much rather produce than reproduce, which is what you’re doing live. We’ve always struggled with the audience factor. I refuse to be a Christafari cover band.

MH: Anything rolling in the studio right now?

MM: I’m working on a dub version of Gravity. There are lots of new songs. I basically stripped down all of the non-reggae songs and replaced them with reggae tracks. My friends know there’s a certain sound I listen to; a certain sound I want to create. This album will be more me; more who I am. We’re calling it GRAVITATIONAL DUB. It’s cool with the dub because I get to produce myself and be objective. I think I do a good job producing myself. Not until the album is done can I sit back and hit delete—delete-delete and then strip away and add new files, it’s fun. I am also producing other artists like 'Imisi and Gernado.

MH: You referred to a “certain sound” you like to listen to. What’s been in your CD player lately?

MM: I haven’t been listening to reggae but lots of Indian music and Zap Mama. With reggae I’m just not hearing anything new. Even the biggest bands are regurging their own material. There’s a tough market for that. It’s a labor of love but it doesn’t pay off. That’s the toughest thing; is that the music has to be palatable.

MH: How are things with your record label Lion of Zion?

MM: We’re always on the verge of saying "do we continue or not?" We often weigh the battle for success – is it strictly spiritual or financial. Really, when it comes to living expenses it has to be monetarily.

MH: Lion of Zion has done a great job getting Christian reggae and African music out there. Where are their voids in World Christian music?

MM: The biggest void is Middle Eastern and Indian tones. Those who are trying to create Christian music for this marketing are creating music that is too churchy. Music is the only item in the world that doesn’t taste better with cheese on it.

MH: The World Christian music that Lion of Zion and others are producing should be developed as a tool for our missionaries.

MM: I feel that with missions. We’ve had this attitude of regions rather than people groups. We think let’s go to this country – rather then let’s reach this specific demo group within this people group. Music is the common language. The styles of music are the language. It’s like that with all these different genres of music. There are so many genres that aren’t being used for Christ.

MH: Unfortunately rather than trying to produce indigenous music, the CCM industry is sending our hottest American talents via CD and cassette to the missions front lines.

MM: That’s called playing it safe. This is not who I would choose to embody Christ in foreign regions. It’s not just the industry, but the church is allergic to is change.

MH: At one point you were active in missions in Jamaica. Recently you were working in Trinidad. Where is your mission field these days?

MM: This is my mission field. The artists that we sign I work with, we mentor, teaching music seminars. You need to ask, “How to apply your faith to what you’re doing?” When God gave me the studio he gave it to me to be used in His glory.

MH: Are you doing much teaching or ministry work these days?

MM: The “Fourteen Days of Gravity” release is really teachings under the guise of music. In concert we will issue a challenge for prodigal sons and we still do alter calls. Not so much shepherding. I shepherd a flock of 8 people in this band.

We closed out our conversation talking about some of the other changes with the band: a publicity firm, new booking agents, details on musicians rounding out the CD line-up and a book Mark is working on. Watch for Mark Mohr and Christafari as they tour the nation later this year.

Buy a copy of “Gravity” if you haven’t already and look forward to the dub version as well as future conversations with Mark Mohr.

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