Collie Buddz, a true legend of our time with a legacy that will endure for years to come, has left an indelible mark on the world. His remarkable journey has taken him to all seven continents, captivating audiences from various demographics with his genuine and humble self, crafting magical experiences wherever he appears. Born in New Orleans but raised in Bermuda, he further honed his craft while attending Full Sail University in Orlando, Florida. Collie Buddz’s talent, coupled with his unyielding determination and intellect, propelled him to the zenith of his career. His inspirational transformation from a young boy to a man has seen him traverse the globe with a sincere mission to spread positivity in a world that desperately needs it.
Recently, Collie Buddz, the illustrious reggae artist hailing from Bermuda, and a true trailblazer in the industry, unveiled his highly anticipated fourth studio album, Take It Easy, on September 29th. This exceptional collection of tracks represents Collie Buddz at the pinnacle of his creative prowess, seamlessly weaving together elements of reggae, dancehall, and hip-hop to craft an enthralling musical journey.
Take It Easy showcases a brilliant fusion of infectious rhythms, thought-provoking lyrics, and Collie Buddz’s signature velvety vocals. Every track on this 12-song project has been meticulously crafted, promising listeners an exhilarating sonic voyage that showcases the evolution and maturation of one of contemporary reggae’s most innovative voices. The album boasts an impressive roster of collaborators, including the likes of Bounty Killer, B-Real (Cypress Hill), Demarco, Danny Towers, and Keznamdi.
Most of the songs on Take It Easy are produced by Collie Buddz himself, working in harmony with his trusted collaborator, Jason “J-Vibe” Farmer, and the support of his globally acclaimed band. This hands-on approach to production ensures that each track is imbued with Collie Buddz’s distinct vision and creative spirit. Notable contributions also come from producers like Bobby Konders of Massive B (Twisted Agenda) and Fatbabs (Mr. Wicked). The result is an album that is both cohesive and sonically rich, underscoring Collie Buddz’s evolution as an artist and his unwavering dedication to delivering exceptional music.
As the release of the album approached, Collie Buddz shared his excitement, stating, “I feel blessed to continue my musical journey. I poured my heart and soul into this project, and I’m thrilled to finally share it. I especially love how the album was crafted through multiple writing and recording sessions around the world with some of my favorite people. Take It Easy is a celebration of life, love, and the power of music to unite us all. I hope it brings joy and positive vibes to everyone who listens.”
Collie Buddz is renowned for his ability to create music that resonates with audiences across the globe. Take It Easy represents the culmination of Collie Buddz’s artistic growth and serves as a testament to his unwavering commitment to crafting music that inspires, uplifts, and unites people from all walks of life.
Thank you for taking the time to sit down with Top Shelf Music today!
Let us start out with where you were from and what it was like growing up! I heard you were born in New Orleans and grew up in Bermuda?
- Thanks for having me! Appreciate you guys always supporting me and my music. Yeah, that’s correct I was born in New Orleans (whoo dat) but moms moved me to Bermuda, where she is from, when I was four-years-old. I have great memories of growing up in Bermy. It’s a very special place a must visit for anyone who has not been.
When was your first memory of music?
- Hard to pinpoint my actual first-ever memory of music. Feels like I have always loved it and as I got older, I just got more and more into it. I do remember when I was about 12-years-old, I would plug headphones into the microphone jack of a tape deck. I’d sing into one of the earpieces and record it on cassette. My older brother Smokey is the one who introduced me to reggae music and really got me into it. Ever since then, I’ve been a student of the game.
You also followed your passion for music, you also attended Full Sail in Orlando, Florida! Did this help you build and develop your musical talents?
- Yes, for sure it did. Full Sail was some of the best times of my life. I studied and developed my passion for mixing and producing. I have always been a studio rat and those years really helped accelerate my technical knowledge and reaffirmed how much I enjoyed learning how to make something sound quality.
Did you see all this coming, becoming one of the biggest reggae talents in the world? Is it sometimes still surreal to you?
- I can’t say that I saw it coming. Honestly, I never even planned on becoming an artist but was much more into producing and mixing. It’s still surreal for me ALL the time. For many reasons but mainly because I get to do what I love as my job! Most people don’t get to pursue their passions and I feel blessed and fulfilled to be able to make music at the highest level.
What is your favorite city/venue to perform in?
- Trick question, eh?! haha. impossible to pick one city or venue as my favorite. Each city/venue is unique. I love the small/ mid-size venues that are more intimate. I really feed off the energy from the crowd and so having them up close & personal just makes for a better show.
Is there a bucket list in music; something you have not done yet that you aspire to accomplish?
- Yeah, there is a lot I want to accomplish but really my goal is to make quality music & timeless records. I want to keep learning and improving but my main aspiration is to continue to have creative freedom while taking care of my family while making music for as long as possible.
I heard you get slices of pizza for your fans and have them also sing on stage sometimes with you. Your fans love the interaction and so do I! You really do love what you do and love your fans!
- HAHA! If by slices of pizza you mean 1,000 pizzas (10,000 slices) we pass out to the crowd at Cali Roots Festival then yes. The live experience is so important to me. I want to make sure that everyone who spends their hard earn money to come out and see me perform has a memorable experience. Some things like the pizza are pre-planned but I’m just vibing a lot of the time and if I see you rockin’ out, yeah, I might pull you up on stage. I really love interacting and engaging with the crowd. It’s still a trip to see people sing my lyrics and I’m grateful to my fans for the endless support they give me.
Any crazy tour/ghost stories?
- no comment, HAHA!
Any favorite series on Netflix or Prime, or do you have time to watch movies?
- Generally, I don’t have much time to watch but obviously, I fly a lot and that is when I get to dive in and binge on some series. Peaky Blinders, Topboy so many good ones out there. If you have any recommendations let me know!
On the Cali Roots Riddim Project, you collaborated with so many talented artists along with Ineffable Records! What year did this all come to fruition, and what inspired this? Was this a lengthy process and are you doing this every year?
- I love doing the Cali Roots Riddim projects think we started doing this in 2020. Producing music is something I have always been into & it gives me a chance to wear a different hat. We now have three full riddim compilations with artists from all over the world. Part of the inspiration was to introduce the U.S. crowd to the riddim culture and to really bring together all the different reggae niches that exist globally. It’s for sure a process but I’m blown away by the songs everyone has created and plan to keep doing these projects moving forward.
On your tour this summer, the Take It Easy Tour, how is it going? You have been all over! How long do you plan for this tour? Can we get a glimpse of the future?
- The summer tour was great. We bounced around in Europe and the States hitting so of my favorite venues and festivals. The biggest thing for me coming up is the release of my fourth studio album Take It Easy dropping worldwide on September 29th! Worked on this one for a few years now and am excited to share it with the world.
On a personal level, is it hard to leave your family during a tour? Do you all chat and have Zoom sessions to keep it all together?
- Man, this is probably one of the hardest things for me. My family sacrifices and supports me the most for me to be able to pursue my dreams. It gets harder as the kids get older, missing out on special occasions but also just regular shit like making breakfast. My wife (Zarah) is the boss she does an AMAZING job of holding it down for us and if it wasn’t for her none of this would be possible. We, of course, stay in touch the entire time and they come out to a lot of shows and visit me as much as possible. Family is the most important thing for me and I’m so grateful to them for believing in me and supporting me.
What do you say to those who want to do what they love and make a career at it?
- I say if you really want to have a long-lasting career that doesn’t burn you up and leave you jaded you absolutely must find what you love and make a career out of it. A lot of people never figure out what it is they love and sometimes life obstacles make pursuing what you love as a career impossible. But if you have the chance to do so you gotta take that opportunity. It’s never too late and don’t feel like you must do it all at once. Working a “regular” job to make ends meet while doing what you love is the smart way to go especially once you have a family. But yeah you only got one life to live!!
Collie Buddz’ latest album is available on all streaming platforms and make sure to grab tickets to the upcoming tour — maybe you’ll snag yourself a slice of pizza.
Artist Links: Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
Share this article
or
Get music updates in your inbox