by Marcella Ortega
Daily Lobo
Ziggy Marley spent years trying to find God, but when a Catholic woman asked Marley his religion, the answer came to him in a split second - love.
Marley, son of legendary musician Bob Marley, said at that moment he came to the realization that love was his religion and nothing else. Marley expresses his new belief in his latest album Love is My Religion, which was released in May.
"It was a big thing in my life to say those words and acknowledge that," Marley said.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
Marley will be performing with Ozomatli, MuzikMafia and his brother Stephen Marley at Journal Pavilion on Aug. 18 as part of the Bob Marley Roots, Rock, Reggae Festival.
Marley created Love is My Religion while traveling the world.
"Usually I write songs anywhere I can start," Marley said. "During the time period for many years, I've been all over the place, and I keep writing songs."
Marley said his religion is a higher form of spirituality rather than an organized set of rules.
"To me the religions that exist now are religions that separate the human family that are children of God," Marley said. "It is doing the opposite of what God would want, which is to bring people together to finally understand that love is my religion. We don't need any other religion but love."
Marley said the first step in his religious philosophy came from views his father taught him.
"What he had learned, I was learning from him in the beginning of my life," Marley said. "Now I have evolved that philosophy into this, which is love. It's all about respecting my roots, never denying it or belittling it in any way."
Marley presents his message of love in songs like "Friend" and "Beach in Hawaii." In the track "Keep on Dreaming," he displays his level of spirituality with the idea of contacting his father through dreams.
"A part of it is communicating on the next level - that way is through dreams," Marley said. "We can have a relationship in that other world - in that higher subconscious world. In our culture, dreams are not looked upon lightly. It is reality that exists. We do that with our father. It's not a big deal. It's just that people need to be more open-minded to get there."
Marley said it has taken him 37 years to develop into an artist. With that, he has put aside labeling his art.
"I leave the judgment of that to people - the press and the intellects and the people who think they know everything there is to know about reggae," Marley said. "I call it music, and that's all I call it."
