Belize-based artiste Ras Indio brings a message of hope through his songs, which he says honours the tenets of roots reggae.

“I am a Rastaman. A natural human being and not about the hype and excitement surrounding this musical world as, for I, music is life. It is as natural as the everyday life we live,” he said.

Born in Los Angeles to Belizean parents, he moved to Belize at age four.

“Musically, I was raised by my father and I began playing the drums at age seven and moved on to the keyboards at age 14. I was the official keyboard player of his Tribal Vibes Band for almost seven years until branching out on my own,” said Ras Indio, who performed at the Rocabessa Herbs and Music festival in Oracabessa, St Mary, last week.

His forthright message has earned him the Belizean Best Reggae Artist award two straight years (2006 and 2007). To date, he has released two albums — Jah Bless and One Of A Kind.

Jah Bless has collaborations with Turbulence, Lutan Fyah, Chezidek, and Luciano. Ras Indio recently worked with Pressure, Ginjah and Fantan Mojah.

He is promoting the songs Ras Indio wants to reach a wide audience working with diverse acts.“It’s not as easy for a roots reggae artiste to get attention as it is for these other local genres of music, but I along with a small few have been able to break barriers and change our musical world, along with a host of new upcoming artistes who have new sounds and styles, including hip hop and even Belizean rock bands,” he said.

He is promoting the songs Psalm 1 and Love Is The Way which feature Turbulence.

Ras Indio wants to reach a wide audience working with diverse acts.

“It’s not as easy for a roots reggae artiste to get attention as it is for these other local genres of music, but I along with a small few have been able to break barriers and change our musical world, along with a host of new upcoming artistes who have new sounds and styles, including hip hop and even Belizean rock bands,” he said.