BECAUSE of their love for nature River-Michael’s parents named him based on the elements. He thus adapted their passion for open spaces and humanitarian causes subsequently and it is this passion which inspired the music on his EP Meditation.

Released last year, the independently produced project has four reggae-flavoured songs which River-Michael began writing shortly after moving to Atlanta in 2019.

In a recent interview with the Jamaica Observer he explained what drives his music.

“If there was a real way to refer to the music I an’ I produce, and roots-reggae in general, I think it would be anti-commercialism as the modern phase of commercialisation in our society has led to a ‘profit-over-people’ kind of mentality and oppression. The music is about love, unification and evolution. The music is about the message,” said River-Michael.

The aspiring lawyer/activist developed a fondness for reggae during his four-year-long service in the United States Army. Bob Marley, Steel Pulse, SOJA and Marcus Gad were among his early influences; he also tunes in to Kabaka Pyramid, Chronixx and Koffee.

Meditate and Let Go, Stand Up, Awareness (featuring Sunshine) and Read Between The Lies are the songs on Meditation. Their themes bear the messages River-Michael heard from his heroes who range from Marley the reggae rebel, the passive aggression of Martin Luther King Jr and the social awareness of union legend, Eugene V Debs.

It was important for him to blend their energies for his first recordings.

“I’ve always loved music, education and justice. These loves eventually led me to the raw political and spiritual rhythms of reggae and to the study of activism in the past,” said River-Michael. “I’m a few months from receiving a degree in political science and I think the best way to have a massive reach and be a real example of love is to own the message of love, unity, and evolution through reggae music and Rastafari.”