The Legend Lives On: An Interview with The Wailers

Prior to his tragic passing in 1981, Bob Marley humbly, said: "People want to listen to a message, word from Jah. This could be passed through me, or anybody. I am not a leader. Just a messenger. The words of the songs, not the person, is what attracts people." Since that fateful day in '81, The Wailers have carried their torch of peace, love, and unity throughout the world, with an unyielding determination to reach people from all different backgrounds with Bob's words, The Wailers' rhythms, and His Majesty Haile Selassie I's spirit – the message of Rastafari...

Palestine, Banksy, and the Core Principles of Raving: An Interview with Fatboy Slim

“Is it my third time in Malta?” laughs Fatboy Slim, as he struggles to remember the specifics of his 2012 open-air show at Numero Uno. “Man, I can’t really remember my second time that well! The thing is, I’ve been doing this for about 35 years now. You tend to only remember the really good ones, and the really bad ones.” The air was thick, sweaty and unforgiving outside of Café del Mar’s green room...

Dundalk's Bob Dylan: An Interview with David Keenan

“There’s a muse on every street corner, flipping a coin,” David Keenan said, greeting me at sound check in New York’s Irish Arts Center. In a few hours he was taking the historic stage to kick off his first solo tour in a city “overrun by a hyperactive hum,” in a room “full of ghosts lingering in the woodwork of the walls.”It’s the infinitely surprising indie singer-songwriter’s second trip to New York in six months, and the inspirational impact the city’s made on Ireland’s latest gift to the world of folk-music and poetry was made instantly and abundantly clear...

The Godfather of Italian Blues: An Interview with Zucchero Fornaciari

Zucchero Fornaciari, the proud father of Italian Blues, sat down with Lovin Malta ahead of his sold-out show at the MFCC in Ta 'Qali Saturday night. We discussed Zucchero's current - and most ambitious - “Black Cat” world tour, as well as exciting and inspiring collaborations on his latest and correspondingly-titled 2016 album “Black Cat”, and how Otis Redding’s “Sitting By the Dock of the Bay” first seduced him into a life-long love affair with the Blues...

Musical Medicine: An Interview with Nahko

They’re shamans of self-awareness; gurus of forgiveness; masters of mindful meditations – and fans are pilgrimaging across Europe for a glimpse of their rarely shared stage. Over the past decade, indie-world musicians Nahko and Trevor Hall have independently conquered the American festival circuit, absorbing fans into their respective moveable feasts of spiritual transcendence along the way. Now, they’ve combined forces, like a conglomerate of consciousness spreading their message of...

Jah In Every Moment: An Afternoon with Nicky Bomba

A tattoo with the letters “JIEM” sits proudly on Nicky Bomba’s right shoulder. It’s slightly worn from the relentless Australian and Maltese sun, and perhaps also from years of rapid drum and guitar solos with bands like The John Butler Trio, The Melbourne Ska Orchestra, Bustamento, and Bomba. However, the constant philosophical reminder that the ink serves seems to have played an abstract hand. “Jah In Every Moment” Nicky explains during his lunch interview with Lovin Malta. “Similar to Carpe Diem, but for the moment. Life – it’s all about embracing those moments...

Immortalizing Home: An Interview with Director Jon Cassar

When most people head for the Hollywood hills, they never look back. But just the opposite is true for Malta’s very own Hollywood star Jon Cassar. Despite a successful 35-year career in film and television, his eyes are set on the shores of Malta - and he has some exciting plans to share.  The multi-award winning film and television director/producer, who gave the world the international smash hit series 24, returned to "the rock" this week with dreams of immortalizing Malta’s intricate history on the silver screen...

The Tuatara Lives in Malta: An Interview with ManaTapu

Nestled in the back streets of Birkirkara sits an unassuming tower, dripping with potential; a once derelict car garage, repurposed as a rehearsal complex for Malta’s up-and-coming artists, pulsates in the heart of the island. With every damp and echoing step up the dark and almost dungeon-y stairwell, a new tune can be heard spilling from various makeshift, soundproofed doors where ghosts of automobiles linger in their carports of yesteryear...

The Secret Life of Malta’s Dubliner: An Interview with Cillian Foster

Cillian Foster isn’t merely the familiar face slinging the best pints of Guinness in Malta to thirsty customers from behind the pine of Spinola Bay’s beloved Dubliner Pub. He’s an artist brimming with ability, embracing a temporary hiatus from the chaos and demand of Dublin’s music scene while soaking up inspiration on Malta’s sunny shores until his next project takes flight...