Exco Levi takes it ‘Easy Now’ with Julian Marley and King Cruff

Six-time Juno Award winner, Exco Levi, makes no secret of the fact that Reggae King Bob Marley is number one on his personal list of favourite artistes. Therefore, when the stars aligned, making it possible for him to do a collaboration with not one but two generations of Marley, he was beyond elated.

“This is my first time collaborating with any of Bob Marley’s children or grandchildren and it’s an honour for me. My favourite artiste of all time is Bob Marley. I will cherish this opportunity for ever,” an exuberant Exco Levi told The Gleaner of the collab with him, Julian Marley and King Cruff, titled Easy Now.

Recorded in Canada and the US, the track, which was produced by Kheilstone Records, was released on all platforms on May 22.  

Sharing the story behind the song, the Jamaican-Canadian singer explained that Kheilstone, who is a Grammy-nominated producer from the US, sent him the beat and the idea of the song.

“Then Crawba Genius, a well-known producer in Jamaica, who works closely with Julian, came to Canada, heard the song, and introduced it to Julian. I recorded my vocals at home in my studio, King Cruff recorded his part in London, Ontario, Julian did his recording in Miami. We actually sent the song out to King Cruff first, he took a time to return vocals and then we happened to get Julian, we just combined every one,” he shared.

In Easy Now, the hard-working Exco Levi is pausing and offering some advice, not just to others, but also to himself. The musician is sending the message that “life moves fast, but sometimes you have to slow down and take it easy now”.

“The message of this song is basically telling yourself and the world that, regardless of what you may be going through, find some time to go easy with yourself,” Exco Levi elaborated.  

Born in Manchester, Wayne Levy moved to Canada in 2005, and started his recording career two years later, releasing the single, O Canada. Upon being introduced to Penthouse Studios’ owner, producer Donovan Germain, they started began working together and one of the tracks they recorded, Bleaching Shop, won the Juno Award for Reggae Recording of the Year in 2012. That would kickstart a journey which would eventually lead him to receive numerous accolades.

In 2016, Exco Levi was inducted into the Brampton Arts Walk of Fame, and the following year he won a fifth Juno Award for his reggae song Siren. In 2019, he was nominated for a Juno Award for the seventh time in eight years for Narrative, an album which was produced by Silly Walks from Germany. He received his ninth Juno Award nomination in 2022, for the song By Any Means.

Exco Levi is grateful and happy for what he has accomplished so far, and for the many persons who helped him through the various stages of his journey. While singing and performing remain his first love, and he has a freestyle titled Oh Jamaica, on the popular Hill and Gully riddim, he is currently absorbed with the production side of the music.

“Right now, I am in a different place with music. I am putting out more of my personal stuff that I’ve done in my studio. I have been recording myself for 20 years and, during the COVID period, I went to Abstract Music and achieved my certification in music production,” he said.

 Always integral to the reggae scene is Canada, Exco Levi described it as “vibrant”.

“You can experience the music and the vibration in Toronto especially … and people all over Canada love reggae. Right now, we are awaiting Kaya Fest in August where we will be watching the Marley brothers perform this summer here in Canada,” he said.

Kaya Fest is a global music festival founded by Stephen Marley. 

yasmine.peru@gleanerjm.com

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Exco Levi and Julian Marley at Tuff Gong.

Exco Levi Contributed photos