Reggae has of course since decades gone international and widened its fan base, but I have known individually quite different reggae fans within the Netherlands. Black and white (and Asian, or mixed etc.). Males and females. Old and young. Some with little education, some highly educated. Of different class backgrounds. Some combine liking reggae quite equally with other genres (e.g.: some with African, funk, soul, some with hip-hop, some even with non-black music genres), while others on the other hand adhere almost “strictly” to reggae music, and do not get into much else. Some like roots reggae more than dancehall or vice versa. There are even reggae fans – believe it or not - who do not smoke the “ganja herb”.
Furthermore, some have an interest or sympathy for the related subject of Rastafari, some do not, or even despise it. The latter, despise, I find somewhat odd since Rastafari is not the same as reggae, but is nonetheless connected to it.
These differences (and similarities) between and among reggae fans/lovers intrigue me, also in relation to personal backgrounds. That’s the reason why I would like to interview specific individuals who love reggae.
Before this I have interviewed 11 persons – reggae lovers I know, “breddas” (meaning “brothers”, or "friends" in Jamaican parlance) of mine – here in the Netherlands.
I started the series on this blog with a post of June 2012, when I interviewed Abenet. In April of 2013 I interviewed Bill. After this I interviewed Manjah Fyah, in May 2014. For my blog post of August 2015, I interviewed, somewhat more extensively, (DJ) Rowstone (Rowald). In August 2016, then, I interviewed Vega Selecta. In October 2017, I interviewed DJ Ewa. Then, for my post of September 2018, I interviewed for the first time a woman, namely Empress Messenjah or Empress Donna Lee. In August 2019 I interviewed another woman, namely Sound Cista. For my blog post of September 2020 I interviewed another Reggae-loving woman, French but living in the Netherlands, Selectress Aur'El. For my blog post of September 2021 I interviewed again a "bloke" (fun way to say" "man") selecta Hobbol Backawall.
MYSTIC TAMMY
This time, I interview a woman again, namely a female selecta/selectress (deejay) residing in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, called Mystic Tammy. Besides selecta, she is also a Reggae-oriented radio host for Razo (a local Amsterdam SE station), under the title Mystic Royal Selections. She is known as Mystic Tammy, and her real name is Tamara Wijngaarde.
I personally know her from the Reggae scene since around 2012, as Reggae selecta in some Reggae-minded clubs, or concert venues, in Amsterdam and around, such as Café the Zen, or at other events and locations in the country. I tended to like her selections. I noticed how she made quite a name for herself, also as a radio host for Razo Amsterdam (https://razoamsterdam.nl/), interviewing many local artists, and also several internationally known (Jamaican) Reggae artists like Bushman, by phone live during broadcast. Lately, her show was Sundays starting at 15:00 CET, meaning that it was (6 hours earlier) in Jamaica, often in the morning, but I remember nice and informative interviews with Bushman, Nature Ellis, and many other well-known artists on her show, as well as with local, Netherlands-based artists, like Samora and Zed I, in the studio. Her (after all: online) show seems to have an international audience.
Kind of true to her "nickname" or "moniker" Mystic, I did not know that much more of her, though on occasion she spoke quite openly with me. Still some mysteries about Tammy are left to unfold, also for me, haha. That's why I asked her the questions underneath, as she responded them, also in person with me in an open conversation. We met among other things in the Reggae-minded (duh!) bar named Jamaica Lounge in Amsterdam (West).
(Photo above: me (L.) with Mystic Tammy)
QUESTIONS
Where were you born, and did you grow up?
In Suriname, born in 1975. Grew up in the Netherlands, from around my 4th year. Lived in different places in the Netherlands: a.o. Lelystad, Groningen, Purmerend, the South, before now (last 10 years) in Amsterdam..
In Groningen (North Netherlands) I lived around 17 years.
Since what age did/do you listen Reggae music?
I first heard Reggae as a child, because my father had quite some records, incl. some Lovers Rock Reggae.. He gave me a cassette of Prince and UB40, which was played at my house, incl. Dennis Brown, Peter Tosh, Bob Marley at times.. More often as genre I heard the Surinamese genre Kaseko, growing up.
At home also a lot of Gospel, as my parents were active Christians for the Evangelische Broeder Gemeente - EBG - (Moravian Brethren), a Protestant Church (of German origin) historically adhered to among Creoles in Surinam, and they were quite religious. So Gospel, and other Black music too, like Soul, Motown.. Further, even some Dutch "crooners" like André Hazes were played, haha.. So quite varied.. With that music I grew up.
When I was grounded as punishment to my room at home, I listened also secretly to alternative “pirate” radio stations..
As I got older, I also started listening to House music more. For some reason I chose that.. I don’t even feel any shame for it, haha.
Alongside this, though, Reggae, I always kept in mind, as I appreciated the messages in Reggae, and the “tranquility” it somehow gave me. It always stayed with me, even during that House period.
As I was a teenager, Early Dancehall (Reggae) was in vogue, and I chose to listen that too: Shabba Ranks and others, such as that found on those Strictly The Best compilation albums, my father had. I encountered that in my high school period: I started smoking weed then too, so that Reggae was connected to it.
What attracted you to Reggae then?
As said, the messages, and tranquility I found in Reggae.. Life lessons too, as girl/young woman growing up.
More or less from my 23th year of age, I got more into Reggae, after an uncle of my gave – or left - me a lot of Reggae records (vinyl). I delved into it, and in Groningen then (I lived there 17 years), went to Reggae concerts and parties, incl. in Oosterpoort and elsewhere.. Also played as vinyl deejay in bars. From then on I played mostly Roots Reggae, as from that vinyl collection inherited from my uncle: LKJ, Ijahman Levi, Dennis Brown, Israel Vibration, Desmond Dekker, and many more.
Through this scene, I got into contact with people from the Forward Sound Movement – a Reggae sound system - in Groningen. Steely from Round Beat HiFi approached me first as I was Selecting/deejaying, and got me into the Groningen-based Forward Sound Movement, training me further in Reggae “selecting” (from vinyl).
As deejay, they called me Mystic Tammy.. That moniker with “Mystic” came from that time in the Forward Roots Movement: they called me that, don’t know exactly why: maybe they thought I was kind of mysterious, as I indeed can be.. Or because of the type of songs I played/selected..
We continued with the Groningen-based dj/selecta collective Forward Sound Movement (sometimes cooperating with Jah Sound), with other dj’s like Fabulous D, Jah Jenco, Peacemaker, and Broer Hazekamp. In places/bars in Groningen, but also played at Reggae Sundance in 2005 (South Netherlands), but even travelled internationally to Germany, Tyrol, and got even mentioned in the Riddim magazine. We saw a lot.
This was all when I lived in Groningen: I only live now in Amsterdam since about 10 years (since around 2012).
Have your musical preferences changed, since then?
Now I am mostly a Roots Reggae lover, but like to listen Motown music too, quite a lot.
Also, I am really into Afrobeat now, some nice female artists in in it!
Do you have preferences within the broad Reggae genre? Does e.g. Digital Dancehall appeal to you as much as Roots Reggae?
Roots Reggae mostly, only once so often Digital Dancehall.. I tried to play Dancehall as selecta early on, as part of the Forward Sound Movement, but we concluded it was too “slack” (sexually explicit/violent).. I stuck then to my Roots Reggae, and was glad to: gave me more tranquility. The positive message is also important for me: reason why I focus on the chorus with the main message: mixing Reggae also like this (from Chorus to other Chorus lyrics on riddims), to get the message across..
Messages are after all important for me, and I don’t want to play slackness.
Within Reggae, it is hard for me to say whether I am more a fan of some artists than of others. I enjoyed the Burning Spear concert, and I love Roots concerts, but really am not selective as fan.. Reggae is so broad. Sometimes I listen more to that artist, other times to others..
There are some songs, though, that are important, for me personally.. An example is: I Am That I Am by Peter Tosh, or Pick Myself Up by Peter Tosh.
There was also a period that I listened a lot to Lucky Dube, but at a given moment it made my kind of sad, because of its heaviness. It all depends on my phase or mood, I guess..
Since when are you a radio host?
I am a radio host since about 10 years, started at Razo (local South East Amsterdam radio station) around 2012.. I like it there: I can do my thing..
Actually, I started out with Esta Selecta, taking me under her wings. Kind of..because she wanted to make me into another Esta Selecta, but I wanted to become more “Tammy”, do my own thing, and could do that at the Razo station.
Recently I try to put variety in my shows, Roots, but occasionally also Dancehall. Since I am host, I get a lot of music sent, digitally, from (local and Jamaican) artists who want their music to be played in my show. I keep most of it, but I really have to like it, “feel” something with it, to play it on my show. Some don’t like that, but it’s my show.
Do you have a (format) preference for Vinyl or digital/cd? As selecta/dj or listener.
I started out as said as a vinyl deejay/selecta, involving a lot of carrying and lifting of boxes with records .. With my back problems, digital formats became easier: all music on a USB stick.. I still prefer the sound of vinyl, though: it makes the sound more real, even if slightly “scratchy”..
Do you play musical instruments, or are you in other ways active musically?
I play some percussion and sing sometimes. I have three djembe’s of different sizes, I play them sometimes on music at home. I would love to learn to play the bass guitar too, do more with guitar playing.
Did you have any special experiences of encounters in the course of time (with artists or producers)?
Several.. One very special one was with Burning Spear, at Reggae Sundance (festival near Eindhoven, Netherlands) in 2005, - before the “selfie” and smartphone age -, but very memorable.. Just being there, reasoning with such a great artist. Turbulence I met also there. I had many special and memorable meetings with artists, such as with Bushman. Backstage contact is sometimes difficult, because more people want attention of that same artist..
Very nice was also my meeting of Junior Kelly during a concert he did with Jahbar I in P60 (Amstelveen), not long ago in 2019: he was very kind and open..
I met the artiste Jah Mason in Jamaica, also very special: seeing how he was really active with farming. Saw a nice show in Ocho Rios (Jamaican North coast) of Iba Mahr and others, Twelve Tribe people were there, Lutan Fyah came there, and other artists. So we were with them.
Does the Rastafari message in much Reggae appeal to you? How does this relate to your background, and views?
My parents and family belonged, as already mentioned, to the EBG (Moravian Brethren) , a Protestant Christian Church, and were quite religious. I had to go to Sunday school, was in a church choir.. Yet, I have always been a rebel.. at one point I did not want to go anymore to that Sunday school.
In time, when I grew my dreadlocks, my parents were at first “not amused”, I becoming kind of a “black sheep”, but they accepted it over time, we worked it out, and I now have good bond with my parents.. They do their thing, I do mine..
I do not really present myself just as Rasta, even though they call me that.. I am just Tamara.. I try to do/enact “my own way” of Livity within Rastafari, progressing well in that sense..
I am mostly looking at the “pureness” of myself as person. However, I certainly feel there is more to all this materiality, more between heaven and earth. Some kind of divinity within us..
Most of all, I believe in “eternal love”..
How do you judge/evaluate the present-day position of women within the Reggae scene?
As a woman I do find it kind of hard.. I encountered a lot of prejudice and negative assumptions, such as the presumption that I only reached some positions or achieve things by “opening my legs” to some men. I don’t like that judgmental attitude. Accept people as they are, and let people do their own thing, I would say.
In the Forward Sound Movement back then, I was the only female deejay/selecta, but that was a fun time with oneness among us..
In the course of the years, however, I certainly fought my way through all this machismo.. if I wanted to stop, I would have stopped a 10.000 times. I just fought on and hung in there. Sometimes you need to be “tough” too and firmly defend yourself.
As a woman (deejay), men tend to “expect” more of you, want something or start flirting. When you don’t go along or refuse, they even call you arrogant or bitchy.
In my mailbox, I even get certain sexual ”pictures” or “wishes”.. Of course, I block these then..
Despite the number of female deejays/selecta’s having increased in recent times, we still have it hard in this world.. Women still have to be firm and stand their ground in this business.
Also the number of Reggae artistes have increased, recently, like Queen Ifrica, Black Omolo, and Lila Ike is blossoming now. Furthermore, here are also icons like Rita Marley and Marcia Griffiths, still performing.
I do not think Reggae is worse in this male bias/machismo than other genres, though.
What Reggae artists do you listen to now, any specific artists? Any new “discoveries” you would like to mention?
I kept up to date with all Reggae developments, and appreciate the “new school” of New Roots (Chronixx, Richie Spice, Etana, etc.), and artists playing on Reggae Jam and other festivals, such as Nkulee Dube, but even an artist like Mavado I got to appreciate more..
With regard to “new” Reggae artists I think some are good and somewhat underrated, such as Mortimer, Stranjah Miller, Jahbar I, Micah Shemaiah is also very good, and Samory I. Also, Etana – although not really “new” anymore – does good things. Yeza, a good female artist who sang with Sizzla, is also worthy of mention.
REFLECTION AND COMPARISON
This was a very informative interview for me, and indeed some mysteries were "resolved" about Mystic Tammy - Tamara -, at least for me.
Interesting how the "route to Reggae" could differ somewhat between the different people I interviewed for this blog section (Reggae lovers in the Netherlands) over the years, from parents to siblings, or in other cases, via friends or media, and the relationship to other music genres around them when growing up. Reggae has gone international and has spread widely, but some heard it already at their parental house.
Some parents were religious, such as Tammy's, influencing music played (e.g. Gospel) or the ease of acceptance of Rastafari encountered in life.
As some other female interviewees already mentioned: it is not always easy for a woman in a male-dominated music industry, as selecta, or otherwise, though they also found support. Moreover, I personally doubt whether the Reggae scene is more male-biased or macho than other music genre scenes, including Western pop, or genres like Country, where certain roles are expected from women, when they are accepted as equal at all. So that is a wider problem. Mystic Tammy did point out that it still is kind of a struggle, also within the Reggae scene, with challenges and botherations men might meet less.
As a child I liked Stevie Wonder, not long before I got into Reggae in my Early Teens, so that is some "Motown" similarity with what Tammy mentioned. My parents were loosely, socialist-minded "free" Catholics, and Italian and Spanish, so I did not hear much "religious" music (Gospel, church songs) at my house, but more "Latin" music. Other interviewees heard yet other music first (and even lacked a "Caribbean region" background, like Tammy, and other interviewed before) - or listen still alternately to other music too (Punk, Rock, African, Soul, Pop, Hip Hop, even House) - to differing degrees -, but we all ended up in beautiful and varied Reggae music, haha. Each with, as is natural, own personal preferences within it. I share with Tammy, and with other interviewees, a preference for Roots Reggae, from artists like Burning Spear, as well as for New Roots (Iba Mahr, Samory I, Lutan Fyah, a.o.).
The Netherlands is a relatively small country - if densely populated and wealthy -, but strange enough I was not fully aware that the city of Groningen (w. around 200.000 inhabitants), in the North of the Netherlands, also had an active Reggae scene, by the 1990s, just like Amsterdam has, with various selecta's/deejay's and sound systems.. but why wouldn't it? International reggae artists often performed also in Groningen's Oosterpoort venue regularly, after all.
All in all, very insightful!
