Mortimer: "Love is a powerful message!"

Mortimer, I’d like to start by clearing up some biographical confusion. There are conflicting stories online, stating that you either grew up in Kingston or in Whitehall (Saint Elizabeth, red.)…
Mortimer: “Well, it’s both actually. Basically I grew up in Kingston, but I also spent two years in Saint Elizabeth and spent most weekends there, cause most of my family is from Saint Elizabeth.”

Before opting for a career in music, you played with the idea of becoming either a car engineer or joining the military. Could you explain what drew you to those professions and when exactly things started shifting towards music?
Mortimer: “Even when I still had those aspirations you just mentioned, I was already a huge music enthusiast. I guess I was still quite young at the time and at that age you’re eager to try almost anything that crosses your path. I still tinker with cars a bit though. As a matter of fact there’s a project I’m working on now, as I would like to enter the world of car racing. (laughs)“

You were raised in a Seventh-day Adventist Church household. For people that may not be familiar with that denomination, could you enlighten us a bit?
Mortimer: “It’s a form of Adventist Protestant Christianism and music always was an important part of services. I joined the youth choir myself and later on was part of a boy band called Boys For Christ, singing a repertoire of acapella gospel music.”

Outside of church, what were the kind of artists that inspired you growing up?
Mortimer: “Well, this might sound surprising, but when I was still a kid, my mother used to play a lot of Celine Dion, especially during the weekend. My father, on the contrary, was a huge fan of Buju Banton, but when he joined the Seventh-day Adventist Church, he stopped listening to reggae music completely. As an adolescent I started listening to r&b and soul, people like Bobby Womack and so on…”

And at which point in your life did Rastafari find you?
Mortimer: “I think it was when I started to listen. As far as I can remember, I always felt out of place. Living with my parents and the doctrine they were trying to push on me… After a while I just stopped going to church. I remember reasoning a lot about Rastafari with Jah9, and I felt, as a black man growing up in Jamaica, that is where I truly belonged. Understanding our history and where we came from is very important. 

Stylistically, your voice has been compared to that of the late Prince Lincoln. What do you make of that comparison?
Mortimer: “(laughs) It’s not a bad comparison. Prince Lincoln was a great artist with a good voice. I was introduced to his music by Danny Bassie (Donald Dennis, red.), who plays with Protoje, and really liked what I heard.”

In 2014 you released your debut EP ‘Message Music’. Is it fair to say that since then, apart from “message music”, there’s now also a lovers side to Mortimer’s music?
Mortimer: “Well yeah… I mean I’ve since experienced love, so why not incorporate that into my music? And love is a powerful message, don’t forget that! We all deserve love, no matter what we’ve been through!”

With ‘Lightning’, lightening almost literally struck, as this was the tune that really launched your career, so to speak. What’s the story behind that song? 
Mortimer: “In that song I basically tried to capture my feelings for my wife in a poetic way. We’ve been married for six years now, and been together for 8, and it’s been a true joy so far. She’s put up with me and I really appreciate her for that. When I wrote ‘Lightning’ we actually just had a major argument and I just wanted her to know I was sorry and how I really felt about her.”

Then, of course, there’s also that link up with Protoje (Mortimer and Protoje first joined forces for ‘Protection’, which featured on Protoje’s ‘Ancient Future’ album, red.). How pivotal would you say that has been in your career?
Mortimer: “Big up Protoje all the time! I think doing ‘Protection’ with him, really gave my career more ears; it allowed for more people to discover my voice and my music.”

You were born Mortimer McPherson, so your stage name is also your real name. The only other Mortimer I know of in Rastafari and reggae is Mortimer Planno. Did your parents name you after him or are we just taking coincidence here? There’s also a slight physical resemblance…  
Mortimer: “I’m afraid it’s but a mere coincidence. I only learned of Mortimer Planno myself when I was much older. My father was also called Mortimer, so I guess that’s why I got the name. You’re talking to Mortimer McPherson Jr.! (laughs)“

Your latest EP is called ‘Fight The Fight’ (Easy Star Records, 2022, red.). Looking at the state of humanity and the planet we live one there’s certainly no shortage of causes to fight for, but where to start?
Mortimer: “I get that, but I would say: fight for any cause you find worthy enough fighting for! It differs from person to person, as we each have other values, so it’s not really for me to say. And don’t forget, some people just have to fight to stay alive every day!”

When the EP was released, you were gearing up to go on tour and promote it, but then the COVID-19 pandemic hit. How did you deal with that?
Mortimer: “Well, at first I was disappointed, but realising that this was something that was literally affecting everyone around the globe, I’m proud that we, as human beings, were able to find a way to fight ourselves out of that situation again. It’s yet another example of a fight we’re probably going to have to keep fighting again and again. During the pandemic and the lockdowns, I mainly stayed home, wrote new music for my upcoming album, and also used the time to spend some time with my family. It also gave me time to think and do some soul searching and self-reflection.”

In conclusion, for people who might not know you yet, could you capture Mortimer in few words?
Mortimer: “An honest man, doing his thing with heart and soul!”

Foto: © Fabrice De Smedt