Christopher Ashley, aka, Alkebulan, anxiously awaits his debut performance at Tony Rebel's annual Rebel Salute cultural stage show, at Port Kaiser Sport Club, on January 17. - Roxroy McLean Photo

Christopher Ashley may be performing as an upcoming artiste on this year's Rebel Salute cultural stage show but the conscious-minded lyricist believes his performance will be remembered long after the concert.

"Nothing comes new under the sun still but the consciousness will definitely be revitalised. My performance would remind people about righteous and conscious living. It is like having an old building and then you refurbish it," Ashley told The Star.

Ashley, whose stage name is Alkebulan, says that he is aware of the importance the show brings to the Jamaican culture and hopes that the event, which is set for January 17 at Port Kaiser Sports Club, would take place more than once a year.

Cultural experience

"I see this show as a cultural experience that will uplift the patrons. It is a spiritual outing where roots and culture will come as one."

"It's a pity that it (Rebel Salute) comes just once a year. It is where our reggae began, the indigenous part of it, which is the Jamaican culture," says Ashley, who grew up in Christiana, Manchester.

Ashley says that he was delighted when promoter Tony Rebel invited him to perform on the show, which has been going on for more than a decade.

Versatile singer

The versatile singer, who records his songs at Stanley Stephens recording studios on Red Hills road, St Andrew, also says he has been waiting for long to get an opportunity to perform on a big event.

"It's been a while that I have been waiting on this opportunity. You have a saying that goes 'patience is a virtue' and 'the patient man rides the donkey'. So I am just working and patiently moving ahead."

Ashley adds: "It's truly a blessing to me. I feel great. First of all the whole spirituality of the show is good and the exposure as an uprising artiste means good to me. It is magnificent," Ashley tells The Star.

There is good and evil all around these days but Ashley, who entered music 10 years ago, says that he gathers inspiration from songs that are built with conscious lyrics.

Music is hypnotic

"Good and conscious music means everything to me, because music is life and after we have passed and gone music is still here. You have to know the lyrical content within the music because music is hypnotic," he says.

Ashley has so far recorded three songs, Times Hard and Take It Easy, produced by Scatta, and Equal Rights, which he recorded at Stanley Stephens recording studios.

The former Christiana High School student, who grew up in the Kingston 13 area, is a father of two sons, Jair, 11, and Mashil, one. He believes that his music is pushing him steadily to stardom.

"It's moving slowly but surely. Right now I am recording and putting out singles. The latest one that I have now is Equal Rights, which is getting airplay on various radio stations," he adds.