[Creative Roots🌎] A Modern Twist on the Steelpan: Justin Lowe’s Roots in Jamaican Culture
Meet Justin Lowe, a Jamaican musician whose content creating journey began with a viral Instagram post and led to his ever-growing passion for the Steelpan and the Creative Industry in Jamaica.
Originally, Justin Lowe was meant to be a pianist.
At about five years old, the instrument Justin first learned to play was the piano, and for a time it seemed like it would remain that way. That was until his teacher introduced him to another instrument: the Steelpan.
“I want to explore music on an international scale and play an instrument that's useful and versatile,” Justin recalled in a recent interview. “Not bound by any genre of music.”
After talking to Justin, I understood that his Jamaican identity was an integral part of his creative journey.
🎵 The Debut of a Musician
Last year as we were all at home due to the pandemic, Justin’s passion for the steelpan grew and he wanted to share it with everyone online. One of his first posts went viral and suddenly he found himself with upwards of 500,000 views.
“When people follow you, it's because they want more content from you,” he explained. “But I feel like I didn't exactly know how to be a content creator.”
Over time, Justin found himself enjoying making new content. He strives to play the steelpan in a different way than it is typically played, and gravitates towards playing contemporary, popular and modern jazz songs to expose it as a more versatile instrument than it is commonly perceived.
🇯🇲 Forming Community: A Musician’s Mission for Jamaica
On his Instagram account, Justin held a conversation series titled “Let’s Talk,” where he interviews other Jamaican creatives about their perspectives and opinions on the Jamaican creative industry.
In the series, he discusses at length the ways in which creators in Jamaica have been underserved by the Jamaican government and education system.
“So much culture comes out of this country; whether that's music, dance, or in any sort of art form that's creative,” Justin shared. “[But] the education system doesn't really promote it.”
Not many schools boast a music program or have a well-funded dance program, Justin explained. In other words, Jamaica’s educational curriculum is centered more around non-creative careers rather than creative careers.
In inspiring other Jamaican artists to start and continue their own journey, he hopes to turn this around by causing a ripple-like movement that promotes Jamaican culture around the world.
✨ Crossroads and Reflection: The Journey Ahead
I asked Justin to explain more about how Jamaican culture shaped his musical identity and style and he first pointed to Chronnix, a Jamaican artist who shapes how reggae is perceived through an experimental approach, as seen by the incorporation of positive messages coupled with reggae music’s innate laid back vibe.
Justin also pointed to the phrase “Wi likkle but wi tallawah!” which means “we’re small, but we are big,” a message that has formed the foundation of his creative journey.
“No matter how small you might feel in a situation, just remember that your voice always matters,” he shared. “ You can have a big impact on the world, regardless of your follower size or regardless of who you think you might be or not be in a certain situation.”
This perspective has been a source of motivation for Justin as he develops his own music style. Recently he has delved into producing his own music, which he described as his long-term goal. He also plans to expand from just instrumental covers and delve into creating his own music that other artists can incorporate into their own projects.
To end our interview, I asked Justin one last question about what advice he would give to young, upcoming creators, and his answer was reflective of his own creative journey.
“Nobody has everything that makes you into an individual. So as a creative, the only person that can create the arts and create the culture that you're creating, is you. And that's the reason why you should continue to create because nobody else can be you because individuality is something that's so valuable.”
By Kimberly Valadez
CC Writer
Kimberly is a sophomore interested in majoring in Linguistics alongside Pre-Med coursework. Originally from Central California, she describes herself as an imaginative blend of a pencil artist and aspiring, passionate writer.
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