On The Rise: The Movement (interview)

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The Movement has been going strong for over ten years. These young men from Columbia, South Carolina, have made a name for themselves in the reggae/rock scene. Their musical style is similar to Slightly Stoopid with early influence from Sublime. “Alternative Reggae” has been coined a sub-genre that best describes their music, but they also find inspiration through hip-hop. The band made the transition to Philadelphia in 2008 to step up the ranks with well-known producer Chris DiBeneditto. They have released four albums and just finished an October tour with Iration and The Green. We were fortunate to catch up with vocalist-guitarist Joshua Swain of The Movement to ask him a few questions about their past, present, and future experiences and plans.

What are some of the band’s passions besides music?

We love spending time with loved ones while we can. Family and friends are what life is all about. We also like skating, hiking, and hanging out at the beach, but most of our off time is dedicated to preparing for the next tour and writing new music.

If you could choose any artists to collaborate with, who would they be?

We are lucky enough to be able to collaborate with most of our favorite artists, but we would love to link up with Wyclef, Nick Hexum, and Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley in the near future.

What are some festivals where you have played?

California Roots Festival in Monterey is the main event of the American reggae scene these days, and we were lucky enough to play there last year. We’re excited to be part of their Carolina Sessions festival in Myrtle Beach, SC. Another awesome one for the scene is Reggae On The Block in Orlando; we did that last year. And it was an absolute honor to have played Rootfire At The Beach this year (Avila Beach, CA), Camp Barefoot (Bartow, WV), the Eagle Outdoor Fest in Colorado, the 9th Annual Hurricane Party in Florida, and Reggaetronic in Lake Murray, SC.

What are some festivals you would like to play in the future?

Levitate Music Festival outside of Boston, Dry Diggings, ARISE, Emerald Cup, Chalice Festival in CA, 311 Cruise… there are so many good ones!

Funniest tour story? GO!

We are constantly laughing on the road. These guys are my best friends, and touring is so much fun. I think we all might be certifiably crazy. Most of the things that come to mind, I don’t want to say in this interview… haha. But B Dot’s alter ego “Cleetboot,” pre-tour pranks on our manager Reid about missing flights, van farts, and constantly making fun of each other keep us pretty entertained.

What are some of the toughest aspects of being a touring musician?

Every touring musician will tell you the same. It’s missing home.

What was it like for some Carolina boys to make the transition to Philly?

Super easy. We were already touring so much at that time; we were used to traveling and living in strange places.

Favorite hip-hop artist(s)?

There are a lot, but Slick Rick, Mos Def, Tupac, and Tribe, to name a few.

How do you foresee the future of The Movement?

The key word here is progression. With the new record coming together and our Rootfire family continuing to grow, we look forward to bigger tours and releasing more meaningful music. After all this time, we still have a long way to go. The Movement will be more than just a name. Through conscious music and creative experimentation, we want to create a true movement that brings enlightenment and spirituality to the world. I guess the real question is, “How do we foresee the future of our fans?”

Listen to the new single ‘Rescue.’ 

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