Bugle – Setting a positive example for other entertainers to follow!

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

“Quick success does not always last.”

With Anointed (2014), Be Yourself (2017), and Picture Perfect (2019), the Kingston-based singer, Roy Thompson (aka Bugle) has left his mark in the Reggae and Dancehall scene. Slowly he has built a worldwide following – not through flash or hype, but through: substance, positivity, and uplifting, conscious music. His fans appreciate his high-quality releases, his unique vocals and his full commitment to clean, inspiring, uplifting and thought-provoking lyrics. What Bugle has seamlessly done is set an example for other entertainers to follow.

Born in Portland Jamaica, Bugle was fortunate to be raised in a large family. There were 13 of them who lived together in a two-bedroom house, and Bugle tells me that life was that of a typical country youth.

“My father was a farmer and my mother would take the food that we grew to the market. I spent a lot of time on the farm, because mom’s trips to the market are what paid the bills. My parents worked well together, and were able to care for us without having to work a 9–5.”

At around age 10, Bugle tells me that he began to rhyme other people’s songs.

“The first song I wrote was about my mother. I just developed this passion for music. I didn’t have someone as a mentor at that time. I was good at what I did, and people started to notice. I would finish my work quickly, and start making music. I would write music and beat my chest, and this would get me in trouble sometimes. The good thing is that my teachers realized that I wasn’t doing it to be disturbing, it was just how I vibed.

I remember that I was 14 years old and they were holding a school concert. My teacher said to me, ‘You are always disturbing my class, so go now and make your music.’ Everyone came out for this. I ran up on the stage and the whole school mash up. They loved my lyrical content, and it blew up from there. When I sang at the community centre, it was pandemonium. This inspired me to write more. I learned how to store the melody in my head, and dem times I am just deejaying. I was just doing my thing.  I didn’t know music like that.”

After primary school, Bugle overstood that he couldn’t stay in Portland. If he was going to pursue music, he would have to go into town.

“When I went into the city, I realized that I had not started yet. I was only a star in my community. Being in the city was intimidating, but I didn’t business. When people didn’t accept me, it made me push even more. I appreciate the doubters; they helped to drive me. They were teaching me by not accepting me. One thing that I knew for sure was that one day, they would say my name.”

Since Bugle was in town, he was able to go to Pepsi Teen Splash; every school would turn out to this event. All of the upcoming artists showed up, especially when they were trying to make a name for themselves.

“If you could make it at Pepsi Teen Splash, you could make it to Sting. My friends and I would walk and go perform, and then walk back home. Good times!

The more you live, the more you learn. At the time, I was doing my best. I got a link from Papa San (Tyrone Thompson) through a man named Donavan. I became San’s little artist. It was a shock to me when he decided to start living his life for the Lord. This was good for him at that time. He made a great decision for himself, and although I was disappointed, I grew through it. Maybe I wasn’t ready yet. Who knows what could have happened. I still needed to grow. 

We decided to take on the road. I ended up at every studio in town. I would try to get into the energy and the vibe, and eventually, I began to develop friendships. I did everything that I thought I should have been doing. One of my biggest moments was when Bounty Killer sang a song that I wrote. When I heard it I was shocked. This pushed me even harder.”

Bugle kept writing, kept making demos, and one day he got a call…

“It was from Elephant Man. The vibe and the energy were high. He said ‘Jump in a taxi and come check me now!’ I did just that, and he and I really got along. This was in 2000, and I had a flight a few days later for a show I had to do in the Bronx. Elephant Man happened to be going to the Bronx. He invited me to his show, and from there we developed a friendship. I travelled with him for five years. Then came the time when I had to make a decision for myself.

It was in 2004, or 2005; the last date for the tour came up, and they decided to extend it. The last day was supposed to be in Orlando, but I decided to go home. I had learned a lot being on tour, but it was time to do something different. I remember being emotional about it; I didn’t want to do this, but I had to do this.

This was when Bugle’s solo career and life took off. He began to do things on his terms.

“I am passionate about what I do. This is why I invested into a studio. I created a space so that I can do what I want to do, when I want to do it. I have completed four albums, and I am the Executive Producer on all four of them. “Anointed” is a serious album. My life lesson during this time was if you want to get things done you have to do it yourself. No one has a work ethic like me.”

His latest project “Toxicity” was recorded during the pandemic. Selfishness, cruelty, ungratefulness and corruption are just some of the human flaws that are addressed, culminating in the embittering question: “Why are we so toxic?”

“Thank God I had a studio in my house. To me I felt like I was always outside, even though I was not outside. The studio is my outside. I was preparing for when the pandemic was done. I put the album out in Europe, and the title came from the vibe that we were dealing with at the time. I used the man yelling out the television to represent the fact that during that time, all the toxicity came from the television and social media.”

Bugle continues to position himself as one of the strongest voices in Jamaican music, and his album Toxicity challenges the narratives that are being propagated. The songs range from joyful, to those that share thought-provoking messages that inspire. The messaging is a call-to-action; a change in the way we deal with nature and our fellow human beings.