The award-winning singer, songwriter and producer chronicles his growth and innocence as a young Marley child and his personal rites of passage through the family legacy. The warm acoustic track takes the listener on a coming-of-age journey through allusions to personal legends and eras of musical influences that "made it all possible."
"April 1972, my mom and poppa brought me through," Stephen sings on the moving new track. "Back then, I was the favorite, so they say." The song arrives simultaneously as Bob Marley's second oldest son celebrates his 51st year of life. "I'm an old soul, living in the body of a 9-year-old," Stephen sings, sharing glimpses of his past. "Guess I've been here before." The song was co-written with Jamaican pop star Omi, whose manager, renowned producer Specialist, brought it to Stephen saying it fit him. "I had to change up the years to place my life in it," Stephen says, "but really, Omi gave me the first inspiration."
During the COVID lockdown, Stephen set up a new make-shift studio on a remote family farm in the Florida countryside, holding nightly jam sessions in a converted garage studio. Old Soul was recorded during these unplugged jam sessions, the spirit of which will permeate the vibe of his upcoming tour dates and his forthcoming solo album. "You have to be true to yourself," he says. "I refuse to be put into any category. I am inspired by everything. So, if I feel like I want to play some jazz music, I will play some jazz music. Who dig it, dig it."
Old Soul showcases Marley's versatility, and the message within his music remains consistent. "We come to free the people's minds...only way you can free your soul is to free your mind. My father said, 'No chains on my feet, but I'm not free,' and then he come to say, 'Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery.' Anywhere the music calls us, we are going to be there to spread the message of love and unity."
Summer 2023 marks the triumphant return of Stephen's Babylon By Bus Summer Tour, which includes a cavalcade of hand-picked support artists appearing at various venues across the country including Fortunate Youth, Skip Marley, Jesse Royal, Hirie, Arise Roots and Roots of Creation. The tour will begin in San Diego, CA in June with multiple stops in California before heading to Colorado, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Chicago and more, ending in Florida in August. Tickets are available through Stephen Marley's website at stephenmarleymusic.com, you can see a full list of tour dates below.
BABYLON BY BUS SUMMER TOUR DATES
6/24 Del Mar, CA - San Diego County Fair
6/25 Paso Robles, CA - Vina Robles Amphitheatre
7/01 Costa Mesa, CA - OC Fair
7/02 Saratoga, CA - Mountain Winery
7/03 San Rafael, CA - Marin County Fair
7/13 Las Vegas, NV - Virgin Theatre
7/14 Tempe, AZ - Marquee
7/15 Santa Fe, NM - The Bridge at Santa Fe Brewing
7/17 Wichita, KS - Wave Outdoors
7/18 Memphis, TN - Minglewood Hall
7/20 Chicago, IL - Millennium Park Music Series
7/21 St. Louis, MO - The Big Top
7/22 - Cincinnati, OH - Riverfront Live Outdoors
7/23 Kalamazoo, MI - Bell's Outdoors
7/26 Hyannis, MA - Cape Cod Melody Tent
7/27 Webster, MA - Indian Ranch
7/28 Cohasset, MA - South Shore Music Circus
7/29 East Hampton, NY - The Clubhouse
7/30 Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Steel
8/01 Nantucket, MA - Nantucket Dreamland
8/02 Nantucket, MA - Nantucket Dreamland
8/04 Asheville, NC - Salvage Station
8/06 Charleston, SC - The Refinery
8/10 Orlando, FL - Hard Rock
8/11 St. Augustine, FL - St. Augustine Amphitheater Backyard
8/12 St. Petersburg, FL - Jannus Live
