There was a flurry of applause after the showing of ‘Sounds & Pressure: Reggae in A Foreign Land’ at Bob Marley Museum on February 13th. The documentary, co-directed by Toronto-based Chris Flanagan and Graeme Mathieson, focuses on reggae’s roots in Canada.
Flanagan and Mathieson savored the positive response of a 30-member audience which listened intently to the recollections of singers Johnny Osbourne, Leroy Sibbles, Nana McLean, Roy and Yvonne and producer Jerry Brown, about their experience living in Maple Leaf land.
‘Sounds And Pressure’ was released in 2024, seven years after Australia-born Flanagan and Toronto native Mathieson began production on it. It was the first public showing in Jamaica; another viewing took place at the University of the West Indies’ Mona campus the following day.
The documentary is divided into five segments with each subject reflecting on their journey to Canada, and the struggles they faced in trying to break reggae in their adopted country. Despite the presence of Sibbles, Osbourne and other giants like Jackie Mittoo and Lloyd ‘King Jammy’ James, reggae never took off in Canada as it did in the United States and United Kingdom.
Flanagan admits he and Mathieson are puzzled by the music’s failure to make a mark there.
“That is something I have thought a lot about, and it still puzzles me given the breadth of world-class talent from the roots era until today from Toronto. Many of the artists in our series talk about the lack of infrastructure and opportunities, lack of radio play and pressure to water down their sound to appeal to a white audience,” he said.
“I think racism definitely played a part and there was a lack of vision on how to market the music. Canada never had a crossover (market) like the UK, it’s also a small population connected to the behemoth of the United States so close by. Leroy Sibbles crossed over somewhat in the 1980s but should have been much much bigger in Canada.”
‘Sounds & Pressure’ is the duo’s second project. They began production on it shortly after the release of their debut documentary — ‘Ruff and Tuff — Stranger Cole’s Toronto Roots’.
Flanagan had previously directed and produced ‘Shella Record — A Reggae Mystery’, a 2019 feature based on Jamaican jazz singer Sheila Rickards.
The University of the West Indies’ Mona campus and Canadian High Commission in Kingston were responsible for Flanagan and Mathieson’s trip to Jamaica.
