Reggae was my first love, says French artist, Orti

French artist Orti has opened up about his musical journey, sharing how he transitioned from a deep love for reggae to embracing Afrobeats.

Speaking in a recent interview on Asaase Radio’s Artsy, Orti explained  how these two genres have shaped his musical identity.

“I did a lot of reggae music dance whole thing, okay, with Caribbean people,” Orti recalled. “We have plenty, plenty of people from the Caribbean in France. So I think it was my first love, and I got a song… we’ll talk about that. Reggae was my first love.”

While reggae formed the foundation of his musical influences, Orti’s musical journey shifted in 2010 after he met Nigerian artists in Paris. That moment, he said, “sparked a revelation.”

“I began to meet all these Nigerian guys in Paris, and suddenly I realised something big was coming,” Orti said.

He stated  how Nigerian hits like ‘Yori Yori’ by Bracket introduced him to a whole new sound, even though others were sceptical about his musical choices.

“Everybody in France was looking at me like, what are you listening to? Your music is strange. Everybody was into rap music,” Orti shared.

Despite the doubts, Orti stayed true to his belief in the potential of the genre.

“Time will tell, like Bob Marley said,” he noted. “And finally, now I can see everybody wants to jump on that kind of style. It’s new for them, but not for me.”

Orti’s predictions came true as Afrobeats surged in popularity, becoming a global phenomenon. For him, this moment affirms the power of the genre and his foresight in recognising its potential.

Orti’s journey from reggae to Afrobeats highlights the transformative nature of music and its ability to connect cultures, paving the way for new artistic possibilities.

Reporting by Abigail Teye in Accra

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