Massilia Sound System is a reggae band from Marseille, France, formed in the early 1980s.
Musical style and politics
Band member Papet Jali has described the stylings of the band as including reggae, ragamuffin music, and dancehall music. The band's music has lyrics both in French and in Occitan, the traditional language of the region the band comes from.
Their recent albums have incorporated more rock sounds, with deepening explorations into world music, such as the use of tabla, and make further incursions into drum and bass and hip-hop.
History
The band was formed in the early 1980s, The band's name is derived from Massilia, the native Occitan name of Marseille. Their decision to sing in Occitan was inspired by hearing the music of Jamaicans singing in Jamaican Patois, which they admired as the Jamaicans "owning their heritage". Their debut album Parla Patois came out in 1992, and features lyrics relating to these themes.
Discography
- Rude et souple (demo cassette)
- Vive le PIIM (demo cassette)
- Parla Patois (1992)
- Chourmo (1993)
- Commando Fada (1995)
- On met le òai partout (live album) 1996)
- Aïolliwood (1997)
- Marseille London Experience (1999)
- 3968 CR 13 (2000)
- Occitanista (2002)
- Massilia fait tourner (live album) (2004)
- Òai e Libertat (2007)
- Massilia (2014)
- Sale Caractère (2021)