Diandra Interviews Eljuri: Reggae As A Music of Resistance

One of the best albums, so far, of 2019 came in the form of Eljuris: ‘Resiste: La Colección Reggae de Eljuri. This activist, one leader of the Women’s March of NYC, is know for her compassion and strength against injustice. Some people speak truth to power, and others plays music to it. For this, Eljuri chose Reggae; a genre with a history of spirituality and social commentary against governmental corruption. In our interview, Eljuri opens up about how music has defined her humanity, and how she wishes more people would start redefining theirs. 

Diandra: If you could describe your relationship with your guitar like that with a human being, how would you define it? 

Eljuri: As a friend. (She laughs) As someone I can share time with. You have to care for it. 

Diandra: You have said, “Find your voice and commit to it” as your advice for young women rising in the industry. How would you define your voice? 

Eljuri: My voice is to, hopefully, inspire people to feel that they are not alone. Generally, a perspective you have someone will be shared. A lot of people do not want to speak out because of fear of challenging the status quo, but I want to incite them through the power of music. Much like I have been inspired by other musicians, in that light, I want to do the same. If someone feels they are the only ones in their position, music is a connector. It is okay to speak out, be a witness, or challenge something. We need more people to speak out, and it is really bad across the world. I feel urgent in terms of my messaging in songs. 

Diandra: Well, how do you ignite that urgency because some feel we are steam-rolling towards the apocalypse and others act like life is fine and they are ready to pick up knitting?

Eljuri: (She laughs) I think music is a gentler way to get to urgency. It is an international language so it crosses boundaries. People using their ears, instead of their eyes, might be more encouraged, versus another form of messaging. It is why I like Reggae and write through its arrangements. It makes you feel good, and, maybe, you’ll listen. I don’t want to preach, but I do want to inspire. 

Diandra: Reggae music has a history of resistance. What about it attracted you as an artist?

Eljuri: ALL OF IT! All of it! Bob Marley, till this day, continues to help with his music and the Gandhi approach! I am very much a pacifist so Reggae is a music of resistance, and having the Latino side of it, my fused sound, it unites more countries to the sound. It feels right for me being in the Reggae World. 

Diandra: ’Resiste’ is the title and overarching vibe of your album. How do you feel your music and person embodies resistance? 

Eljuri: Fairness and the ethical behavior of people, I was raised with that mindset. I was not born in this country. I am an immigrant raised in New York and raised with diversity. Being with so many ethnicities, made me comfortable with speaking out and having a voice for the helpless. I have done work with Water Ecuador; providing and protecting clean water to Ecuador. In New York, and I am apart of the Women’s March Alliance. We thought, in the first march, we would only have 5,000 people, and we ended up having 500,000. It was the most amazing day, and it was the day after the new government leaders came into power. So it sent a message. 

Diandra: Going off of that, how do you feel know with all that is happening against women like, in Alabama and the challenge to Roe V Wade. 

Eljuri: We have to continue to push back. It is beyond critical that, in 2020, we have to ignite voting on all levels. We have to overcome, we have to march, we have to protest, and we have to speak out. What is happening in Alabama is so outrageous and crafted. How do you feel?

Diandra: Well this, actually, leads to my next question because, when I see things like this happen, I question what makes someone so bold as to think they can and then try to control how another lives like, their body. 

Eljuri: In the first feminist wave, women did not have that right and now it is being taken away. Ruth Bader Ginsburg spoke how the pendulum swings from one extreme to another. It went from Barack to Trump. So I am hopeful now that the pendulum will swing back even higher. 

Diandra: Defintely!  I imagine in 2020 or 2024, Jesus will be making a run. At this point, he is the one we need. He is the only one that can stop this and save us. 

Eljuri laughs

Diandra: Well, back to my question, what would you, as someone fighting against corruption, say moves people to commit social injustice? In essence, how would you define the oppressor vs oppressed dynamic?

Eljuri: That is a really complicated question. I think we have to be smarter. If you are in a position that we are in now, morality is being questioned, right now politicians have so much power over people’s personal lives that we have to be more strategic than them. We have to be smart and calculating: not just angry. They are planting puppets and it is affecting rights that we have in gender, immigration, and race. I can’t help but be emotional but we have to be smart. We can’t be shy; we have to aggressive. If we offend, so be it. 

Diandra: Do yo believe art should be activism or activism should be art? 

Eljuri: Wow, what a tough question! For me, art is first, and then I became more of an activist. I’m like a Neil Young; you put your messages in songs, and then it’s not enough. You can’t take it anymore. 

Diandra: How do you feel your new album represents who you are now in your life? 

Eljuri: I think it is right on. I think of, because what we just talked about with our civil right being compromised, Resiste is about fighting for liberty. We are, actually, fighting for civil liberties while our government takes steps back. I am very motivated to get to change, and this is happening globally: Venezuela, Ecuador, The Middle East.

Diandra: It is like a bad infection of stupidity: a global virus. 

Eljuri: It really is. 

Fiercely intelligent, kind, and talented, Eljuri’s  long and prosperous career is proof that both being who you are and making sure that that is for other people assures you last. To Buy Resiste and Learn More About Eljuri Click Here.