Johnson and James

The Feburary issue of The Progressive magazine carries an interview with Linton Kwesi Johnson:

Q: Why did you decide to start your music label?

Johnson: I come from a school of political thought influenced by the great Trinidadian political activist and philosopher C. L. R. James. My teacher and my mentor, the late John La Rose, the founder of New Beacon Books in England, also developed this idea of autonomy. Self-activity is the only activity. If you want to change your situation you have to build independent institutions—social, cultural, political institutions—in order to advance your struggles. And that’s basically the philosophy that I have adopted.

Starting my label was just practicing what I was preaching. It gave me a measure of independence from record companies. I can set my own agenda. I don’t have to have a record company’s agenda. I don’t have to go and do two albums and a tour every year or whatever. I write when I want. I make a record when I want. I perform when I want.