To coincide with its screening at the London Film Festival, Chris Connor got the chance to speak with the director of Getting It Back: The Story of Cymande, acclaimed documentary helmer Tim MacKenzie-Smith, who discussed the group’s influence, legacy, and why now was the time to tell their story.
What are your first memories of Cymande ?
I first heard Cymande on a rare groove mix tape when I was at Uni in the 90s, although I had no idea it was them at the time! There was no track list but there were these two tunes that really stayed with me. I assumed they were American at that time as they were in amongst all sorts of US artists like James Brown, The Meters and Mandrill. But then a few years later I moved in with a mate who was a proper collector. He played me a Cymande track (we still debate to this day whether it was The Message or Brothers on the Slide), and I went straight out to buy their first album – and realised that one of the tracks I had loved for years without knowing who it was by, was Bra by Cymande! I started researching more, and found out they were from Brixton! And that was it, I bought their other albums, found out that a track called Fug from their second album was also one of my mystery favourites on that mixtape – and then I’ve spent the last 20 years telling anyone who will listen that they need to hear this amazing music.
Why do you feel their sound has endured?
I believe it’s because they didn’t try and sound like anyone else, and the unique blend of sounds and influences in their music meant that different people with different tastes could find something to love in their music. There’s jazz in there, funk, soul, Rasta grooves and even rock elements, it’s just a beautiful concoction.
Why does their music lend itself to sampling so much?
Again, so many different unique elements. if you want to find a funk break, it’s in there, a little earworm melody, it’s in there. But the main reason is the rhythm section. The drums, bass and percussion in lockstep creating magical moments that were a real treasure trove for producers looking for something original. And the fact that they flew under the radar originally helped in a way. Onf of their most sampled tracks is Bra, and that’s because the long breakdown section is an absolute floor filler, you can’t help but want to move when you hear it. It has killed in disco, hip hop and house music clubs for 50 years!
Why do you think now is the time to tell their story?
Their story is sadly still hugely relevant. They were denied the platform they deserved ultimately due to prejudice against homegrown black talent. The band members came to the UK looking for a better life, only to be confronted with a country that didn’t want them. And it was the same in their initial career as a band, after years of being denied a platform in the UK, despite success in the US, they decided to call it quits and pursue new avenues. But ultimately the music took on a life of its own, no marketing, no PR, just people all over the world finding and sharing it. And now they are back, 50 years after they made this music, performing to kids who found it on YouTube. It shows the importance believing in your art, when society tells you that you are not worthwhile, that your art is not worthwhile. Cymadne have been vindicated but many questions remain about how we as a society treat those who come here with so much to offer, but often are ignored or marginalised.
Was the process for this film different to any of your others?
It was a lot longer!! This film took 5 years, due to many factors like covid of course but also because we had to find the story, spend more time researching, trying to nail down contributors with very busy schedules and trying to find the money to keep moving forward. My previous films were TV commissions, so you got the money up front, proceeded to production, and turned it all around within 6 months. But this was different. Also we felt the weight of doing justice to a story that was not really in the public domain, so we had to take our time, not rush it. But this story has taken 5 decades, so it seems in keeping with that that it took us so long! One other big difference was my previous documentaries have been about subjects where there was a wealth of archive, but there is basically no archive of Cymande, only one TV appearance remains from their time in the 70s, and it meant we had to work extremely hard to use contextual archive in clever ways to help fill that gap. I was hoping that we might find a treasure trove in someone’s garage or something, but sadly that never happened!
Do you have any favourites by Cymande?
Bra is my favourite tune of all time, I’ve listened to it every day for 25 years and never tire of it. Also Fug, Dove, Zion I, The Recluse, The Message, Brother on The Slide. But there are so many great tunes, and the great thing about this process is that in using their songs as the soundtrack, I would have new favourites every week. There is a track on Promised Heights, their third album, called Changes I always liked but wasn’t at the top of my list, but now I think it might be the most beautiful thing they ever recorded.
Were there any documentaries you were inspired by for the film?
I wouldn’t say we were necessarily inspired by any documentaries when it came to making the film, it’s was purely the story and the music that drove us, and we wanted to try and make sure we weren’t replicating other work. But certainly, there are films in the same wheelhouse that I absolutely adore such as Standing in the Shadows of Motown which was about the amazing session artists who played on hundreds of iconic Motown hits. That movie came out a number of years ago but it touched me deeply, showing as it did the unknown talent behind the music. Also Searching For Sugar Man is an incredible film, and after watching that I became a huge fan of Rodriguez’ music. I hope that we can have a similar impact on anyone who watches our film who doesn’t know the music of Cymande!
What do you hope audiences get out of the film?
As I mentioned, I hope that we create new fans of this amazing music. I’ve loved it since I first heard it and if we can help spread the message of Cymande to more people, that will be a dream come true. But on top of that, I hope that audiences will embrace the fact that you should pursue your dreams, and believe in yourself. Because ultimately as Mark Ronson says, the arc of history bends to the just. You can think you’ve failed but it’s never over!
SEE ALSO: Read our review of Getting It Back: The Story of Cymande here
Many thanks to Tim MacKenzie-Smith for taking the time for this interview.
Chris Connor
