Champions of the Mic isn’t just a music project, it’s a quasi-documentary love letter to reggae, built around the challenge of turning a festival-sized vision into something audiences can actually watch.
On The Emergent Lens, Episode 11, host Tim Russ sits down with producer Andre Roberson to unpack what it took to shape the project. Roberson joined after the concept was created by Brad Eaddy, stepping in to organize artists, structure the shoot, and turn a big idea into a cohesive story. As Russ notes, wrangling multiple artists, each with their own temperament, can be “heavy lifting,” and that’s before you add a tropical production location.
For Roberson, the hardest part was choosing the talent. Reggae history runs deep, and narrowing the field, from legendary families to iconic personalities, required both taste and strategy. Filming in Hawaii added another layer: paradise can be distracting when you’re trying to get everyone focused and on schedule.
The conversation goes beyond music, too. Roberson shares his background as a performer and songwriter, including work connected to major labels, and explains why understanding the business of music matters as much as the artistry.
Then the interview takes a powerful turn: during COVID, Roberson chose service over isolation, helping feed over 3 million people through community partnerships and nonprofit leadership. That same solution-first mindset shows up in his creative philosophy; leadership means making decisions, building space for others, and keeping the end in mind.
Champions of the Mic is ultimately about truth in music: real stories, real struggle, and real sound.
The Emergent Lens is streaming now online and on Roku at Fancy A Movie.
- Search “The Emergent Lens” on your Roku device
- Watch now on the web at: FancyAMovie.com.
- Download the Fancy A Movie app on Roku
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