Craymo Talks Unity Anthem “One Love One World (We Are One)” The Hype Magazine: We reveal the pulse of urban culture – from hip hop to Hollywood! Discover a diverse collection of stories, interviews and influential editorials from fashion, gaming, movies, MMA, EDM, rock and more! www.thehypemagazine.com – The Hype Magazine The Hype Magazine

Interview

Published on July 15, 2024 |
by Dr. Jerry Doby

Growing up in the Sunshine State when new wave music was all the rage, Craymo was surrounded by vibrations of sound that were unique, electrifying, and all-encompassing. While learning instruments, singing in choirs, and later working as a DJ in college, Craymo immersed himself in all things music and found the opportunity to write music in the style of his favorite musical trailblazers while also creating something of his own. He always puts himself in an environment where any event or moment can be transformed into a lyrical reflection of an uplifting human experience.

Written in 1993, while living through difficult, troubled times, Craymo listened to the news and heard only of war, famine and despair. That was the wake-up call for him to write the song of the summer: “One Love One World (We Are One)”, a beautifully crafted anthem that gives a voice to the voiceless in a world torn apart, inspiring others to strive for a life of equality, unity, empathy and compassion. With this message, Craymo takes an uplifting approach with his voice and grooves, calling on the human family to celebrate one another instead of sowing divisions. Despite negative moments, it is important to focus on the positivity and harmony that humanity is experiencing and bring that warm light into everyone’s lives.

In a room where a diverse group of people all wear white for uniformity, they are brought together by a silky red ribbon that symbolizes the beating heart we all share. They hold up signs and write “equal” and “same as you” on the walls. This group finds comfort in their handprints, each in their own way but all doing the same thing. Interspersed with videos are those that highlight the beauty of human life, while the expressions on everyone’s faces show that this is their ideal life. It’s a message that humanity longs for, and Craymo hopes you’ll share it.

What led to the creation of “One Love One World (We Are One)”?

I wrote “One Love One World” when my employer went out of business, I was homeless, evicted from my apartment, and living in my car in Los Angeles in 1993. One night I was listening to NPR on the radio and hearing horrific stories of the killing and torture of innocent women and children in Africa and the Middle East. The song came to me instantly. I wanted to make some kind of impact by writing a song of love and hope for the world. When 9/11 happened, I immediately went to my songwriting partner and producer Brandon Jarrett and said, I have this song, and the country and the world need it now! We recorded the original version and released it in 2001. The song was a worldwide hit among schoolchildren, with teachers downloading the song and performing it in schools across the U.S., U.K., and Europe, and it was used as a teaching tool to teach English to impoverished children in the Pang Liu village of China. It was a top 10 download on the United Nations UNESCO project website, http://www.nesongsforpeace.org, for over 10 years!

Every 10 years I have made a new recording and music video of the song. This is my third, a reggaeton version. I love the vibe of the reggaeton sound and think it brings a breath of fresh air to the song that we need in today’s world with the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine. It’s devastating and heartbreaking. We need to unite, heal and be civil to each other. We need more love in the world, we always need more love.

Can you talk about the challenges you faced while creating “One Love One World (We Are One)” and how you overcame them?

Well, as the 20th anniversary approached during the Covid pandemic. Due to social distancing, we couldn’t shoot a new video, so I came up with the idea of ​​digging through archive videos and the images I found spoke to me as a director and as an artist. They helped tell the story.

Which artists or genres have influenced your work the most?

Pop music has always touched my soul. Songs that you want to sing along to again and again! John Lennon, Paul McCartney, The Cars, Depeche Mode, Robbie Williams.

Can you tell us any moments or stories behind the making of the music video?

I had a rough idea of ​​what I wanted, but when I saw the red ribbon, it all made sense. It represents the connection we have as humans. We all have hearts, we all bleed, we are all one human race! The video came to life!

What symbolism or themes did you incorporate into your music video?

I think the words written on the cards symbolized the message and tone of the video very well. Equal, Same as you and Stop the violence. The red thread of how we are all equal. The scenes where they touch and stand close to each other show unity, hope, togetherness and oneness.

What role do you think music plays in promoting unity and understanding in today’s world?

I believe that music plays a huge role in spreading this message of unity and understanding in today’s world. Music is the universal language that transcends borders, languages, religions and nationalities. It is the sound and soul of us enjoying this magical existence together!

How do you hope fans respond to “One Love One World (We Are One)” on a more introspective level?

This video has already resonated with thousands of people. Just the wonderful comments that people have left under the YouTube post show that they seem to understand the positive message and are helping to bring about change in the world. I and many others believe that the world needs a big, unifying song right now. We as humanity are ready for a positive shift in our universal consciousness towards kindness, compassion, acceptance and love.

Can you talk about the challenges you faced while creating “One Love One World (We Are One)” and how you overcame them?

The biggest challenge was the pandemic and whether we could find the right visuals to really convey the feeling of the new song arrangement? I think we succeeded! The video has and continues to win awards for best video and has been screened and selected at several international film festivals.

Are there any new projects you are looking forward to?

I released my dance single “My Intuition” in April and my fun dance cover of Rick James’ “Give It To Me Baby” in July, which I hope will be a big hit this summer! It would be great to hear it on a movie soundtrack! You’ll be hearing more fun, upbeat dance music from this guy, you can be sure of that!

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Keywords: Craymo, positive vibes, unity

About the author

Dr. Jerry Doby, Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, media and SEO consultant, journalist, Ph.D., and retired war veteran. Recipient of the 2023 President’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, United States Press Agency, and ForbesBLK.