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Artist Name: Bishop Yesehaq Sound System

Birth Name: Jochem Quartel

Birth Place and Date: 29th of July, 1975, Amsterdam

Official Bio

Jochem Quartel (aka "Selecta Jog-M") was born in Amsterdam, 1975. From the age of 14 he started to listen to reggae music. At 16 he started to smoke a lot of 'ganja' and went to many reggae concerts. He also started attending many houseparties, drank a lot of alcohol and used extacy on a regular basis. At one point he very strongly felt that his way of life was not leading him to any satisfaction or fulfillment at all, and that there had to be a better way of living life. He had always believed that there was a Creator, and one of the reasons he liked reggae music so much were the lyrics of the songs, that dealt with Jah, the Almighty God, creation, humankind, righteousness and so on. In 1996, when he was 20 years old, he went to Israel for three months. There he came to faith in the God of Israel, Jahweh, and his Son Jesus Christ. Since then he is a new creation in Jesus Christ!

Jochem has studied theology and teaches religion in high school. He is married to Tirsa, which means 'pleasing' and 'joy' in Hebrew. And indeed she is just that to him! Since the 27th of March 2007 Jochem also has a beautiful son called Boaz!!!

Rev was born in 1967 in Den Helder, Holland of mixed blood; of Dutch, Indonesian and Ghanese decent. The first album that he bought was "Best Dressed Chicken In Town" from Dr. Alimentado. He loved the dignity he exposed while looking poor. Rev never overstood the use of learning all kinds of things in school and started rebelling. He couldn't overstand making careers and things. He started smoking Hash at the age of 15. Later on he was championed in his hometown for the large quantities of Marijuana that he would smoke each day.

He was "touched" by God the first time on a trip to Jamaica in 1993. On that trip he realized that he had to know the Lord. Rev was a member of Hammasound (a Dutch sound system) for some years but had different views about the music they were playing. He started out with the Jah Word sound system. He was called Rev already because he talked about God all the time. His name was also short for reverse (wheel), revs and revelation. Rev was reading the Bible daily and was already called a Christian even though he didn't feel that way (yet). He did ask the Lord to tell him if he had to believe in Christ. The answer waited for a while. At one time he bought the book "Dread Jesus" by William Spencer, and read the book. He saw so many views in Rastafari and thought there can only be one truth. He then read Judy Mowatt's story and recognized the truth.

Some time later he realized if he wanted to talk about the Lord to everyone he had to quit smoking ganja. He asked the Lord to help him because he liked every smoke he took. The Bible says if you're weak God's strength can work in you. Rev told that to the Lord and he quit that very day without problems (mentally or physically)--Praise the Lord! Within a week he could finally dig it. “Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life and no man cometh to the Father but by Him.” Praises again! June 25, 2005 Rev was baptized, “Cause the Bible seh so”! Rev joined BYSS in 2006.

Exclusive Interview with GospelReggae.com

(GospelReggae.com) How did you begin doing music?

Jochem: I started playing percussion in a reggae band when I was about 18 years old. At that time I also did DJ kind of things in reggae and house music. When I became a Christian I started playing percussion and drums in church too. I still do. Today, doing a Christian reggae sound system is like a dream come true!

(GospelReggae.com) Tell me, how did your name come about? Any obstacles with it--funny mispronunciations, etc...?

Jochem: Bishop Yesehaq, head of the Kingston chapter of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Jamaica, was initially sent to Jamaica by His Majesty Haile Selassie from Ethiopia to establish the church and to dispel the worship of Selassie. The king felt that if he personally commissioned someone to start a church that worshipped Christ and not himself, the Rastafarians would follow the true Christ. It was these reasonings and many others that eventually brought Bob Marley (and many others) to be baptized into the Ethiopian Orthodox church by Arch Bishop Yesehaq. Bishop Yesehaq Sound System is named after this bishop. Most of the music we play contains conscious lyrics about God, creation, human kind and salvation. And just as Bishop Yesehaq, we believe that salvation is found only in the name of Jesus Christ.

(GospelReggae.com) What is the most valuable lesson that you learned from your Mom or Dad growing up that you still apply today?

Jochem: Wash your hands before dinner :-)

(GospelReggae.com) If you could share the stage with any Christian or secular artist in the world (living or dead) who would it be?

Jochem: Bob Marley after his baptism and conversion singing about the Lord Jesus Christ!!

(GospelReggae.com) What were the last 5 CDs that you put in your disc changer?

Jochem: A live recording from His Majesty's Sound System (New Sound fi dem!), Kingdom Ambassador from Stichie, Toe 2 Toe with Luciano and Bushman, Open your eyes from the Katalys Crew, and a CD lense cleaner :-)

(GospelReggae.com) Read any good books lately?

Jochem: On my list 'to read' is now first "Time for truth. Living in a world of lies, hype & spin," by Os Guiness. Heard it is a very good book, a must-read!!

(GospelReggae.com) What's your favorite verse in the Bible and why?

Jochem: One of my favorite is in psalm 84:4-7: "Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising You. Selah. Blessed are those whose strength is in You, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage. As they pass through the valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion." I love this verse because I experienced this myself. In a very dark time in my life (valley of Baca), God was there and in the end it became a place of springs. The Lord our God is faithful and good!!

(GospelReggae.com) What is your philosophy of stage ministry? Is there any one message that you always want to leave with your audience?

Jochem: That depends on the crowd we are playing for. If most of them are Christian, the emphasis will be more on praising God and encouragement. If there are a lot of non-Christians, we'll play more songs about repenting and accepting the Lord Jesus Christ. If there are many rastas, we'll point out that Jesus is the King of Kings, Lord of Lords and the Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah. So our philosophy on stage is that we aim at the crowd that is present.

(GospelReggae.com) If you could whisper in the ears of youths aspiring to start a music ministry like yours, what would you say?

Jochem: Seek God and follow your heart and His spirit!

(GospelReggae.com) Why do you do music? What is your primary goal?

Jochem: One good thing about music is, when it hits, you feel no pain! Ha Ha. Well this thing Bob said is a part of it of course. Music lifts the spirit up. Our goal is to lift people's spirit up: up to the living God, point them to Jesus and focus on Him. But also just to enjoy the music, dance and have fellowship and a good time!

(GospelReggae.com) Are you working on any future projects/releases that we should look out for?

Jochem: Well, we want to bring out a mix cd called "A tribute to bishop Yesehaq". Keep looking for it!

(GospelReggae.com) Could you please give a message to the reggae fans that are reading this and would like to know more about your faith and who Jesus is to you?

Jochem: From the age of 16 I started listening to reggae music. I also started smoking weed, drinking alcohol and using xtc. I went to many reggae concerts and house parties but I had no peace inside. Deep down I knew there had to be a Creator, and I knew that I had to come to Him, but I kept on postponing. The lyrics of the reggae music really spoke to me. Especially those about God (Jah) and Biblical verses. I never believed in Rastafari Haile Selassie though. When I listened to Ijahman for instance singing about Jesus Selassie I, for myself I thought the 'Selassie I' part away and only sang along the Jesus part. When I was almost 21 years old I surrendered my heart and my life to Jesus Christ. He saved me and renewed my life completely. I now have peace and the joy of knowing Him. There is no peace or joy bigger than that of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. Ain't no high like the most High! He alone is the true King of Kings, the Lord of lords and the Lion of Judah! Selassie I was a Christian and his message was to follow Jesus Christ. And that's my message to you as well. Repent from your sins, come to Jesus and you will be blessed beyond your expectations!!