KUCHING: Music remains a powerful force for healing and hope in an increasingly divided world, according to Incognito founder and band leader Jean-Paul “Bluey” Maunick.
Speaking ahead of the British acid jazz group’s headline performance at the Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) 2026 here tonight (June 28), Maunick said festivals continue to show how music and culture can bring people together across borders.
“At a time when the world feels broken, we need to celebrate life with music and culture,” he told a press conference.
He said while musicians could not solve conflicts around the world, they could inspire hope by creating shared experiences and lasting memories that unite people beyond cultural and geographical boundaries.
Founded in 1979, Incognito was conceived not as a conventional band but as a musical collective centred on collaboration rather than competition.
Over the past 47 years, the group has welcomed more than 1,500 musicians and singers, with each member contributing their own identity while embracing the collective’s spirit of togetherness.
Despite living with Parkinson’s disease, which has prevented him from playing the guitar, Maunick said he remains committed to touring because music continues to give purpose to both his life and others.
“I can no longer play the guitar, but I’m here because people need motivation.
“They need to know what’s still possible in life,” he said.
He added that Incognito has become a source of strength in his own journey with Parkinson’s, allowing him to continue inspiring audiences around the world.
Reflecting on his childhood in Mauritius, Maunick recalled watching musicians perform for exhausted sugar cane workers, an experience that shaped his belief in music’s ability to heal.
He said he once hoped learning music would help make his ailing grandmother dance again, an experience that later inspired the title of the band’s 20th studio album, Music, Magic and Dreams.
Maunick also encouraged parents and educators to nurture children’s ambitions instead of dismissing them, recalling how one of his school reports predicted he would achieve nothing because he was easily distracted, before he eventually went on to receive an MBE from King Charles III for his services to music.
“The dreamers are the ones who will change everything.
“If we encourage their dreams and fill their minds with wonder, we’re giving the world a better future,” he said.
During its RWMF 2026 performance, Incognito is expected to present a blend of signature hits, including Don’t You Worry ’Bout a Thing, Still A Friend of Mine and Talking Loud, alongside songs from its latest album, continuing a musical journey spanning nearly five decades.
