Saturday, May 28, 2022
Friday, April 15, 2022
Ras Rebel Drops “Cali Love”!
Ras Rebel Drops “Cali Love”!
&
Announces Show with Iconic Jamaican Band The Wailers on April 9th
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s Angeles, CA L–o The multi-genre reggae, hip hop artist Ras Rebel is ready to shine some love on his home of California. Hailing from the coastal town of Port Hueneme located in Southern California’s Gold Coast, the internationally renowned reggae and dancehall artist, Ras Rebel has released his “Cali Love” single. Putting his twist on Dr. Dre and Tupac’s classic hit, “Cali Love” out now on Ras Rebel’s imprint Rebel Sound Records. Order, save here: https://orcd.co/8mqeg58
The new single takes on the vibe of the classic hit with Ras Rebel’s lyrical prowess and adding dancehall beats to create his own unique blend he has coined Ragga-Hop. On “Cali Love” Ras Rebel is backed by E.N. Young who also co-produced the song alongside Ras Rebel. “One Love” is the second time the duo, Ras Rebel and E.N. Young created a hit single. They first collaborated on Ras Rebel’s stellar hit, “Boss Lion” featuring Grammy Award winner Mykal Rose (Black Uhuru). For the new single, they returned to E.N. Young’s studio, Imperial Sound Studios in San Diego, CA.
With the new track, Rebel blends his love for his home state, celebrates the L.A. Rams win, and the renowned L.A. based producer Dr. Dre, with the genre he loves. He has masterfully paired heavy-hitting rhythms of the famed song with his modern rub-a-dub style. Ras Rebel comments, “CALI LOVE personifies the versatile and unique style of reggae that I deliver called Ragga-Hop.” He continues, “This new single is a hybrid between 2 of my loves …Dance Hall Reggae & West Coast Hip-Hop…
For over 20 years, Rebel has undeniably become a staple artist in the West Coast Reggae scene. He continues to set himself apart with his conscious lyricism mixed with his authentic West Coast rude boy style; bringing to the forefront messages of Truth and Love through telling of real-life experiences. The LA native, has toured extensively and performed both alongside celebrated musicians and artists. Ras Rebel has engaged crowds and fans throughout the Americas including California, Jamaica, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, New York, Atlanta, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Mexico, and internationally in places like Japan, Korea, Sweden and Australia.
Ras Rebel is excited to announce that he will be performing with the iconic Jamaican band The Wailers on April 9th at The Canyon in Agoura, CA. With The Wailers show Ras Rebel continues his long standing tradition of performing with celebrated artist like Damian Marley, Stevie Wonder, Mykal Rose (of Black Uhuru), Cypress Hill, Steel Pulse, Gregory Isaacs, Third World, Yellowman, Jesse Royal, Collie Buddz, J Boog, Anthony B, Kabaka Pyramid and Julian Marley. Ras Rebel is currently performing live throughout the West Coast, shows and dates are posted to his site here.
“Cali Love” is out now and available everywhere you stream music.
Download and save: https://orcd.co/8mqeg58
Show Details:
Date: April 9th
Doors: 6 PM
Location:
The Canyon
Connect with Ras Rebel:
Monday, December 6, 2021
Ten-Year-Old Rising Star Shines at Caliroots Sessions: San Francisco
Streetwise Radio One on One with Kailash
Ten-Year-Old Rising Star Shines at Caliroots Sessions: San Francisco
By Shelah Moody
October 24, 2021.
“You know what we’re doing is insane right?”.
Photographer Lee Abel and I were on our way to cover an indoor reggae festival, Caliroots Sessions, at the Midway in San Francisco. Lee thought it was insane, not only because we would be in a massive crowd in the midst of a pandemic; but because we were going out in the throes of a storm; the most aggressive to hit the Bay Area in two years.
“Do you think we should turn back?” I asked.
Nevertheless, writer and photographer pressed on, masked up and shielding ourselves from large drops of rain and gusts of wind as we entered the sprawling Midway venue, bracing ourselves for what was to come.
I got the first sign that I was indeed supposed to be at Caliroots Sessions SF that afternoon when Jah Warrior Shelter sound system: King Ivier, Rocker Tee, and Irie Dole announced our presence and gave us a shout out soon after we walked in.
“Big up Lee Abel and Shelah Moody!”
I was still floating on the vibe of feeling like a rock star when I saw the second sign that I was supposed to be there. Chilling out with his parents in the green room was none other than Kailash; the 10-year-old, reggae phenomenon I’d been stalking on social media for months.
Wooing audiences with his hypnotic, angelic vocals, Kailash established himself on platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube singing covers of Peter Tosh’s “Can’t Blame the Youth,” Wailing Souls’ “Jah Give Us Life” and performing on stages across the country with his mentor, acclaimed reggae vocalist Don Carlos.
Reggae/Dancehall great King Yellowman, one of the headliners at Caliroots Sessions SF, is one of Kailash’s newest fans and Instagram followers.
At such a young age; Kailash demonstrates a strong command of vocals over percussion and bass, channeling pure roots of a bygone era.
Kailash’s parents are Mark Brumwell, who works in the biotech industry, and Thato Brumwell, a medical doctor. The family lives in San Rafael, CA. Incidentally, Mark started out as a huge reggae fan.
“I grew up in Key West, Florida, which has a strong affinity for all things the Caribbean, especially Jamaican culture,” said Mark Brumwell.
“It’s kind of ironic, sitting here looking at Yellowman because he was a key fixture touring through the Florida Keys when I was a young boy.’
Kailash has an album with Don Carlos in the works, and his website will be available soon. According to Brumwell, the key to raising a gifted child is having a strong family unit; a good mother in particular.
“Our family is all different pieces of a puzzle in terms of how we operate,” said Brumwell. “But if it was just me making the decisions on my own, I don’t know if I’d be making them as soundly as without having the guidance of his mother to help balance the decision-making process.”
knew that Kailash was musically gifted before he started to formally train with anybody, but his mother and I got him into a music school when he had just turned three. He couldn’t really talk yet, at least with an instructor. We worked really hard to get him into a music school in San Francisco when he was three.. He started to train formally on piano at age three. We also knew that he was gifted vocally, but we only had so much time and resources to dedicate to one thing. He studied piano, principally, for a number of years and he’s still studying. He has a vocal teacher as well.”
I spoke with Kailash prior to his performance with Don Carlos at Caliroots Session SF. Kailash was perhaps the calmest person in the room.
Streetwise Radio: What does your name, Kailash, mean?
Kailash: It’s the name of a mountain in the Himalayas.
Streetwise Radio: Tell us how you got into singing, performing, and reggae music,
Kailash: Well, my dad was listening to reggae ever since he was a child, so naturally, he instilled it in me. It started with me making videos playing our piano; my dad was playing the guitar and we had a whole drum machine. I feel like it all just happened in the blink of an eye. All of a sudden, we’re here now. It feels like a dream.
Streetwise Radio: Tell us about the musical training you had growing up in San Francisco.
Kailash: I’m part of the MTAAC (Music Teachers of Association of California) certificate of merit program. I take classical piano lessons and I practice every day.
Streetwise Radio: What are some of your favorite reggae songs?
Kailash: I can tell you that I do love listening to Yellowman’s album, “One Yellowman.” Right now, I’m digging the “Answer” riddim, particularly “Turn Me Loose,” by Al Campbell (Channel One). It’s one of my favorites.
Streetwise Radio: I know you are already successfully working at your craft now, but what do you want to do when you grow up?
Kailash: Keep being a musician, keep doing what I’m doing now.
Streetwise Radio: What’s it like working with Don Carlos?
Kailash: It’s absolutely awesome, I have to say! Also, I’ve been digging deep into Don’s history and listening to some of Don’s old songs. They are pretty fascinating. I’m listening to his “Harvest Time” album, and some of my favorite songs are, of course, the title track, “White Squall,” and “Hail the Roots.”
Streetwise Radio: Besides making music, what are your hobbies?
Kailash: I like going on bike rides with my parents. I like shooting basketball hoops at my school; they have a full basketball court. I also like playing kickball; it’s one of my favorite sports. Most of the time, it’s usually music.
To watch the full interview with Kailash at Caliroots Sessions SF, go to: https://youtu.be/ZLAvkMoAPUc
To see Kailash perform with Don Carlos at Caliroots Sessions, SF, go to: https://youtu.be/tCW2fndtEIA.
Saturday, September 25, 2021
Fortunate Youth
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGGAE POWERHOUSE FORTUNATE YOUTH ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM GOOD TIMES (ROLL ON)
ALBUM DUE OCTOBER 1, TITLE TRACK OUT NOW
Good Times (Roll On) is Due out Friday, October 1 on Controlled Substance Sound Labs!
Hermosa Beach, CA — The So Cal powerhouse reggae-rock band Fortunate Youth is back with the announcement of their fifth full length studio album Good Times (Roll On) due out October 1 on Controlled Substance Sound Labs. The announcement comes out today with the release of the second album single and title track “Good Times (Roll On).” The new single is out now and available everywhere you stream music: https://moremusic.at/GoodTimesRollOn.
Born in the throes of lockdowns and conceived around 2018, the new album Good Times (Roll On) is a range of throwback sounds to current vibes. With the new album, Fortunate Youth rekindles the spirit of their early days from backyard grillin’ and chillin’. Bringing a fresh sound dotted with influences of blues, ska, rock, world, soul, and punk with the hope to reunite, once again, with their fans worldwide. And also, there’s a wish: that the return of those feel-good vibes finds brighter days for the planet. “We’re trying to change the world through the music we write and play, and the lives we live out performing onstage,” says singer Dan Kelly.
Reflecting on the release, Corey Draskovich (bass, guitar, keys), comments “Embracing the new, and reflecting on the old. Every album we make is a new process, we learn from each experience and try to incorporate those lessons into our new music. If there’s one thing that we hope people take away from the album is, enjoy the moment and memories last a lifetime.” Adding perspective to the title Jared Draskovich (keys/bass) comments, “We are all living through this global event and to me we chose the title to help ensure that Good Times are indeed going to roll on regardless of all the hardships that our recent environment has provided for everyone.”
Crafted over the last year Good Times (Roll On) is reflective of its time. “This is probably the first time we’ve put an album together where we had the time to review and refine each song for as long as we felt necessary. 2020 was a tough year, especially for the touring music industry. With the down time at home, we were able to spread out the sessions and take our time,” comments Cory. Comparing the recording process from previous albums, what would typically take the band 3-4 weeks, lasted about 9 months to piece together as they took time with each track and to create a stellar 12 track album.
The new album is stacked with standouts including the glistening title track, “Good Times (Roll On),” as the album’s next single to be released July 23rd. With the new song, Fortunate Youth turns a slightly nostalgic eye to its humble beginnings in the backyard, plus a few new tasty surprises under the lid. “We always hope our music can change the outlook of anyone’s day,” comments Dan. Cory adds, “The lyrics are true to us as a band, and reflect where we come from and the things we appreciate in life. Dan’s vocals on this track still give me goosebumps.”
With more time to craft the new album the band reflected on their ever evolving sound. Over the last 2 years Fortunate Youth had toured with a sax player and trumpeter, so they added parts for a horn section and enlisted premier players John, Art, Bryan, and Geoff. They also include features and special guests including Nathan Feinstein (Iya Terra) on “Groovin” and were joined by their good friend Gonzo (Tribal Seeds/ Fortunate Youth) for background vocals. Additionally, “Around the World” features Italy’s own twin fronted group Mellow Mood backed by stellar horns that really hits home on the global reach of reggae music. “Burning With You” showcases the band’s soul and R&B chopps. And what started as a backstage jam session while on tour in Mesa, AZ became “Riddim Rydah” feat. Skillinjah & Dread Kennedy. Cory comments “Dread Kennedy and Skillinjah were hanging out and we randomly just did a live dub plate/ toasting version of the song and these guys absolutely killed it.”
Ever evolving and always collaborative, the writing and composing process is a band effort. Songs are fleshed out on the road or created with a riff or melody. While working the new album the band did a handful of pre production recordings at Kona Town Studio. And in July of 2020, mid-lock down, they tracked key essentials at Total Access Recording. Looking back, Jared recalls, “It was definitely weird having to wear masks in the studio when we first started tracking… it was our first time recording at Total Access which is in our minds, a legendary spot (Pennywise, Sublime) so that was rad…” Cory adds, “Total Access being located in the area we grew up in and with its history of great recordings we were all excited to get in there. With the state of the world at the time we had to maneuver around a handful of obstacles and move our recording dates around to accommodate.” They also worked with Lewis Richards at 17th Street Studios and tracked the horns remotely at Kromatic Sound recording studio in the East coast.
The band is comprised of long time friends Dan Kelly (vocals), Travis “Travi Bongo” Walpole (percussion), Jered Draskovich (keys/bass), Greg Gelb (bass, guitar), Corey Draskovich (bass, guitar, keys), Revelation Kalauli (drums). Since its inception in 2009, Fortunate Youth remains devoted to its roots and a simple mission: Spread peace, love, and unity with music. It’s a mantra of sorts for the multi-faceted sextet from Hermosa Beach, driving a relentless thirst for live performances and an ever-evolving cache of original material. Including the forthcoming Good Times, Fortunate Youth has also catalogued over a dozen releases and notably, all have been recorded, produced, and distributed, in DIY style, by the self-invested band. Garnering top Billboard charting success the band has seen their albums hit #1 Billboard Reggae Album Chart 5x, Billboard Heatseekers Chart 2x, #1 iTunes Reggae Chart 10x plus millions of streams across all platforms!
They are devoted to their fans as much today as they were when they started performing live, ticking off countless miles in the van crisscrossing the U.S. Fortunate Youth has graced the stage in support of brethren such as Slightly Stoopid, Stick Figure, and SOJA on major tours as well as continuing to headline national treks of their own; totaling over 27 tours since their inception. Over the last year the band has missed their normality of tour life but is also grateful for the time they have with loved ones. They look forward to seeing their fans and performing live again. Catch their full tour here.
The new album is due out October 1st and will be available everywhere you stream music. Stream title song here.
Track Listing:
1) “Too Big”
2) “Around The World” (Feat. Mellow Mood)
3) “Burning With You”
4) “Sunlight”
5) “The City”
6) “The Situation”
7) “Good Times (Roll On)”
8) “Friend”
9) “Emin Interlude”
10) “Riddim Rydah” feat. Skillinjah & Dread Kennedy
11) “Groovin” feat. Iya Terra
12) “The Cure”
Connect:
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/FortunateYouth/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/fortunateyouth310
Twitter – https://twitter.com/fortunateyouth
Youtube – https://www.youtube.com/c/FortunateYouth
SoundCloud – https://soundcloud.com/fortunateyouth
Bandsintown – https://bandsintown.com/a/937707
Friday, July 9, 2021
Monday, May 10, 2021
Friday, May 7, 2021
Indubious
THE FAST-RISING REGGAE TRIO RELEASES NEWEST ALBUM ON EASY STAR RECORDS
Indubious’ highly anticipated full-length album The Bridge is out now on Easy Star Records. The record finds a strong balance between Indubious’ unique production and sound coupled with an all-star lineup of guests including Sizzla, Capleton, Anthony B, Jah9, Mike Love, Zion I, Wookiefoot, and others. Stream or purchase the album now at http://moremusic.at/TheBridge. The four singles that preceded the album release helped push the Bend, OR-based trio to new highs of listeners, streams, and fan activity, which is expected to continue growing, especially once the band can get back on the road.
Evton and Skip, brothers and bandmates (along with drummer Matty T. Wells), have cultivated a dedicated fan base, affectionately called Indubians, with their impressive instrumental skill, powerful harmonies, and an electrifying stage presence. In addition to their memorable live shows, which have put them on numerous U.S. festival stages, as well as on tour with The Movement, Stephen Marley, and others, Indubious are no strangers to chart success. Their 2019 album Beleaf debuted at #1 on the Billboard Reggae Chart and #2 on the iTunes Reggae Chart, which marked a new high for the band building on the previous success of their 2017 album From Zero, which debuted at #6 on the Billboard Reggae Chart and #8 on the iTunes Reggae Charts. With The Bridge, Indubious is poised for a big breakout year.
The Bridge came to life with the intention to bridge Jamaican reggae artists, west coast reggae, and the “Medicine Music” genres. The album successfully manages to pull these scenes and artists together across 12 diverse tracks. Skip explains, “The Bridge was a very special project for us, because we had the privilege of working with our absolute top tier favorite artists. Sort of a dream come true, especially with how seamless it was artistically.” He adds, “Since its inception, reggae music has always been a vehicle for the transcendence of suffering, and a prayer of the power of love. A way to honor the truth at the root of the human experience. A heartbeat, a meditation, a prayer for good over evil. This heartbeat quickly spread to every area of the world stage and has become a mainstay in the spiritual music scene – occasionally leaving behind the true meaning and depth behind its original soul-cry. Fast forward to today, as cultures merge at an increasing rate, and the music expands, it was our aim with The Bridge to extend honor and respect to the spiritual roots of divinity and dignity that shaped the original founders – and to bring forth a musical future, rich with honor for The King’s music, Mother Earth, and the mystical revelations foretold in its original message.”
The album was recorded in Bend, Oregon, at Indubious’ Righteous Sound Studios, which involved a lot of long-distance collaborations, due to travel restrictions, but didn’t stop the project from coming together in an organic and compelling way. The first single “Neva Bow” features Zion I and is about a mindset of fear-based mentality that is unconsciously embraced by otherwise good-hearted people. The aim and message of the song is to bring awareness to how we hold our energy as creators. The song is accompanied by a vivid and dynamic video. The second single making an impact is “The Throne,” featuring Capleton. This heavy-hitting track is an inspirational reminder of your royalty and divinity, and that truth and light will always sit on the Throne.
“Ease and Flow,” is also making waves, with Hawaiian-based singer-songwriter Mike Love joining Indubious, with a fun video showcasing them all road tripping through scenic and frozen Okanogan County, Washington. The most recent single, “The Offering,” features Sizzla and Skillinjah and is a synthy, hip hop-style banger about seeing through the veil of illusion in the world and offering love in the face of adversity. An anthem about honing our inner vibration to spread joy and unity in everything we do, no matter the situation or challenge. The album closing track (“I Can Breathe”) is a deeply personal song to the band: Evan and Skip were born with a degenerative and often fatal disease called Cystic Fibrosis, leading Evan to eventually have a double lung transplant. This song is a peek into their mentality of seeing the positive within the challenges put before them and having gratitude for the breath of life that so many of us take for granted. This battle with Cystic Fibrosis has been a huge part of their life, and also had a huge effect on Indubious, as it has often sidetracked their climb within the scene, but Evton and Skip have both always worked positively through these setbacks, focusing instead on growth, spiritual health leading to physical health, and finding inspiration for their music and life journey.
Indubious has produced their most personal and dynamic album to date and is eager to share it with the world. The band concludes, “We are all so very grateful for such an amazing opportunity to share our deepest prayers and hearts with you in the form of this musical and spiritual expression. If our music can do one thing alone, our wish is that it helps you remember who you are, your power as a Creator- to know how special, needed, and valuable you are to the grand scheme of life and inspires your gratitude for the Breath of Life. Every thought you think shapes reality for everyone around you. To choose these things wisely and with purpose is a superpower.”
Saturday, April 24, 2021
Queen Ifrica "Four Women"
In Tribute to the legendary, iconic Nina Simone; Jamaica reggae star Queen Ifrica pays homage with a reggae cover of the marquee track "Four Women". In a time where respect of female equality, diversity, culture, history, ethnicity is needed more than ever in the forefront of the global consciousness; this Stephen Marley produced take on Nina Simone's powerful declaration describing Four Women is surely relevant. The song is being released on Monday April 26th 2021; the anniversary of the 1969 recording of Nina's "Live from Berkley" album. Brought to you by the Ghetto Youths International Label
Queen Ifrica - "Four Women"
Nina Simone Cover
Produced by Stephen Marley
Release:- April 26 2021
Ghetto Youths International
Monday, January 18, 2021
Wednesday, December 30, 2020
Wednesday, December 23, 2020
Royal Blu x Runkus - G (official music video)
Royal Blu And Runkus Remind You To Keep It “G” With New Single | ||
There has been quite a bit of talk surrounding the ever-changing nature of the music emerging from Jamaica these days. It is apparent that many artists and producers have been ‘colouring’ their music with not only the classic, traditional sounds of reggae and dancehall, but with other genres as well, thus creating something entirely unique. This ‘revival’ is no stranger to rising artist Royal Blu who is always ‘pushing the needle’ with his flows and sounds. The most recent product of this is “G”, a traphall song with an old-school dancehall classic beat at its core. The single features fellow Delicious Vinyl Island labelmate Runkus, and is produced by J.LL. The production of the beat came out of a conversation Blu and Runkus had when they were selecting riddims for a freestyle during a sound system show. “I instantly thought of the Stalag Riddim, and these lyrics ended up fitting perfectly on it,” Blu said. "So, from the reception it got at the show, Runkus brought up the idea to sample the riddim and have J.LL. produce it.” Blu describes “G” as a song encouraging people to keep their energy consistent throughout everything. “Since doing music professionally, there have been many naysayers and people who didn’t believe in my sound or image,” he said. “People who avidly tried to block me out. So I’m really just expressing how people can switch up based on success and try to be a part of the ‘bandwagon’.“ Along with the single, a video was shot on location at Blu’s alma mater, the Meadowbrook High School by director Fernando Hevia, and produced by the artists’ record label, Delicious Vinyl Island. It features cameos from fellow artists Leno Banton, Naomi Cowan, Courtni, Zhayna, Jamila Falaka and more. The single is set for release across all streaming platforms on Friday, December 18. | ||
Tuesday, December 22, 2020
Junior Toots Sings Sweet and Dandy
Junior Toots Sings Sweet and Dandy Tribute to His Father
Toots Hibbert
Kingston, Jamaica (December 8, 2020) - Great music never
gets old, especially when Junior Toots releases the newest
remake of his father’s famous track, Sweet and Dandy. The
Toots Hibbert's legacy lives on through Junior Toots, born and
raised in St Mary, Jamaica. The idea to record Sweet and Dandy
came from Toots Sr. who produced the track for his son.
Released on December 8, 2020, marks the day that would have
been the 78th birthday for the recently transitioned Toots Hibbert
or “Nyah” as he was called by his family.
The Artist, in his own right, is a seasoned performer and
professional recording artist. His performances display high
energy, creative lyrics, and a massive passion for Roots Reggae
music. He has graced the stages of festivals and venues across
the USA giving his fans the opportunity to integrate his socially
conscious messages with inspiration.
For musical nostalgia fans, Toots and the Maytals’ original Sweet
and Dandy LP was released back in 1969 on Beverley’s Records
(1961-1971). The title song, Sweet and Dandy was the first track on
the B side of the album. The LP’s other biggest hits were Monkey
Man, Pressure Drop, and 54-46, That’s My Number.
The song is now available on VPal Music Label. It can be
streamed and downloaded from https://orcd.co/sweetanddandy
and all other digital music platforms.
I AM JUNIOR TOOTS
Buy it now from VPal:
https://orcd.co/sweetanddandy
On all digital and streaming platforms
Follow Junior Toots:
Press Contact:
Third World Music Group
| E: TullahCarter@gmail.com | C: 707 332-0747
Wednesday, June 10, 2020
Jubba White Interview
By Shelah Moody
Meet Jubba White. The prolific drummer and producer are one of the artists on the frontlines continuing to make quality music with conscious messages in the age of the COVID 19 pandemic. Streetwise Radio’s Creators Corner: A Chat With Grammy-nominated Reggae Producer Jubba White
On May 15, White dropped the reggae track, “Declaration of Rights,” featuring legendary Jamaican harmony trio, the Mighty Diamonds, and Aaron Nigel Smith. https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=4CnEkCHzCUY&fbclid=IwAR3mcnjnXAymI9bRsw0zVlpWKjmkmTBkU1ZfvZksvxT7IilaAu3K0MNK-28. The video for “Declaration of Rights” focuses on the rights of every citizen to health care, especially during critical times. “Declaration of Rights” and “Concrete Jungle” are the first two singles from White’s upcoming album, “FREEDOM (the Declaration of Rights)” on his independent White Stone Productions label. White recently joined Streetwise Radio for an in-depth discussion.
Q: How have you, as a working and touring artist, been coping in the coronavirus pandemic. How has it affected your livelihood?
A: As a touring musician/artist, the COVID-19 certainly has affected my livelihood. The closure of borders and venues has impacted my most important income stream. However, whatever is happening, is making our work as creative people even more relevant at this time. A world in times like these, without any form of art, would be devastating.
Q: Tell us about your remake of the reggae classic “Declaration of Rights” and how it relates to the world situation today. Who originally recorded the song?
A: The declaration of rights has been one of my favorite songs by the Abyssinians (the original writers), but there was also a version done by the Mighty Diamonds, which was released in the 1980s. I have had the opportunity to perform their version with them a few times on tour in my earlier years. I developed a habit of paying tribute to the founding fathers and pioneers of reggae music, by choosing to cover songs by them that resonate with me. This time, it is “Declaration of Rights.” It is quite relevant today but more-so timeless; both songs are.
The marginalized and oppressed need a voice, and most times, that voice needs to come from those who are being oppressed themselves, but understand how to echo strength and resilience through their words and actions.
Q: Tell us about your experience touring and recording with the Mighty Diamonds?
A: My experience working with the Mighty Diamonds has been unforgettable, and significant. The very first opportunity I had to tour; the Mighty Diamonds were among the artists I was with, and I was a teenager. The impact those experiences had on me created the foundation for further development, which by my own interpretation, has been positive.
With that said, I feel very honored to be doing a project that they participated in.
Q: Give us a brief history of your musical background and how you ended up in the Bay Area?
A: My love for music started as early as three years old. I use to drum on pots and pans with utensils and sing loud in the home. At around eight years old, I was playing the drums in the church and singing at events. My dream was to play music and I took every chance I had to do so. After high school, I enrolled in Edna Manley College of the visual and performing arts (Jamaica), to study Caribbean, Latin American, and jazz music, but two years into college, my first opportunity to tour internationally came. This was great because it’s an experience I shared with friends I grew up playing music with.
We went on to tour together with several artists for years, in many parts of the world. We also had experience performing jazz and popular music in the tourism sector, where we performed in hotels. I’ve had the opportunity to participate on several successful projects in earlier years as a recording musician. Some of the projects that come to mind are: “Freeman,” by Burning Spear, (Grammy-nominated album of 2003), the “‘I Swear” riddim, released by 5th Element Records, and the “Overstand” Riddim by Pow Pow records. As early as 1997, I was a part of the support band for Bushman and in 1999, for Junior Kelly. Both were premier artists at the time. Both bands which I was a part of played an instrumental role in their live shows and some of their recordings. References may be found in the notes of albums such as “Signs” (Bushman), “Smile” and “Tough Life” (Junior Kelly).
Other popular singles included, “Ready to Party” by Voicemail and “Downtown Girl” by D’Angel. Both songs on the Champagne records label. “Music Alone” by Ginjah and “Calm Dung Yu Nerves” by Bescenta are also songs to mention.
In 2003, the idea to start a Dub project resulted in Dubtonic Kru; and the brand was established in 2006. As Dubtonic Kru, we toured to many places across the globe, —inspired and co-created platforms that helped in the resurgence of band culture in Jamaica and live music in general. Such events were the annual Bands Incorporated and the weekly Plug N’ Play in Jamaica. In 2012, after a few years of intense touring, most of the time spent was spent in the US. The decision was to have the family closer to where the majority of our activities were, and the place of choice was the Pacific NorthWest.
Q: Tell us about some of the current projects you are working on?
A: The current project is “FREEDOM” [the declaration of rights]. It’s an eight song ep, which also features Mighty Diamonds singing their version of “Declaration of Rights” featuring Aaron Nigel Smith on Abyssinians version of accompaniment. There are more in the works but right now, it’s about “FREEDOM.”
Q: What will the music industry be like in post-pandemic culture?
A: It’s hard to say, but so much has been moving towards a virtual world for so long. However, my experience shows me that human beings are meant to interact with each other, and music brings us together, but the virtual aspect of it will remain. It will continue to play a big role in what we do with continuous evolution.
Q: What’s the key to producing a great reggae song?
A: My personal opinion is, it has to be in you. You have to feel it in order to effectively create an emotional experience. It’s about connecting with emotions in a true way. However, some may judge a great song by its popularity, which in a lot of cases it’s true, but equally as much not.
Popularity most times have to do with effective marketing, which does make things easier when your product is considered good.
Q: Can you name some resources available to musicians in post-pandemic culture?
A: The resources that might be available to musicians, post-pandemic are already pretty much in full swing: virtual platforms and streaming. The tech industry has been at the forefront for over a decade and becoming even more relevant. Most platforms that offer such service and experience, are geared towards being some of our main resources for the future.
To buy or stream the “Declaration of Rights,” go to https://ingroov.es/declaration-of-right?fbclid=IwAR0A6AW5BrvqB6I4bQg6Calocm3Yaf3XypO5G9rGvbh78mmU6445xerHcfMhttps://ingroov.es/declaration-of-right?fbclid=IwAR0A6AW5BrvqB6I4bQg6Calocm3Yaf3XypO5G9rGvbh78mmU6445xerHcfM
Tuesday, October 29, 2019
The Evolution of Reggae's Royalty 1st Lady, UNA MORGAN
The Evolution of Reggae's Royalty 1st Lady, UNA MORGAN
MPR CONSULTING - Amid the 2015 historic Catch A Fire tour uniting Reggae's legendary families Morgan Heritage, Marleys and Riley's (Tarrus Riley), Morgan Heritage's 1st lady Una Morgan fell ill and removed herself from the limelight to focus on both her physical and mental health. And like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the accomplished daughter of veteran reggae crooner Denroy Morgan is now soaring to new heights.
Evolution: the gradual development of something
Growth, introspection, and faith has given the songstress a fresh outlook on her life, and her self-reflection gave birth to "Evolution", the lead single from her highly anticipated “Ragga Princess” solo album. “EVOLUTION is a testimony of my life until now. A lot of us as human beings have to go thru a rude awakening to really see what life is all about. We go thru challenges to find ourselves all the time. This song tells my story and I truly believe a lot of folks will be able to relate. I Am Ready!” EVOLUTION to da world!" - explained the effervescent singer-songwriter.
Produced by Hakim Abdul Samad and written collaboration by Una Morgan, Myzel Faison (Hood Pres), Jahdiel Morgan (Jah D), and Beada Briglia, the stirring single features rappers Hood Pres and Jah D alongside Una Morgan.
Didn't know who I was supposed to be
Didn't know who I was
Being the girl I thought I should be
Put my life on pause
At times I didn't feel right living in my own Mind
Evolution is now available on all major streaming platforms and digital outlets
https://smarturl.it/unamorgan-
Wednesday, July 3, 2019
Community Mourns Loss of 2019 Festivals: Reggae on the River and the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival
By Shelah Moody
“Reggae on the River and the Sierra Nevada helped to groom me into the musician I am today. It saddens me to lose such dynamic festivals/reggae family gatherings as these.” —Alreca Whyte, Groundation the Next Generation
“Reggae on the River has been canceled. Refunds will be issued to all ticket holders within 10 business days.”
This is the message that currently pops up when you log on to reggaeontheriver.com.
On June 17, it was announced that Reggae on the River 2019, which had been scheduled for Aug. 2-4, at French’s Camp Piercy in Redway, CA, had been canceled.
Reggae on the River was established in 1984 as a benefit for the Mateel Community Center, which had been ravished by fire.
In 2018, Reggae on the River Festival announced a new strategic partnership with the country’s leading marijuana magazine, High Times Productions, to grow the iconic music and culture celebration.
“High Times had exclusive right to produce the event as of 2017, so it was their decision wholly to cancel the event,” said Eryn Snodgrass, Mateel Community Center board treasurer, and production assistant. “They didn’t provide us with a lot of reasons, but from what we can gather and from what they told us, they were facing another large loss in spite of their efforts. It really came down to, they weren’t getting the ticket sales and the interest and the support of the community for them to produce the show.”
A key question remains: will Reggae on the River 2020 and subsequent festivals take place?
“We at the Mateel are certainly hoping that we can carry it on in one way or another,” said Snodgrass.
“We have to get out of our production contract, and (High Times) has indicated that the Mateel might have the option to do the festival again, wherever it might be. They’ve indicated that they want to do what’s best for the Mateel, for sure. I can’t really speak beyond that, because we are still in the contract with them.”
Snodgrass said that the Mateel community will indeed produce an event the weekend of Aug. 2-4 2019, called “Reggae Legacy,” a tribute to one of Reggae on the River’s founders, Carol Bruno, who passed away this year.
“This event will be in honor of Carol Bruno’s life,” said Snodgrass. “We wanted to honor Carol and everything she did for Mateel and Reggae on the River. It will be flown under the “Mateel Forever” banner. It will be billed as “Reggae Legacy,” and you can look at our Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/mateel/
for all the breaking news. We’ve just announced Toots and the Maytals for Sunday, Aug. and we will be announcing the headliner for Sat. Aug. 3 on Wednesday, July 3. It will be back to back nights at Mateel Hall.”
At press time, High Times could not be reached for comment.
The cancellation of one of Northern California’s most popular music festivals marks the end of an era. Since 1984, Reggae on the River, a three day summer celebration, has presented the best in music including the Marley family, Lucky Dube, Steel Pulse, Toots and the Maytals, Beenie Man, Groundation, Fenton and the Reggae Angels, Johnny Clegg, Marcia Griffith, Lady Saw, Judy Mowatt, Oliver Mtukudzi and more.
It was indeed a sad day for musicians, performance artists, writers, photographers, producers, stage managers, sound engineers, vendors volunteers and especially concertgoers and campers. Naturally, the loss of revenue generated by the festival will impact not only the Mateel Community Center, a non-profit, but also hotels, restaurants and other local businesses near Redway.
Sadly, a few months prior to the cancellation of Reggae on the River, the organizers of Sierra Nevada World Music Festival, held annually in Boonville, CA during Father’s Day Weekend/Summer Solstice in June, announced its cancellation. (www.snwmf.com). Sierra Nevada, which had been going strong for 26 years, was canceled this year due to the illness of its founder and organizer, Warren Smith.
The 2019 Island Reggaefest, (https://www.islandreggaefest.com/) an annual celebration of Caribbean and Pacific Island culture which had been going strong for seven years in Santa Clara, CA, was also canceled.
“Reggae on the River was THE place for young and old to gather and celebrate the awesome powers of reggae music.” said Harrison Stafford, founder and lead vocalist of Groundation. “I can remember going to the festival throughout the 1990s as a place where like minded people witnessed great performances by the legends straight out of Jamaica. This fueled me personally through high school and into university where I would form the group Groundation and eventually in 2003 we would perform for the first time at Reggae on the River. Later, I would meet Carol Bruno and other members of Mateel Community and they would partner with us on local shows in the Humboldt area. Reggae on the River was an iconic festival that stood as the cornerstone of reggae music in the United States. Now it’s like, if Summer Jam In Germany or Rototom in Spain were to stop, there would be a hole, a vacuum we’re once thousands of soul searching people would gather in the name of unity and love through the magic that is Reggae music...today in Northern California, we are a people without a festival
Other roots/reggae festival devotees, like singer Alreca Whyte, who has performed at both festivals with acts such as Sister I-Live, Fenton and the Reggae Angels and others, feel the loss.
“I used to relish in the ability to be starstruck for a weekend. I remember planning my vacations to Jamaica so I'd always be here the first weekend in August for Reggae on the River and fit Sierra Nevada in as well. I used to be frolicking around backstage with the other youth my age and hailing up the grownups like Della and Ralston Grant, Carol Bruno, who always greeted me with a smile and hug, MC Rocky Bailey, Jah Son—names are too many to mention. Reggae on the River will be greatly missed.”
Many veteran journalists such as Carmelita Harris, producer of Irie Vision TV reggae show, and Michael Ealey of Streetwise Radio would faithfully make the pilgrimage to Reggae on the River and Sierra Nevada each year, documenting each act and attending press conference between sets.
Harris said she noticed that Reggae on the River 2018 was challenged by a lower attendance rate and lack of security in the media parking area, which led to a renown photographer getting her equipment stolen. Harris said she will miss filming the international as well as upcoming artists that Reggae on the River presented. Harris said that despite last year’s shortcomings, Reggae and the River is still her favorite festival.
Beverly Shaw, aka Sista Irie, a writer, photographer and radio personality from Austin, TX, has traveled hundreds of miles to cover Reggae on the River and Sierra Nevada.
“The 2019 cancellation of two major U.S. roots reggae festivals does tremendous damage to our country’s ability to enhance and sustain the progress made in the past 25 years,” said Shaw. “Overall, the U.S. remains sadly deficient compared to Europe, Japan, and other countries in its ability to support the roots reggae message.
“Reggae on the River and the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival ensured an ongoing education regarding the cultural roots of the original creatives. This process is critical to the future understanding and acknowledgment of reggae’s cultural evolution.”
Perhaps more than anything, Reggae on the River was a communal experience, where people would gather to share music and good vibes, sharing food, water, rides and camping spaces and of course, stimulants such as ganja. The same with Sierra Nevada.
“I started bringing my children to Reggae on the River as my family grew so they, too, could frolic with the youth their age,” said Whyte.
“It was like a family tradition. It was such a part of the normalcy of life for me that their cancelation leaves a part of me empty. With the recent loss of some of reggae's great artists and musicians, this is just another blow to the conscious California vibes that we have all come to love. I grew musically because of these festivals. They were platforms that put normal girls like myself from my tiny seaside town in Belmont Westmoreland, Jamaica and put us in front of huge audiences. Reggae on the River and the Sierra Nevada helped to groom me into the musician I am today. It saddens me to lose such dynamic festivals/ reggae family gatherings as these.”
According to Shaw, Reggae on the River and the Sierra Nevada provided an atmosphere much like a family reunion where business, entertainment, and spiritual healing came together in a spirit of upliftment sorely needed in today’s times.
“I pray both festivals will find solutions in a spirit of one love and unity,” said Shaw. “In particular, I pray for the improved health of Warren Smith who devoted his life, along with wife Gretchen, to give us 25 years of unforgettable memories.”
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