Inna Vision - "Link Up"

Maui's hard-hitting, Roots Reggae artist, Inna Vision is going hard, being on the road for most of 2018 in the promotion of his latest album "Link Up." The album features a blend of RootsReggae, East Coast Hip-Hop, and the sweet sounds of Polynesian Music. "Link Up" features three tracks, "Highest Grade" "Real Type of Cop" and "Madness" previously released on the "Highest Grade EP" which dropped in March of 2017.

The album "Link Up" was released via Roots Musician Records on June 1st, 2018 and features artists like Producer Rick Haze, Reggae artists Josh Heinrichs and Skillinjah, plus fellow Roots Musician Records artist Gonzo. 

Following the release of the album, the band dropped their music video for the track "O.G IV" which features a heavy bass line, blues-driven keys, and heavy lyrics. With this video, Inna Vision shares the inspiring journey they have gone through from being a kid in Maui with a dream, to make it to the mainland and performing alongside some of Reggae's biggest artists. 


In support of the album "Link Up" Inna Vision hit the mainland to tour throughout the United States spanning Spring, Summer, and Fall, hitting major cities like Dallas, Miami, Philadelphia, and New York City. On these tours, Inna Vision shared the stage alongside Julian Marley, Jo Mersa Marley, and Common Kings. Inna Vision even found time in his busy schedule to do a Hawaiin Island Tour in between mainland dates this summer. Following the "Link Up Tour," Inna Vision jumped on tour with SoCal Reggae band Tribal Seeds for nine dates, taking the mic alongside Gonzo to perform their track "Show You Love" off their recent album "Curricular Style.” Still on the way for 2018 is also a "Link Up" Holiday Tour with dates through Florida in December.
 
Releasing "Link Up", the "O.G IV" music video, and touring the mainland was not enough for Inna Vision in 2018 however. After making the move from Maui to the mainland, Inna Vision teamed up with fellow Roots Musician brother Gonzo, on a collaboration album titled, "Curricular Style" released on September 14th, 2018. Coming with a modern mix of Soulful Hip-Hop and RootsReggae, "Curricular Style" features seven never-before-heard songs, and five tracks from previous releases including "So High," "Show You Love" and "Bad Girl."

 
Also featured on the album is the cover of the song "Change the World" made famous by Eric Clapton. The duo recently premiered their brand new music video for their track "Show You, Love." Said by Top Shelf Reggae "Between the two, this duo drives an easy bargain when it comes to conviction! Directed and edited by Brill Adium and his Imagine Whatever Whenever team, the video for "Show You Love" is uplifting, enticing and heartfelt all at the same time."

With the release of "Curricular Style", Inna Vision hit the road with Gonzo in November performing in cities like San Francisco, San Diego, and Las Vegas. Following the West Coast tour, Inna Vision is traveling across the country in December to perform all over the state of Florida after returning from the Welcome To Jamrock Cruise. 
 
Having released two albums, a handful of music videos, and touring throughout the states and the Hawaiian Islands, all in one year, Inna Vision is sure to be an act you won't want to miss! 

Up Close and Personal with Reggae on the River’s General Manager, Justin Crellin By Shelah Moody

You never know who you will run into at Reggae on the River: activists and Joan Baez, Julia Butterfly Hill and actors Danny Glover and Leon have dropped into the biggest party in Northern California.

Reggae on the River started out as a grassroots festival 29 years ago as a benefit for the Mateel Community Center. The festival  went “Hollywood” for a few years glitterati showing up from all over the world and  tickets selling out at record speed. For the last five years, the Mateel Community Center has presented Reggae on the River at a smaller site. Benbow Lake State Recreation Area. This year, August 1-4, the Mateel Community Center proudly presents Reggae on the River at its original site at French’s Camp in Piercy, CA, with large scale acts such as Tarrus Riley, Morgan Heritage, Julian Marley, Nkulee Dube, the Meditations and more. www.reggaeontheriver.com. Thousands of revelers descend on the festival every year for the chance to camp among the majestic California redwood trees and wade in the legendary Eel River.

                                   Tarrus Riley performing this year at ROTR

I recently spoke with Justin Crellin, General Manager for the Mateel Community Center and Reggae on the River.  Crellin, who hails from Virginia, relocated to Humboldt county and started out as festival equipment manager for Mateel Community Center and Reggae on the River in 1998.

Shelah Moody: What is the significance of the festival returning to its original site this year?

Justin Crellin: Going home to our original venue, French's Camp, which has always been the festival's spiritual home and where we've been working to get back do during our years of living in "exile" in Benbow (which served us well, but did not allow for the camping on site, nor other elements of the ROTR experience).

 SM: Reggae on the River, since its inception, has become so popular that it was even referenced on an episode of the cartoon "South Park." In your opinion, what has made the festival so popular over the years?

JC: The community most of all, but also the beauty of the natural environment where the festival is held.  In its inception, ROTR was one of the world's original celebrations of reggae music and reggae culture was a natural fit for the alternative community residing in the hills of southern Humboldt and northern Mendocino.

 SM: How did you go about choosing this year's eclectic lineup? I see that you've booked ROTR favorites such as Jade Steel and Nuklee Dube.

JC: We strive for balance and diversity.  Though it is mostly a reggae show and we try to represent the full diversity of reggae music (as much as possible anyway), we also like to spice things up with a handful of "world music" acts.  We also look to present a nice mix of both male and female performers, classic and emerging artists, touring NorCal favorites and artists who rarely (or have never) played in our region, acts supporting new albums (along with a few we haven't heard from in a while), etc.  For this homecoming year we also went back to our roots and booked an act (The Meditations), who was with us for the very first ROTR in 1984 and who will be marking their first time back at the festival since this very first year.  As for the specific artists you mentioned, we loved Nkulee Dube so much last year and got such a great crowd response on her that we broke our own unwritten rule of not repeating artists in back to back years and made an exception for her.  Jade Steel will be joining a host of other favorite vocalists and DJs from the Emerald Triangle and beyond in a track set showcase (with lots of special all-star guests) on Thursday, August 1st to kick things off for our early arrival ticket holders. 

SM: How long does it take to organize a large scale event such as Reggae on the River.

JC. All year (and then some)!  Meetings, etc. start ramp up in January and things get busier and busier as we approach showtime. 

SM: I've been attending ROTR since 1992, and I am particularly curious why people feel so comfortable walking around nude at the ROTR. :)

JC: I don't think nudity it is quite so prevalent these days as it once was, but ROTR is also a "free zone" for a lot of folks and a place where maybe they feel more comfortable to let go of their inhibitions to commune with nature and soak up the vibes.

 SM: What do you, personally enjoy about working with the festival?

JC: I like the nature of the work, the people I work with, and the feeling of being part of something much bigger than myself.  It is also fun to work with the artists and to be involved in creating the larger experience that keeps fans coming back to ROTR.  We do this for them (and for the Mateel Community Center and other local non-profit groups who fund raise through the event).  The fact that ROTR is produced by and benefits the non-profit Mateel Community Center is also something that sets it apart from a lot of other festivals.

SM: Can you tell us a little about the Mateel Community Center?

JC: We provide a variety of arts, education, cultural enrichment, youth and social service programs to the rural southern Humboldt community and also offer a meeting space and venue for rent.  For more info on all we do, please visit www.mateel.org. 

 SM: Give us five fun facts about Reggae on the River.

JC: 1. It’s a Grassroots production- for and by the community!
2. This will be the first year back at French's Camp since 2005. 
3.  Our team mantra for the year is "Back to the Future"- as we look recreate the event on the model we used in the past, but in a new format for a new era of fans.
4.  We are keeping the numbers smaller than previous years at this venue (only 6,000 public tickets available) to make for a more intimate and family/ community friendly experience.
5.  It’s been called the "Best Place on Earth."  Come experience for yourself!