December 2021 Reggae Roundup

Stevie Culture

Mista Savona Presents Havana Meets Kingston has released a single titled “Solutions (We Can Do It)” (Cumbancha) featuring Jamaican reggae star Stevie Culture.

“Solutions (We Can Do It)” has a powerful social message and includes Sly & Robbie on drums and bass.

JonQuan

“I am Trying” is the new song revealed by Easy Star Presents JonQuan & Associates. The song is included in the upcoming Jonquan album and features guest vocalists Kelly DiFillipo (The Loving Paupers).

JonQuan has been the frontman, songwriter, and keyboard player for Buddha Council, based out of Virginia Beach. “This is my first project where I produced the riddims myself. I wanted to leave the door open for the players of all other instruments for maximum creative input, but within certain parameters. I personally chose who I wanted to play what instrument on what song. I’m most accustomed to live writing with a band while feeling for a groove.”

JonQuan says about “I am Trying“: “Only one voice sounds like Kelly Di Filippo’s voice, and that’s Kelly’s. Soft, seductive, passionate, and clear. The second I had this riddim completed I knew she was the voice for it. Knowing Kelly from hangs with The Loving Paupers, it was a breeze fitting her into the project. The way she effortlessly projects her lyrics gets me every time. She’s such a boss.”

Queen Ifrica

Reggae icon and community activist Queen Ifrica has a new video titled “Predator’s Paradise” (Nuh Rush Records, distributed by Tuff Gong International). The song appears in the recently released album “The Redemption Project” that also includes a diverse list of Jamaican vocalists including Busy Signal, Turbulence feat. Sunny Trad, Lutan Fyah, Tony Curtis, Kananga, Natural Black, Nature Ellis, Gott-Yo, Don G, and Guidance.

The “Predator’s Paradise” video depicts a disturbingly accurately portrayal of various abuses to vulnerable youth by those in positions of power. Queen Ifrica narrates against the backdrop of painful images, while brandishing a pistol. “The concept behind the video is a modern way of painting the picture of the strength of predators in our society,” explains Queen Ifrica.

Roots of Creation

Reggae-Rock group Roots of Creation has a new fan-funded album titled Dub Free or Die Vol. 1. The album excellent original compositions along with jam-reggae infused covers.

Frontman Brett Wilson says, ““Dub Free or Die vol #1” is all about focusing on our instrumental songwriting. It was created for our diehard fans who travel to multiple shows a year, listen to bootlegs, pay attention to set lists and always score the latest merch drops. We are extremely blessed to have our tribe of ‘Roots of Creation family’ members to be there to support us through these crazy uncertain times and let us experiment, create and have a blast. These compositions tend to lend themselves to progressive rock, improvisation, songscapes, rapid genre switches, and Dub Reggae EFX.”

Romain Virgo

Popular Jamaican reggae singer Romain Virgo has unveiled a new song titled “Good Woman” that has soul, dancehall and reggaeton influences.

U-Roy and Jesse Royal

Trojan Jamaica/BMG celebrates the work of the late great U-Roy with the music video “Small Axe (Jamaica Soundsystem Remix).” Directed by Daryl Higgins, the new video interpolates historic footage of U-Roy and the newly Grammy-nominated Jesse Royal captured during sessions for the late reggae icon’s acclaimed new album, U-Roy Solid Gold.

The video also features iconic scenes from the legendary 1978 Jamaican film, Rockers (courtesy of Blue Sun Film Co.) featuring cameos by reggae superstars including Big Youth, Gregory Isaacs, Kiddus I, Ras Michael and The Sons of Negus, bassist Robbie Shakespeare, drummers Sly Dunbar and Leroy “Horsemouth” Wallace, percussionist Bongo Herman, engineer Sylvan Morris, guitarist Earl “Chinna” Smith, and horn players Bobby Ellis, Cedric “Im” Brooks, David Madden, Tommy McCook, and Richard “Dirty Harry” Hall.

Tarrus Riley

Acclaimed reggae vocalist Tarrus Riley has released the song “Love Salute.” A contemporary take on Roots Reggae, “Love Salute” is meant to appeal to young audiences and seasoned reggae fans.

Nilotika Cultural Ensemble

Ugandan reggae band Nilotika has released the album Nyabingi Resurrection (East African Records). The session in Kampala was captured over two weeks, using local instruments and the full ensemble of around 15 people, including friends and family.

Nilotika Tugifa aka Nilotika Cultural Ensemble, is led by Jajja Kalanda. The patterns and instruments they use are the same as their Nyabingi ancestors, but they have evolved and developed their technique, notably including Caribbean sounds and styles. Like the Rastas, Nilotika’s culture embraces artistic creativity, community values and clean living as an alternative to the corruption and capitalism prevalent in mainstream Ugandan society.

Artikal Sound System

The reggae-rock band Artikal Sound System has launched its newest single “Dissolve” on Controlled Substance Sound Labs.

Artikal Sound System, based in South Florida, came together in 2012 under the direction of Chris Montague (guitar) and Fabian Acuña (bass) backing popular reggae artists. However it wasn’t until the additions of keyboards player Christopher Cope, drummer Adam Kampf, and the Jazz influenced vocalist Logan Rex that the band was fully complete.

Lead singer and frontwoman Logan Rex says about “Dissolve”: “We all know the ‘friends with benefits’ thing rarely works but it doesn’t stop us from trying. ‘Dissolve’ is a brutal ode to a failed situationship. Sometimes the only thing working between two people is the sex. The narrator drops this bomb on her lover while 808s boom behind her to support the point. There’s no future here, it all dissolved.”

Dread Daze

Los Angeles-based band Dread Daze has returned after a 3-year hiatus with a single titled “Shy”. The song takes the listener back to how it felt to have that schoolboy (or girl) crush, our first love.

Royal Blu

Jamaican singer-songwriter Royal Blu has teamed up with music production collective The Autos to release the track “Dancehall Session” (Easy Star Records) an uptempo blend of retro and modern sounds.

“With ‘Dancehall Session’ I wanted to do something different with my voice and just have fun with it.” Blu said. “I wrote this song at a time that felt like ‘peak pandemic/quarantine’ in Jamaica. The riddim gave me this ‘big festival in Europe’ type of feel, so I envisioned being on a stage. It was perfect timing when Ian [from The Autos] got in contact with me, because that was the mood I was looking for and he came through.”

Island Head

“Blue Butterfly” (Rebel Sound Records) is Island Head’s first new song in nearly ten years. The song draws inspiration from the feeling of one being visited spiritually by a loved one who has passed away, in this case being visited by a blue butterfly landing at your feet.

Khalia & Dre Island

Upcoming reggae singer Khalia (Jamaica, London-based) and Jamaican singer Dre Island (Andre Johnson) have released a roots reggae song titled “Wild Fire,” produced by Tony “CD” Kelly & Lionel De La O.