London Based DJ AYITO schools the Reggae Lover team on the Roots, Dub, and Steppas scene in the U.K. plus her journey as a rising female selector in a male-dominated industry.
“No matter what I go through, no matter how bad my day… as soon as I play [Reggae] music it just takes away all of the pain. It doesn’t only take the pain away, it just replaces it with pure joy and bliss. It’s a spiritual thing for me. I know it may sound a bit extreme, but I think this is the closest I can get to meeting God. It’s that feeling that [Reggae] injects in me.” ~ AYITO
I had the privilege of interviewing one of the most talented musicians from the United States, E.N Young, for Reggae Lover podcast episode 153 – dedicated to you, the #REGGAELOVER.
The California reggae scene has been thriving for some time now and vocalist/producer, E.N. Young, formerly of Tribal Seeds, has played a significant role in this success. This classically trained pianist who now plays several instruments including the Melodica fell in love with Jamaican music as a youth in San Diego. He talks candidly about his journey as I sought to learn more about the movement he is pushing in the name of reggae. By the end of our conversation, I definitely saw E.N as an authentic reggae ambassador.
Topics covered In this episode:
1:35 – 2019 Summer Daze Endless Nights Tour
2:21 – 4th studio album, Forest Wilderness released in 2018
3:57 – Working with Kelissa from Jamaica
5:45 – Collabs on the latest album (Half Pint, Peetah Morgan, Inna Vision, Meta and the Cornerstones)
6:56 – Love for playing the Melodica and linking with Addis Pablo
9:33 – Production and instrumentation from Imperial Sound Studios in San Diego
15:25 – Gaining inspiration as a teen (especially spiritual influence) from 70’s reggae
20:10 – Resistance from family members and society in general for embracing reggae culture
Walshy Fire stated that “Jamaican artists are on the verge of creating a new genre” in a recent interview. This claim warranted further exploration so we went in on the topic.
Before analyzing today’s music we reviewed the many genres that Jamaica has created. That amazing history includes Mento, Ska, Rock Steady, Reggae, Dub and Dancehall. Reggae sub-genres Nyahbingi, lover’s rock, and rub-a-dub are also popular styles.
Download Reggae Lover episode 140 by clicking the image above.
There was a peak in dancehall popularity in the early 2000s followed by a decline in quality reggae. At that time vinyl formats transitioned to CD. Then CDs went out and digital downloads came in. DJs started using laptops to play music and consumers turned to personal electronics. This transitional period led to what we call the reggae revival.
The current global dancehall and reggae revival movements are creating genre-bending trends. Artists like Protoje, Chronixx, Kabaka Pyramid, Jesse Royal, Damian Marley, and Koffee are synonymous with such trends.
Based on our analysis there either is a new emerging genre, or the concept of genres is simply dead. Distinctions between genres have become blurred and young audiences around the world are embracing that change.
References:
Lord Fly with Dan Williams – Medley of Jamaican Mento
This is an essential mix and overview of Dub, a Jamaican genre or sub-genre that grew out of Reggae music in the 1960s and has extended way beyond the scope of Reggae to inspire other genres including dubstep, hip-hop, jungle, grime, rock, house, techno, drum and bass, trip-hop, garage, and more.
Click to download: Dub Music Podcast
Dub was pioneered by Osbourne “KING TUBBY” Ruddock (pictured above), Lee “Scratch” Perry, and Augustus Pablo among others. Hear this specially curated mix now on the Reggae Lover Podcast, episode 120.
This mix features reggae’s vocal harmony groups from the 60s, 70s, and 80s.
I took it back to the roots on this one. I focused on songs with an impressive vocal arrangement. This is a specific selection of songs with male singers harmonizing together.
I featured The Wailers, mostly from the “Catch A Fire” album. That album has that very dry, grassroots sound. This was before instrumentation such as horn sections and electric guitars were added. Before the female energy of the I-Threes was added.
The mix also featured some of The Heptones‘ Studio One era hits. I dropped in some original Israel Vibration before they split. Other groups featured are The Techniques, The Abyssinians, The Gladiators, The Sensations, The Mighty Diamonds, and The Silvertones. You also hear songs from Lloyd Parks and We the People, The Sharks, The Royals, The Cables, and The Flames.
Listen to those names and you know these brothers were from a different time. These vocal groups created some of the most beautiful music and the most powerful songs. You feel their passion because of the emphasis conveyed within the harmonies. There was something special about those days.
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Its the sweet soulful sound of great reggae music! If you enjoy this, check out episode 74. It’s entitled “The Greatest Reggae Bands of All Time (not including the Wailers).” That show features Aswad, Steel Pulse, Third World, Israel Vibration, Black Uhuru, and Inner Circle. Similar material is on The Studio One tribute episodes: 55 and 56.
It’s a new season of the podcast! I am back in full effect with new shows coming out every week until the end of the year. Thank you so much for listening. If it’s your first time, this is a livication to you, the reggae lover.
Whether you know the songs you hear on this show or not, my goal is that you feel uplifted after listening. I want you to feel joyous and happy. The music should help you to transmute any negative energy into positive. You should enter a different frame of mind via the therapeutic mixes and level up.
For booking information or to sponsor this podcast, email reggaeloverpodcast@gmail.com. Thank you to everybody listening from around the world. I love that you get to tune in and listen to me doing what I love most. We are sharing a vibe and keeping this music alive. Until next time, have a great week. One love!!
Imagine going to a dance and hearing a massive sound system playing. The records you hear are brand new exclusives being debuted. The ground shakes with the bass line.
Then the presentation climaxes. The top recording artists in the land vocally accentuate your vibes with live freestyles over amazing instrumental music tracks.
This was the experience at a dancehall session in the 1980s with world-famous King Jammy‘s Sound System out of the Waterford section of Kingston, Jamaica.
The King Jammys Tribute (1st Volume) episode is definitely the most popular podcast episode of this series on iTunes and SoundCloud. A big thank you to everybody who’s been listening.
We salute our dancehall trailblazer, king of digital reggae, sound system owner/producer Lloyd James aka KING JAMMY. This is the first half of a megamix featuring some big tunes and riddims from the Jammys catalog.
For more King Jammys vibes check out episode 4 (Sanchez, L.U.S.T and Friends – 80s Lovers Rock), episode 5 (Superstars Hit Parade 1987-1989 Tunes/Riddims), episode 10 (Dancehall Time Traveling Back to the 80s and 90s), episode 36 (Stalag meets Sleng Teng), episode 39 (A Late Eighties Reggae Dream 1979-1991).
Also see our tribute episodes featuring Cocoa Tea, Sanchez, Johnny Osbourne, Frankie Paul, and Josey Wales – artists who all recorded hits released on the Jammy’s label. Lots more to come… all dedicated to you, #reggaelover.
Cocoa Tea’s voice is smooth and easy-going, yet very powerful. He was one of the most popular artists in Jamaica during the 1980s and went on to international stardom in the 1990s.
77 – Reggae Lover Podcast – The Very Best of Cocoa Tea (1984 – 1994)
This episode focuses mostly on selections from his early catalog – songs released on the Volcano, Jammy’s and VP record labels from 1984 to 1994. This is sweet sweet Cocoa Tea!
76 – Reggae Lover Podcast – Tribute to Fatis Burrell
Blessed love and respect massive! This is Kahlil Wonda of Highlanda Sound welcoming you to episode 76 of the Reggae Lover Podcast featuring songs produced by the late, great Phillip ‘Fatis’ Burrell, Jamaican reggae music producer and icon – the CEO of the Exterminator (Xterminator) record label. Sit back, relax and enjoy!
The Reggae Lover Podcast returns with a new episode. This one is some curated live audio from a session in ATL recorded 10-14-17. There are many more mixes coming so stay tuned. Thanks to all my subscribers, listeners, and supporters around the world! #reggaelover
Take a listen. The Crown Prince of Reggae, Dennis Emmanuel Brown kicks off the mix and closes it out with the same song in a different style. The Real Rock Riddim is the most versioned reggae Riddim and the most sampled reggae instrumental in history.
The original was played in 1967 by one of Coxsone Dodd’s session bands at Studio One, the Sound Dimension band. Ever since then it’s been a foundation instrumental for dancehall and reggae. The real rock is just a part of Reggae music that is never going to stop. You are going to hear that beat in movies, on your radio, on your mix tapes, and in your parties. I kept the mix short and spicy so it doesn’t get boring.
If you love reggae music and have been listening from back in the days, then this should be nostalgic for you. This is a dedication to you, REGGAE LOVER,
SOUNDCLOUD: CLICK TO DOWNLOAD, OR PRESS PLAY BELOW TO LISTEN NOW.
The Shank I Sheck originally was a 1964/1965 Ska instrumental by Baba Brooks with production by King Edward on the Rio Records label. Rio is a subsidiary of Direct Records Ltd. and later Doctor Bird which like the other top Jamaican labels of the 1960’s had most of their releases distributed by Trojan Records. There have been hundreds of songs released on various versions of this instrumental over the decades with many top rated hits peaking in the 1980s and 1990s. The riddim track was a favorite for deejays and singers to perform over and a huge dub plate riddim for sound system selectors to record dub plates on as well.
SOUNDCLOUD: CLICK TO DOWNLOAD, OR PRESS PLAY BELOW TO LISTEN NOW.
Here is a curated segment of live audio played by Highlanda Sound with Kahlil Wonda selecting and mixing recorded on April 9, 2017, at Wildpitch Music Hall in Atlanta.
Rest In Peace to one of our favorite artists, Garnett Silk. Many may remember Garnett’s silky smooth voice and powerful lyrical content that captivated us in the early nineties and left us wanting more after he flew away home to Zion. Garnett Silk was a Jamaican reggae musician and Rastafarian, known for his diverse, emotive, powerful and smooth voice.
Similarly to The Notorious B.I.G., whom many hail as the greatest rapper ever, Garnett had a short run within the timeline of music history yet his legacy continues to grow. We remember Garnet’s legacy and celebrate his widely acclaimed musical contributions. Garnet Damion Smith (Silk) Sr was born April 2, 1966.
Get more information, sign-up for the VIP list, and get tickets here.
For this special March edition of Rub-A-Dub ATL, the Reggae Party, we’re featuring a singer/musician for fans of live music plus 4 DJs showcasing their best tunes for reggae sound system lovers!
Rub-A-Dub ATL | 3.12.17 at Wildpitch
Doors will open at 6 pm on Sunday, March 12, 2017, with a live reggae music mixer from 6 to 8 pm featuring an acoustic performance by Dawit Selassie, lead singer of the Atlanta-based reggae band Eastern Standard.
Four sound system selectors will set the dance floor on fire with DJ Sets from 8 pm to 12 am. Residents DJ Passport and Highlanda Sound featuring Kahlil Wonda will be joined by guests Selector Webba, formerly of Jamaica’s “year-t0-year sound,” Metro Media, and DJ Chung from Boston’s Sound International Entertainment. DJ Chung recently relocated to Georgia and this will be his debut performance at Rub-A-Dub ATL.
Also by popular demand, we’re bringing back free jerk chicken and will have Rub-A-Dub apparel on sale.
Webba’s Jerk Hut will be offering FREE Caribbean food until 9 PM and available for purchase after while supplies last. SHOP for Rub-A-Dub branded T-shirts and Hoodies for men and women along with other featured styles from The Honorary Citizen’s apparel catalog.
This all takes place at WildPitch Music Hall (255 Trinity Ave. Atlanta 30303) featuring high-definition sound by D.A.S. Audio. A limited number of pre-sales tickets are available for $5 online (+fee) and general admission is $10 at the door.
Highlanda Sound 