A soulful musician and songwriter with a distinctive voice, built with obvious reggae influences in articulation and phrasing, Selah Sue offers her soulful, jazz-infused debut album. The self-titled LP went multi-platinum in her native country Belgium and peaked in the top ten of the Dutch and French albums chart, where she has been elevated as huge star, before embarking on worldwide release.
The lineup assembled to celebrate Jamaica’s 50 years of independence reads like a Reggae hall of fame. An abundance of legendary names past and present from Jamaica’s rich musical heritage are spread over 12 nights of performances celebrating the Caribbean Island’s influence on the music world. One such name was always likely to loom larger than most on the lineup, and its no surprise that Damian, Stephen and Julian Marley were given top billing with this, the first of a two-night stand at the O2 Indigo (26th July).
Reality TV alumnus Romain Virgo has become a genuine success since winning Digicel Rising Star, Jamaica's equivalent to the popular [Insert Country Here] Idol series. Under the guidance of revered producers Shane Brown from Jukebox Records and Penthouse Records' Donovan Germain, The System has big shoes to fill as a follow-up to Virgo's acclaimed self-titled debut.
I came across talk of Justin Bieber bigging up reggae artist J Boog (NOT the B2K guy) earlier this week in an interview by Reggie Yates [here is a radio rip on YouTube of the best part of the program at 3:30] as the Bieb's plays a song from his phone that he could listen to all day; J Boog - "Let's Do It Again." Don't let the Bieber co-sign put you off, it is actually a good song. With that said, let me tell you a bit more about the singer.
Hi, I'm Marvin Sparks and I appreciate all types of music (generic mucho?). You can follow me on Twitter to see the madness I listen to. Some may criticise, but I'm genre-blind; it's all about chord progressions, drums and (in my case) HEAVY bass.
While I say I'm genre-blind, this whole post is about genres. Seems a bit contradictory until I explain why...
"Got any Sean Paul, mate?" is a request most DJs have become familiar with ever since Sean Paul smashed through the mainstream doors with an aunthentic dancehall brand of floor-fillers such as "Gimme The Light," "Get Busy," and "Like Glue" almost ten years ago. Selling in excess of twelve million albums, numerous top ten’s (including four #1's), inspiring pop/R&B (or "dancehall knock-offs" as I call them) smash-hits, in addition to collaborations with icons including Chris Brown, Rihanna, R. Kelly, Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Busta Rhymes and Carlos Santana requiring that unmistakable, nasal-induced Patois, dancehall flavour - few predicted these heights during Summer in 2002. 2012 will see the release of the as-yet-untitled fifth studio album lead by UK top 20 Stargate-produced single “Got 2 Luv U” featuring young starlet Alexis Jordan. Oh, and he has a new haircut.
On 25 October 2010, the music world lost legend Gregory Isaacs in physical form following a battle with liver cancer. A legend never really dies though, and Isaacs is testament to that as he lives on through a slew of classics. Isaacs’ career started out in the late 1960s, becoming one of the most highly touted reggae exports by the late ‘70s. Despite two major label record deals his mainstream career didn’t take off as some hoped, but he remained an elite reggae artist until his passing. And really, who judges music on mainstream success anyway?
Leading reggae and dancehall label VP collaborate with renowned saxophonist/producer Dean Fraser to spruce up many of the Cool Ruler's anthems on We Remember Gregory Isaacs.
Former US marine Orville Burrell, known to most by his dancehall moniker Shaggy, has reached mainstream heights no other dancehall artist has in terms of mainstream success. Chart-topping singles and album all over the world with a career spanning near 20 years, most notably 2001's diamond-selling Hot Shot which boasted singles "It Wasn't Me" and "Angel" - both in the top five selling singles of the year in the UK.
Summer 2011 sees the release of new EP titled Summer In Kingston lead by single "Sugarcane," a cheeky song about a females addiction to the cane, which is rapidly rising up the reggae charts.
Marvin Sparks recently spoke with the legend himself (yes, it was him) to find out why he started making music, evolving his style, working with Mavado, nerves about performing in the UK this weekend and why he thinks UK artist Chipmunk is "A force to be reckoned with."
Marcia Griffiths is a well-known and established reggae legend in her own right commonly referred to as the Queen of Reggae. She began her career as a solo singer, scored a British top 5 with "Young, Gifted and Black" alongside Bob Andy before becoming 1/3 of the I-Threes a.k.a. Bob Marley's backing vocalists, or his three little birds as he preferred to call them. The Wailers were renamed Bob Marley & The Wailers when Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer left and replaced with the I-Threes, recorded what became the transitional album Natty Dread which featured Bob Marley's breakout international hit "No Woman, No Cry" and the rest as they say is history. Well, we are talking Bob Marley where it has become legend.
Marvin Sparks had the pleasure of speaking to Marcia Griffiths to celebrate the 30th anniversary Bob Marley's passing.
Romain Virgo began singing in his local church choir as a youngster after his talent was spotted by a neighbour. During high school, he became lead singer of the school’s choir, with whom he finished runners-up on Jamaica's nationally televised competition, All Together, in 2006.
Following encouragement from people who saw him lead the choir, Romain entered the soloist equivalent, Rising Stars, later that year. Unfortunately, he failed to make it to the finals, but the confidence gained from positive feedback helped the then 17 year-old try again in 2007. Not only did he make it through, he became the youngest singer to win the competition.
Since winning, the singer-songwriter has gone on to become one of the most promising young reggae singers, currently working under the wing of legendary producer Donovan Germain. Germain's Penthouse record label has been very influential to the careers of some of reggae and dancehall's biggest artists and producers from previous decades including Beres Hammond, Garnett Silk, Wayne Wonder, Sanchez, Buju Banton and producer Dave Kelly.