Bands/Selectors - If you would like to submit tracks or mixes to NiceUp, please email us with some info and the mp3 to - info@niceup.org.nz
Mikey Dread has been one of the most influential and ground-breaking reggae artists to come out of Jamaica in the 70s. His multi-media approach to spreading the message of roots reggae has seen him emerge as a pioneering DJ, producer, photographer, interviewer and documentary maker. From his youth, Mikey had a fascination with radio and set up the only school radio station in Jamaica. He came to prominence in the 70s with his much acclaimed radio show at the Jamaican Broadcasting Corporation, his show being the first to broadcast authentic reggae music, mixed in with Mikey's own distinctive jingles and effects. With the encouragement of mentor King Tubby, Mikey set up his own label and his sound gradually spread from Jamaica to the UK. He has worked with some of the luminaries of the reggae industry and today continues to spread Jah music to the people with his eight piece band while also continuing to document and preserve reggae music, roots and culture.
In this one-hour radio special - produced and hosted by DJ Art Official at Newtown Sound - hear Mikey talk about growing up as a youth in Jamaica, his experiences of the reggae music and documentary making industries, his passion and dedication in 'trying to preserve the legacy of reggae' and his strong interest in having the opportunity to tour New Zealand and Australia. This show also features highlights from Mikey's extensive discography, including classics from Best Sellers, African Anthems, SWALK and Evolutionary Rockers.
Born and raised in the U.S., the Morgan Heritage five-piece crew is made up of the children of Roots Reggae icon, Denroy Morgan. From the time they were youths the crew were raised with intensive musical training and a diverse range of musical styles and influences. The crew formed in 1990 and are made up of vocalist/keyboardist - Una Morgan, vocalist - Peter Morgan, keyboardist/vocalist - Roy "Gramps" Morgan, rhythm guitarist - "Lukes" Morgan and percussionist "Mr Mojo" Morgan.
Since forming, Morgan Heritage have had a string of successes and after working with legendary Jamaican producers, King Jammy and Bobby Digital, followed up with two solid albums - Protect Us Jah and Full Circle.
Breaking out of traditional stereotypes and rejecting categorisation, Morgan Heritage express themselves through a wide variety of musical styles, taking from Punk, Hip-Hop, Dancehall and RnB, while keeping themselves firmly grounded in Roots Reggae.
The crew state "...the mission is all about trying to get a Roots Reggae artist back on the scene...the goal is just to display love, peace and unity...our mission is just to uplift humanity...it's a mission of love and oneness for all people, no matter what walks of life".
In this one-hour radio special - produced and hosted by Art Official at Newtown Sound - hear Gramps talk about the history of the crew, defining moments in their career and what inspires them to continue, the state of the Reggae industry and future directions for the group. The special will also feature some of the crews most up-full and inspiring selections from their extensive releases.
Richie Spice has emerged as one of the most talented reggae artists of the 21st century. Born in 1971 in St. Andrew, Kingston, Spice comes from a strongly music-orientated family, including brothers Pliers (Chaka Demus and Pliers) and Spanner Banner (also on the Fifth Element label). After releasing his debut album in 2000 - Universal, on Heartbeat Records - Spice spent the next few years touring and recording singles, until meeting Devon Wheatley, the CEO of Fifth Element Records, who signed him onto the label. In 2004 Spice In Your Life was released, with the album, and Spice himself, receiving widespread acclaim throughout the world, among critics and dancehalls alike. Spice's powerful and conscious lyrics and themes reflect his and Fifth Element's beliefs, and 'aim directly at the upliftment of our youths, who will represent the generations to come'.
In this interview exclusive - produced and hosted by DJ Art Official - listen to Spice talk about his musical beginnings, how he was introduced to reggae music and influenced by people such as Bobby Digital and the Tuff Gong family. Hear him speak about his collaborations and influences and his soon to be released new album. This show will also feature some of the highlights of Spice's discography.
Newtown's Art Official reports on Soundsplash 06 - the eco reggae festival held over Waitangi weekend in Raglan.
Featuring interviews with headline artist and legendary Jamaican DJ/Toaster, Big Youth, plus Dunedin's Renegade Sound, Wellingtons own Yardwise family, and kiwi woman Gaylene Martin, who has worked in the UK reggae business for 30 years. Also includes music from Scientist, Burning Spear, Kora, Seeed, Third World, Blackseeds and Big Youth.
Lincoln Barrington Minott was born in Kingston, Jamaica in 1956. He started his musical career as a child, working with soundsystems, until setting up his own sound as a teen and becoming a selector. Minott's distinguished career as a vocalist began in 1969 as a part of the first-class roots trio - The African Brothers - alongside Tony Tuff and Derrick Howard. When the group split, Minott continued his solo career and spent extensive time at Studio One. In 1979 and 1980 he produced the ground-breaking albums - Ghetto-ology, Black Roots and Roots Lovers. Around this time Minott also launched his own labels - Black Roots and Youth Promotion. Youth Promotion was set up as a way for young and emerging talent to have a means by which to express and promote themselves, and has voiced, then upcoming artists, Yami Bolo, Tenor Saw, Garnett Silk and Junior Reid, among others. Sugar has continuously worked to help and support up-and-coming talent, while still uplifting the dance with his own signature style. A conscious and collaborative individual, Sugar has the belief of reggae being much more than a means of achieving self-fame, and that '...reggae music is a fraternity - what everybody does effects the next person'.
In this radio special - produced and hosted by DJ Art Official at Newtown Sound - hear Sugar talk about his musical beginnings, the highlights of his career, the realities of the reggae music industry and the missions that drive him personally and professionally - the education of artists, investment in the youth and working with the philosophy of '...togetherness, awareness and love - unity is strength', to establish better facilities and resources for up-coming artists. This show also features highlights from Sugar's extensive discography, including his work at Jammy's, Studio One, and from his own labels.