2nd August 2011 @ 12:00pm
NiceUp talks to two of NZs leading artists who have linked up to take reggae music and culture forward.
Art - Greetings, Art here. I'm a reggae/dancehall selector and a hip-hop DJ who has been representing the music since 97 - doing radio, gigs/tours, mix-CDs etc. I also play some instruments and am getting into production more and more. Newtown is my yard and Newtown Sound is the name of the music house where I do my works from.
Israel - Bless up! My name is Desta Israel Buchanan, also known as Israel Starr - big up to the New Zealand massive. I grew up in Auckland in the Twelve Tribes House which was a blessing, then my family moved to Wellywood when I was about 13 and I've been in the Culture Capital ever since. But my roots are in the East Coast - big up all my Maoris from Ngati Porou! Teeehaaa!
Art - We met via the Aotearoa reggae legend, vocalist Mighty Asterix, Desta's dad. As a youth Desta would come to dancehall/reggae sessions with his dad and jump on the mic. Asterix was also coming to record at the Newtown Sound studio on Constable Street a few years ago - again Desta was there, often with Tuffy Culture and friends.
After both of us spent some time away, Desta was back in touch this summer saying he was living in the area again and we began linking up in the new Newtown Sound studio and at gigs. We both had similar intentions of putting Jah works in.
Israel - Yes, as Art said, we first met through Dad. I was just a youth when I used to come with Dad to the dancehall in Welly and Art was always selecting for Dad, so Art has really been there from the start, from when I decided to take music with two hands. He has been a major influence, bless up ya self!
We've been working closely together since I got back from Australia last year, but decided to do things proper at the beginning of this year and it has been all go.
Yeah having Dad around has played the biggest part in who I am as an artist. I mean in every way, from hearing him sing every day to listing to the tunes he was getting from all the top selectors around Aotearoa. So all the music that was hitting my ears from day one was the best of the best, and now I've acquired a taste for the finest high-grade music.
Dad would always listen to a lot of other types of music, especially gospel, P-funk and all the greats, Luther Vandross, Stevie Wonder, the list goes on. So he provided me with an immense knowledge base of all types of music, which has made me more of a versatile artist.
Dad lives the lyrics too - I don't think I know anyone more ital living then Pops. I could go on about Pops but I'd have to write a book hahaha! Bless up Pop!
Art - It's a blessing to have someone or something influence you so much and it's important to show that love and respect - countless people and songs have influenced me and I have continual mad love for them!
The music in that song is a somewhat blatant throw back to sounds of 60s and 80s Jamaica and 90s hip-hop, big personal influences right there. I just knew it had to be a 'respect to the foundation' song, and it was a real joy to hear the lyrics and melody that Desta came with for that tune - on point and a great showcase of his talent as a singer, DJ, lyricist.
If I had to name people that were major influences on me - Roots Foundation, Danny Lemon, Stinky Jim, Kerb, Asterix and DLT are just a few.
Israel - Big up the foundation in Aotearoa. I mean the list goes on from Herbs to the Twelve Tribes band and all my family in those bands.
In this track I mention a lot of selectors I grew up with and watching Dad vibe with, so personally I wanted to send my first fruits out to them, and let them know that the hard work that they go through in buying vinyl, selecting and promoting gigs has paid off, because it has influenced not only me, but a whole generation! And those fruits are ripening now and it is evident with the mass of reggae talent popping up on a daily basis in Aotearoa.
Listen to 'To the Foundation' on SoundCloud
If you love it and enjoy it then do it. I found that just sitting in a room and seeing where your voice will take you is the best way to really know how to work it. And you have to try all styles and listen to loads of different music, so go and buy that dollar-fifty CD you saw at the op-shop, chuck it on and try and sing like they do! And even if you don't like it at first, I'm sure you will start to appreciate how their voice works. If it really sucks then throw it away, hahaha!
Yeah well there is a lot of love for music here and I give thanks for that everyday. Many artists and producers are doing great things with their works and releases - things are really moving from strength to strength, especially with the new and exciting artists coming into the scene here.
I've always tried my best to represent the Aotearoa reggae talent that I come across and try to get behind it and push it forwards and onwards to higher heights. Whether it be gigs or releases or working with artists, I think the more works done together the stronger we can build a solid and formidable musical foundation here in Aotearoa.
Yes for sure, I agree V. I can't help but observe things like - at local reggae band gigs, there is often no reggae selectors in the audience, and often selectors wont support local bands on the radio etc. Then at a sound system night or a reggae dance somewhere - often no musicians or bands will be there to support those gigs.
So yeah, I've certainly noticed the need to somehow bridge these reggae cultures together - the developments in both areas are moving fast.
Luckily though, this is not always the case - new generations are coming through the scene with positive and supportive attitudes and that is refreshing to see. Selecto's 'Punky Reggae Party', and Iron Will/Riddim Central's 'One Foundation' nights are moving forward with this. Large up. Wellington's Mayhem Sound is one to look out for too, as well as Israel Starr and Timmy P.
By unifying the musical movements here, I feel that Aotearoa can really rise up as a strong force in the international reggae scene. It's happening already (the 'rise up') for a lot of producers, vocalists, bands and sound systems, and I have a lot of respect for the men and women putting in the hard work to make that happen.
A little bit of overstanding, support, respect and reasoning amongst the different reggae bands and selectors etc here is only going to help forward things. People can help by simply showing some love to others who are doing Jah good works, great stuff is developing in so many different areas of the reggae music scene here.
Art - Yeah, it's real exciting! We're looking forward to linking with more music heads at the festival and also have a chance to see some world class acts.
We're also reuniting with Silva Emcee and The Mighty Asterix who is gonna be there too. We're gonna rep Aotearoa hard out, showcasing the works of some of our greatest talents and also our own works as NEWTOWN SOUND and MC ISRAEL STARR.
Art - We are about to record a new song. Newtown Sound has a 12" vinyl release coming out (finally!) - a single from Dam Native. Israel Starr will also be working on Iron Will productions and a Juse 1 collaboration.
Israel - Gigs, more gigs and hitting the studio to give the massive more. But I really want to collaborate with a lot of different artist in all forms of music.
Art - Link up, we are keen to get busy and forward this ting together.
Please come to our fundraiser party at Havana Bar, 'ONE STEP FORWARD' - Friday 26 August. It's gonna help us get to Byron Bay and if you've got some spare change, have a think about chucking it in our koha tin there. We'll have a few CDs and t-shirts for sale too. DJ Hawk I is going to be selecting too and is one of Wellington's toughest selectors, so it should be a real good night.
Israel - Bless up and one love, shout out to my boy Ezekiel and my mum, love you mum!
More info:
Newtown Sound website
Newtown Sound SoundCloud
One Step Forward Fundraiser @ Havana Bar, Friday 26 August
Comments
Awesume...This work Ras can only grow..spread the positva vybz and Spirit RasTa. Yahweh bless.
Regarding the question about live reggae bands vs soundsystems. I personally promote soundsystems (no suprise there), Soundsystem culture has a long way to go/grow here in NZ and that's where my heart is. I do support reggae bands and attend theirs gigs where possible. But they are two different things and it's ok that they are different. I personally don't see the two mixing that well in the dance. Just my opinion...
Hello Mr Vital,
I agree that sound system and band culture is different, but I do think it can mix well, and in a place like NZ where our scene is so small, I think like Art, that it's a good idea to try and mix those scenes, so both of them can benefit from bigger numbers and more support (I think more cross over would especially benefit sound system actually).
One great example I've seen of this kind of cross, is in London where Earl Gateshead put on a gig - him and another selector played first, then Blood Shanti & The Shanti Ites band played, then Aba Shanti ran his sound. It was a killa night!
Hope NZ peeps can get more links going.
Hi V, I thought you would come back with a good example of how it would, or has, worked in th e UK :)
but like I said, it's just my opinion. I'm happy to build the soundsystem culture and leave bands to do their thing...
Cool Manray, fair enough too.
Be good to hear what other people think about this too, it's an interesting one.
Oh and BIG UP Art & Desta!
my two cents, i luv sound system and have been to a few nights here in the uk where there's been a live act followed by a sound, live act followed by the likes of shaka, channel one sound or aba shanti.
Speaking with an old time uk soundman it used to be quite common for a live act to be followed by a sound n made for a good night. I think hearing the likes of burning spear, or mighty diamonds followed by a heavy sound, altho a long night, is my idea of heaven! I enjoyed the session i been to in that format.
I think the vibes can build on each other, the live act can set the tone and a benchmark for the sound system following, the sound system then builds on it taking it to another level. Also in session, hearing someone from the live act jump on the mic, or have someone starting blowing a live horn can take things up a notch, best of both worlds. I am biased towards sound system but don't think they need to be totally independent and can compliment each other.
Either way the discussion does distract a little from the real essence of this article, art n desta. From radio work, selecting, promo, production, to forwarding n reppping aotearoa reggae from byron bay to berlin to bricklane n beyond... newtown sound making big tings gwaan, maximum respect to that!
I think it also has to be said that there is generally large gulf between the music styles favoured by local live acts and the soundsystem fans. We don't, to my knowledge have many live acts with the heavy, deep roots sound often forwarded by soundsystems (no doubt there are a few exceptions). It seems mainly major-key rnb-infused reggae pop stuff. People seem to love that stuff, but it would be completely at odds with a heavy basement soundsystem session....
Wow, some good discussion here, and from some very respectable heads. Love it.
Its good that we all got an opinion on that question (which, by the way, was a very good one V!).
Some of us have a vibe to forward the music as a whole. While some feel a purest approach is better. Either way, its important and valuable to reason on this stuff, i reckon it can only help develop and improve our small but awesome music scene.
Naram i'd have to agree that a big majority of reggae bands in Aotearoa are pretty much RnB bands, but often with killer riddim sections and some awesome musicians. Their songs might not be roots music, but dont forget that most of the roots music we love to hear on the sound systems also came in some form from strong RnB influence back in the early days aye? I find it fascinating, and look forward to Aotearoa soundsystems and bands bridging the 'divide' abit more. Music is deep so i hope a few more go for a swim.
Check these 2 great sound system moments right here, gold!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8duuG-1mOQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NghtiQsu_AU
big up C.Roots, LovelaceRoots and Matic Horns!
"There is generally large gulf between the music styles favoured by local live acts and the soundsystem".
Yes Naram, Maybe that's why I have trouble with it. And I guess I have bad memories from supporting live acts where us dj's and MC's were always treated are poor cousins (one of the reasons I never play One Love). But of course I've now built a sound and can control the vibe 100% of my sound and can stand strong in the dance. Maybe we'll see the graps closing between band and sound. and like Naram said if a live band play nuff heavy roots then the two may work together (well at lest with Vital).
BTW I have no problem with horns, melodica, hand drums etc in the dance, that's slighty different to what I mean by band vs sound...
Fair call re: the historical rnb influence. No doubt there's still a big contemporary rnb influence on the modern JA stuff too. But I think it's good too have uncompromising purists out there - perhaps like Manray. I think a lot of heads probably became a bit disillusioned by the trend towards poppier sounds by live 'roots reggae' bands in NZ and the development of a proper, serious roots music soundsystem scene is a brilliant antidote to this.
Music is cyclical, and I'm sure some heavy roots bands with a strong awareness of the foundations will emerge in NZ someday soon. For all I know maybe they already have...
By the way Maarty, I bought a lovely old Hohner melodica when I was traveling through oz. I'd love to have a blow on it during one of ya sessions once I finish my journey...
Good korero. My humble opinion: you'll never bridge the gap between the NZ reggae band audience and selectors soundsystems and deejays. The band crowd have never listened to Jamaican reggae and they never will. If 30 years of post Bob music from the likes of Barrinton Levi, Yami Bolo, Sizzla, Buju Banton, Cutty, Shaba, Capleton, Beenie, Sean Paul etc etc not to mention the UK artists and producers etc isnt enough to convince them that real Jamaican music is great then nothing ever will, certainly no soundbwoys deejays or producers from NZ are gonna do it. I support Manrays korero, concentrate on building soundsystem culture or whatever part of the culture you love, whether it be dancehall, nyabinghi, steppers, lovers, rocksteady, ska, dub, speaker boxes, ital food, jerk chicken, whatever, dont waste your time with the BBQ reggae peeps.Its a waste of energy, and if it was gonna happen, it would have happened already.
Good points here bros. I agree that if the bands aren't gonna play heavy roots then its the sound systems and selectors (and uncompromising purists!) that are more likely and reliable to 'bring it'.
Manray/Naram - Melodica/Horns at Vital would be killa! and better than the drunken piano at the last one ;)
High Stakes - I still reckon one day sooner or later a change will come which will bridge the cultures and audiences together abit more. Well i'm certainly hoping so anyway!
Maybe some of the BBQ reggae and Jandal Dub audience will get bored of the repetitive themes and copycat styles and want to hear something more honest, tough, real, and ultimately useful, in the music? i dont think thats impossible. For example, I've got high hopes for Iron Hammers doing it rough and tough how we like it. Newtown Rocksteady are pretty mean at what they do too.
But yeah the more works we all do to rep the sound system culture - the more recognition/understanding it'll get. The vibes are building here already - if not for Jah Love, Steppa D, Vital, Ghetto Vibes, Back A Yard, Jafa, and the crews down south putting in work there would be even less knowledge and understanding of roots/dancehall music and culture - which is a pretty large gulf within itself too eh.
Keep up the good works and discussions. some important points raised here!
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