The quintessential Jamaican singer / songwriter, Tanya Stephens is equally adept at blazing the latest dancehall riddims as she is at blessing an acoustic guitar-driven ballad with lyrics that are insightful, relevant, comical, and often scathing…...life and love observed with the honest eyes of a child, yet processed and returned to her audience with uncommon maturity and melody. On “Rebelution,” Tanya Stephens once again displays her wit and musical sensibilities Tanya has scored international hits in the past with the classics “Goggle” and “You Nuh Ready Yet,”….songs still guaranteed to move the crowd in any setting. Her last album “Gangsta Blues” yielded the one-drop anthem “It’s A Pity,” on the Doctors Darling riddim (a remix of Gregory Isaac’s smash Night Nurse). The song was clearly one of the biggest tunes of 2004, and arguably Tanya’s career, and introduced the rest of the world to Tanya Stephens, the single found its way onto commercial radio and eventually video outlets like MTV Jams. The success of that single, followed by the critical acclaim from numerous media outlets (including the NY Times, Village Voice, Source, and Vibe Magazine) helped propel Tanya to the forefront of Jamaican music, and is the reason that nearly 2 years after it’s release, “Gangsta Blues” remains on the Billboard Reggae chart. On the 1st single “These Streets,” an airy acoustic guitar track, Tanya pleads with her thug-love to realize that “these streets don’t love you like I do.” Paying respect to the masters, Tanya borrows some rhythmic ideas on songs like “Dirty Thoughts,” where listeners will instantly recognize Bob Marley’s “Mr. Brown” riddim, and “To the Limit,” which draws on a classic Burning Spear riddim. The song currently burning up the radio in Jamaica “Rescue,” produced by Irie FM’s Big A, is a reworking of Bunny Wailer's “Ballroom Floor” Riddim. On this, her 4th LP, Tanya is poised to reach even greater international acclaim and finally be recognized by the masses as one of the great talents to emerge from Jamaica. “Rebelution” features the musings of a songbird who is vulnerable enough to feel the pain, but tough enough to live through it. With a militant swagger, “Rebelution” is an edgy narrative of a street smart guerilla poet who continues to break the stereotype of what a female Jamaican artist should sound like. Smart and sexy, jagged and cunning, the lyrics flow out of the speakers and attack the unfortunate victims of her sharp tongue. This is not a passive listener’s record, nor is it a record for the weak hearted. It screams and bites in the gentlest way possible, with back handed compliments and sometimes less-than-reaffirming opinions. Armed with a fervent voice and classy demeanor Tanya tells her truth the way she sees it, uncompromising and uncensored. The evolution from the love scorned “Gangsta Blues” is apparent, but does not stray from the autobiographical, if anything “Rebelution” is the next chapter in her story. Already a cult hero in her native Jamaica, this album has Tanya Stephens crying from the hills and streets of Kingston… “Viva La Rebelution!” |
Saturday, July 22, 2006
Tanya Stephens’s New Album ‘Rebelution’ in stores August 29th
New Dancehall Mixtape "RED ALERT" from DJ Boom
The Explosive Brand new mix by DJ Boom available on www.bassmentalitysound.com! Featuring The Hottest New Singles from: |
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Power of Words California Tour
San Francisco, CA - The music scene in America has forgotten one of the most important factors of creative expression. The words, or lyrics, which have been so important to past generations, have given way to simple "party" lyrics and "sing along" hooks, whose basic message hopes to reach only the least common denominator of today's listening and music buying audience. Gone are the days when people sang to communicate social and political awareness, while the real "truthspeakers" are snuffed out or ignored until they loose the will to create. Music as we know it has always been a sort of "newspaper" which gives the listener insight on current events and the news of our times. Somewhere along these lines the message got lost.
With this, "The Power of Words" concept in mind, Independent Distribution Collective (IDC) an artist friendly CD distribution company, decided to develop a small tour which would not only feature artists with a message, but artists who would make that message the main focal point of their live performances. IDC chose two artists from their vast catalog who put the lyrics at the forefront of their live performances. One artist, Haji Mike, is a Cypriot Poet, MC and Ph.D. who spent many years in England, where he was exposed to both reggae music and spoken word poetry. His tireless efforts to help heal a decades long division in his homeland of Cyprus, and his constant support of the youth culture there makes it easy to see why he was chosen for this tour. The other artist, Karney, is a San Francisco born Singer/Songwriter who has toured all of the US, and performed and written songs alongside countless different and diverse musical icons. Always a socially conscious person, and supporter of many forms of creative art, Karney's biting wit and political lyrics are always present in any of her live shows. This tour will also feature some amazing local acts in each of these cities.
It is important for this tour to reach audiences who are looking for a message in today's music. With that in mind IDC focused on a few markets in Northern California, which have always been home to social change in America. San Francisco, Santa Cruz, and Chico, California seem perfect places for these shows. With this small tour as a proving ground, IDC hopes to launch dozens of these types of tours across the US over the next few years. This tour will include live musical performances with a full band, acoustic performances, and even a few spoken word poetry and educational presentations. Please help support independent and intelligent music.
For more information or to arrange interviews with these artists please feel free to contact Steffen Franz at IDC, 415 292-7007 or e-mail standout@independentdistro.com
The "Power of Words" Tour, Summer 2006
Independent Distribution Collective, Olive Tree Music, Tangent Records and Positive Sound Massive Recordings present The "Power of Words Tour" featuring Haji Mike and Karney plus Stand Out Selector and the Poetz4Peace Riddim Section, plus many great guest artists.
Saturday 7/22 "Running a Label in the Digital Age" Multimedia Presentation by Haji Mike Noon-3pm Presented by Pyramind: The Institute For Advanced Digital Audio Training and AMP3 @ Pyramind Sound 880 Folsom Street, San Francisco. For more info or to reserve a ticket call 415 896-9800 or visit www.pyramind.com Free to Pyramind Students, and AMP3 Members otherwise $10 per person Limited Capacity - reserve tickets now.
Saturday 7/22 The Red Victorian and Peace Cafe presents Cypriot poet Haji Mike reading selected works of poetry at The Peace Cafe in the lobby of The Red Vic, 1665 Haight Street at Cole, San Francisco. For more information please call (415) 864-1978 Doors at 7 pm, all ages, Free to everyone... Donations welcome
Tuesday 7/25 JSP and IDC present the "Power Of Words Tour" featuring Haji Mike and Karney, plus special guests Good Luck Joes at Red Devil Lounge 1695 Polk Street at Clay, San Francisco. For more information please call (415) 921-1695 or www.reddevillounge.com Doors @ 8pm $5.00 in advance, $7.00 day of show.
Wednesday 7/26 Good Vibez Entertainment presents the "Power Of Words Tour" featuring Haji Mike and Karney, plus special guests at The Attic, 931 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, California. For more information please call (831) 460-1800 www.theatticsantacruz.com or
www.goodvibezmusic.com Doors @ 8pm $7.00
Thursday 7/27 Conscious Wise Scribe Visions presents the "Power Of Words Tour" featuring Haji Mike and Karney, plus special guest Mama Labeba and special guest DJs at Crux Art Collective, 7 Commerce Ct. ..110, Chico, CA (530) 892-2354 or www.cruxarts.com for more information . Doors @ 8pm Show @ 9pm $7.00
Friday 7/28 IDC and Chameleon Music presents Heavy Hitters Fridays featuring an Acoustic Evening with the "Power Of Words Tour" featuring Haji Mike and Karney, plus special guests at Brainwash Cafe 1122 Folsom Street, San Francisco, CA. Call 415 255-4866 or visit www.brainwash.com or www.chameleonmusic.com for more info. Show @ 8 pm Free to Everyone!
Haji Mike's new album "The Storyman" and Karney's two recent releases "All Connected" and "Karney" are distributed in the US by Independent Distribution Collective and are available at all fine music retailers and online at CD Baby.com and on i-Tunes.
Check out the following web links for background on these artists:
www.hajimike.com
www.karney.org
www.independentdistro.com
______________________________________
Independent Distribution Collective
1693 Polk Street, Suite 202 SF, CA, 94109, USA
415.292.7007 phone 415.292.5007 fax
www.independentdistro.com
Independent Music Moving Forward!!!
Wholesale Music Distribution by
Independents for Independents...
Monday, July 03, 2006
Katchafire Gets Usa Distribution Deal And Tour Dates For Hawaii And UK
Katchafire, Aotearoa's top reggae band, have gained an American distribution deal with 2b1 Multimedia in San Francisco. 2b1 is a specialist label with a strong live reggae catalogue of international acts. The owner, Boots Hughston, is a music industry legend around San Francisco, having been a session player to the stars, major live venue owner and a supplier of music production services, as well as being one of the visionary few who created the venue site that has become REGGAE ON THE RIVER, the premiere live reggae event in the US for over 20 years!
2b1 is, in turn, distributed throughout the USA by the highly-rated Sony/BMG-owned Red Distribution. The latter's most recent success being breakthrough reggae act Matisyahu.
Katchafire will now play live performances in the US this August in support of the 22nd July release in the States of REVIVAL. This will be part of an extensive headline tour of Hawaii, which includes fronting both nights of the annual BIRTHDAY BASH event for top radio station KCCN in Honolulu.
The UK will not miss out either - an extensive tour has been arranged for July and dates are as follows:-
Thursday 13 July
The Coronet, 28 New Kent Rd, London
8pm til 1am
DJs: tbc
£12 advance / £15 door
Friday 14 July
Larmer Tree Festival, Larmer Tree Gardens, Wiltshire
Other Acts: Afro Celt Soundsystem, Dreadzone, Seth Lakeman etc
Sold Out
http://www.larmertreefestival.co.uk
Saturday 15 July
Cypress Avenue, Cork, Ireland
8pm til 2am
DJ: Dr Fiasco
10e advance / 12e door
http://www.cyprusavenue.ie/
Sunday 16 July
Crawdaddy, Dublin, Ireland
8pm til 12am
DJ: Dr Fiasco
12e advance / 15e door
http://www.pod.ie/crawdaddy.php
Tuesday 18 July
Liquid Rooms, 9c Victoria St, Edinburgh
8pm til 12am
DJs: Mungo’s Hi-Fi
£12 adv / £15 door
http://www.liquidroom.com/
Thursday 20 July
The Croft, Stokes Croft, Bristol
8pm til 1am
DJs: Dubwize Soundsystem
£10 adv / £12 door
http://www.the-croft.com/
Friday 21 July
Llangollen Fringe Festival, Llangollen, Wales
7pm til 1am
DJ: Earthdoctor
£9 adv
http://www.llangollenfringe.co.uk/
Saturday 22 July
Monkey Café, 13 Castle Street, Swansea, Wales
8pm til 2am
DJs: Survival Soundsystem
Price tbc
http://www.monkeycafe.co.uk/monkey.html?v=1
Sunday 23 July
Ashton Court Festival, Bristol
http://www.ashtoncourtfestival.com/
£5
Sunday 23 July
Truck Festival, Oxfordshire
Other Acts: Mystery Jets, Chicks on Speed etc
http://www.truckfestival.org/
SOLD OUT
For further information on the UK tour please contact: anton@trailermedia.com
Katchafire and Mai Music would like to extend a very sincere ‘thank you’ to all the individuals like yourselves who have responded to their music and given them support, resulting in the USA distribution deal and tour dates into these important international arenas.
For further information please contact:
Gaylene Martin
Email: Gaylene.kiwi@xtra.co.nz
Victor Stent, Mai Music
Email: victor@maimusic.co.nz
Nadine Sutherland Turns Up The Heat
After a year on the small screen as a judge on the most popular television programme in Jamaica, Nadine Sutherland is set to make BIG waves this summer with a string of new singles, tour dates, and the release of her long awaited album.
Nadine turned quite a few heads during her recent video shoot for her new single entitled “Keep Me Safe” (Eight76 Records). A mixture of tourists, community residents, and passers-by to the downtown Kingston area stopped in their tracks at the sight of Nadine Sutherland in her element. Nadine is known for her dynamic energy and presence before an audience, and director Nordia Rose wisely used the busy locale as a backdrop for the songstress. The appreciative and enthusiastic crowd let Nadine know how much she’s been missed and that her fans are hungry for more. Nadine has also recently recorded another upcoming single “Cyan Tek It” featuring Chrisinti (Eight76 Records). The video for “Cyan Tek It” was also directed by Nordia Rose.
Nadine also returns to the stage as one of the headliners of the much anticipated Reggae Sunsplash 2006 in Jamaica this August. What’s more, she will also be joining Chrisinti and the rest of the Eight76 crew on select dates of the 2006 Eight76 All Star summer tour including the Sea Breeze Festival on July 23 in long beach, California. Nadine is looking forward to performing her songs from her long repertoire of hits (“Action”, “Babyface”, “Wicked & Wild”, etc.) and new material from her album. Interested promoters should contact Myshjua Archibald at Eight76 Records (786) 251-7202 / allarc@aol.com
As a business minded entertainer, Nadine has wisely established her own company, Nadsipadsi Enterprises Incorporated. Nadsipadsi’s purpose it to work hand in hand with various companies on projects that further Nadine’s long-term career goals. This allows her television, recording, and performing endeavors to flourish. Upcoming projects include the launch of the official Nadine Sutherland website where fans can interact directly with Nadine. In addition, Nadine has already begun shooting the latest season of Digicel’s Rising Stars on TVJ in Jamaica along with fellow judges Anthony Miller and Clyde McKenzie.
Nadine Sutherland’s star continues to burn brightly with a new album, videos, singles, a sizzling live show, and a spot on the HOTTEST television programme in Jamaica’s history. Keep an eye on her- you don’t want to miss your moment in the sun!
About Eight76 Records:
Founded in 2002 by Kenroy "YahBreeze" Archibald along with his wife and partner, Myshjua Archibald, Eight76 Records is the official music label of All Arc Enterprises as an outlet for the performing, production, and writing talents at All Arc Productions. The label launched itself into the international marketplace in 2004 with the release of the RUSTIC, SKASMATIC, and RETRORESPEK which feature the talents of veterans like Marcia Griffiths, Luciano, Mikey General, Nadine Sutherland, YahBreeze, producer Barry O'Hare. Recent CD releases on the Eight76 Records label include emerging stars Evette and Fyah Blaze and popular roots reggae singer, Chrisinti. For more information visit the company's official website: www.Eight76Records.com.
For further information contact:
US/Canada: Foundation Media - Russell Gerlach: (562) 948-3008 / ReggaeRuss@aol.com
Jamaica: Headline Entertainment - Jerome Hamilton: (876) 960-0382 / Jerome@Headline.com.jm
All Arc Enterprises/Eight76 Records - Myshjua Archibald: (305) 234-5883 / AllArc@aol.com
Reggae Ambassadors Worldwide member (#1833)
Friday, June 30, 2006
VP Records Releases King Jammy’s Companion CD - DVD Collection July 18
VP RECORDS RELEASES SEMINAL DIGITAL REGGAE CREATOR KING JAMMY’S COMPANION CD/DVD COLLECTION JULY 18
ORIGINAL 80’S CHOICE CUTS PRODUCED BY THE KING FEATURING HIS GROUNDBREAKING RIDDIMS EVIDENT IN TODAY’S REGGAE HITS
From the popular "Sleng Teng Resurrection" revived by Bounty Killa and its original vocalist Wayne Smith and the "World A Reggae" by Ini Kamoze and The Taxi recreated through Damian Marley’s hit "Welcome to Jamrock;" from the restoration of the Admiral Bailey’s "Punany" performed by Shabba Ranks in “Caan Dun” to the remake of “Father Jungle Rock” in “Can’t Satisfy Her” by I-Wayne, the powerful reverberations of King Jammy’s pivotal electronic riddims which ushered in the digital reggae movement are still felt all over the charts. Twenty years after these riddims were built, new generations of aspiring soundmen are still cutting dubs on these versions, still killing sounds in clashes from New York to Brixton, from Germany to Japan, forever dipping into King Jammy’s reggae repertoire.
On July 18, VP Records will release a companion CD and DVD of King Jammy’s King At The Controls, King Jammy’s Essential Hits {from reggae’s} Digital Revolution 1985-1989, a tasty and important slice of the King’s indelible stamp on reggae music. It all began with “Sleng Teng” in 1985. With Jammy working his magic at the boards and Wayne Smith eking the tune out on a cheap Casio battery-powered keyboard, the simple hypnotic track came to life and changed reggae forever. At its debut at a big clash between King Jammy’s and Black Scorpio, Canadian journalist Beth Lesser was there and wrote in her classic book King Jammy’s, “[Jammy’s selector] Tupps opened right away with ‘Sleng Teng’ and the crowd went wild!...The bass sound coming out of those boxes was like nothing that had ever been heard before. It was absolutely clean – powerful and pounding. It just stopped your heart.” “Sleng Teng” paved the way for much change. Computer riddims suddenly controlled the dance floor and live instruments fell out of favor. Independent producers began to flourish because all that was needed were Casio and Yamaha keyboards and an Oberheim drum machine. Steely and Clevie gravitated to Jammy’s, bringing a new level of musicianship to the game and Bobby “Digital” Dixon took over mixing duties. A new dream team emerged, taking reggae into the present.
The tracks on King At The Controls offer a solid sense of Jammy’s innovative sound and production during that era and showcases the young, unique talents Jammy nurtured. The tracks were chosen by Jammy and NYC-Jamaica main man, Johnny Wonder who, since the 80’s as a part of Jammy’s studio crew, was instrumental in bringing the hottest sounds emanating out of Jamaica to the NYC club scene, helping to break many an artist here. From “Music Lover,” featuring Shabba Ranks as a hungry young rising star to “I Love King Selassie,” featuring Black Uhuru in their early days, one of dancehall’s greatest DJ’s during his formative years; from Junior Reid singing “Boom Shack” as a young, local Watertown youth to Dennis Brown’s “The Exit,” highlighting the Crown Prince of Reggae foray into the digital age via the King, King At The Controls pays respect to King Jammy’s legacy and the depth of one man’s commitment to reggae music.
The companion DVD is set in King Jammy’s own Waterhouse community and gives a glimpse of the environment the music emerged from and the man behind the boards.
King At The Controls King Jammy Essential Hits {from reggae’s} Digital Revolution 1985-1989 will be followed by King Jammy’s Selector’s Choice on October 10th. Selector’s Choice is a 10-disc boxed set compiled by the King and Johnny Wonder, organized riddim by riddim. It’s authentic, authoritative and indispensable.
King At The Controls track listing includes:
- “Money Man Skank”- Half Pint
- “Carpenter” – John Holt
- “Agony” – Pinchers
- “Punany” – Admiral Bailey
- “Music Lover” – Shabba Ranks
- “I Love King Selassie” – Black Uhuru
- “Father Jungle Rock” – Nicodemus
- “Water Pumping” – Johnny Osbourne
- “Boom Shack” – Junior Reid
- “Deh Wid You” – Super Black
- “Children of the Ghetto” – Cocoa Tea
- “The Exit” – Dennis Brown
- “Run Down The World” – Nitty Gritty
- “Sleng Teng” – Wayne Smith
- “She’s My Baby” – Leroy Gibbons
- “Rock Them One By One” – Eccleton Jarrett
- “Let Off Sup’m” – Leroy Smart
- “One Scotch” – Admiral Bailey & Chaka Demus
- “Serious Time” – Admiral Tibett
- “I Know The Score” – Frankie Paul
*Please note the track change on #1. The correct song is “Money Man Skank”- Half Pint not “Mr. Landlord”-Half Pint
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