House of Reggae

Welcome to part two of real reggae sound systems. Following the interview with Meditative Sounds from Sweden here comes the amazing Mungo’s Hi Fi crew out of Glasgow, UK. Rasta move on …

Ich kann das gar nicht oft genug erwähnen: Am 15. April 2011 erscheint Uwe Kaas neues Album „Danebenbenehmen“ über Irievibrations Records. Vorab habe ich mir Uwe via Skype geschnappt, leider ohne Headset. Ein Tippinterview über kaputte Gitarren, organische Musik und charmante Slackness. Rasta move on …

Today i start a brandnew series at House of Reggae: real reggae sound systems. No, i am not talking about Djs with a record box; this one will be all about self-made speaker boxes, sirens and thing. The first sound i have asked about the runnings is Meditative Sounds from Uppsala, Sweden. Rasta move on …

A few months ago I came to know the Japanese Rock A Shacka label through a package I received by surprise. Masaya Hayashi (Massa) runs the business for over 20 years, bringing Jamaican vintage vibes from on Island to an other. There are lots of stories which have never been told. So this isn’t just an interview about Rock A Shacka and Drum & Bass Records. It is an unique insight into the Japanese reggae scene as well. A must read as I would say. Dear Massa and Matthew, thank you very much for making this possible. Rasta move on …

Have you ever heard of digital poster artist Michael Thompson? Probably, if you have read the latested issue of the reggae magazines Riddim or Irie Up. As I am fascinated by his art, I asked for some pictures and an interview. Here it is with Michael Thompson talking about tradition and technology and what his art has in common with Reggae artists like Bob Marley and Burning Spear. Rasta move on …

In November 2010 I recommended the wicked mixtape „Umanizm 2“ by dancehall artist Original Uman from Belgium. It is really hard to find information about him in the internet, that’s why I have asked the man himself. Here comes the story of Original Uman and please make sure to check the wicked dubplate on the „Sleng Teng Riddim“ at the end. Rasta move on …

“African Revolution”, the new album from African’s most successful Reggae singer Tiken Jah Fakoly is out since November. Nearly at the same time there have been elections in his home country Ivory Coast and since then we see images of a country full of politcal tension. About this and about ways out of this “impasse” Guido Barth and Tiken Jah Fakoly are talking in here. As the new album “African Revolution” is suggesting education as an intelligent revolution it is taking its role in this interview more political wise than musical wise. Rasta move on …

It took me quite a while to get this interview with fast rising star Gappy Ranks. Some e-mails have crossed the Atlantic Ocean until I got the answers from VP Records out of a sudden. So here is Gappy Ranks talking about his hometown, the UK reggae scene and an album, that never has been released, yet. Rasta move on …

In Jamaica Reggae artist come up to the surface as fast as bubbles in a tub. Some of them burst, some of them are meant to stay like young artist Nature. Benjamin Gruner gave Nature a call and talked about the beginning and future of his career and the message Nature would like to spread amongst his listeners. Rasta move on …

Sentinel-MC Shotta Paul bereitet sich momentan wahrscheinlich auf den „Sound Fi Dead“-Clash auf Jamaika vor. Vor seiner Abreise hat Benjamin Gruner schnell noch angerufen und mit dem Shotta über den Clash, die Grenzen kreativer Dubplates und die unfassbare Kingston Hot Radioshow gesprochen. Rasta move on …