Steady Rocker 8/10/07
With each member a musical veteran in their own right, it is no wonder that SINAI FIYAH is recognized as the hardest and fastest working new group in the reggae/dub circuit. From the humble beginnings of little more than a Craigslist spawned side project for a New Orleans native and members of internationally established groups such as The Stingers (Grover Records, www.thestingers.net) and Collect All Five, SINAI FIYAH has quickly taken the driver's seat in the musically professional mind of each member. Appearances in their other projects alongside such notable artists as The Skatalites, Laurel Aitken, The Slackers, The Aggrolites, Busta Rhymes, Corrine Bailey Rae, Ephraim Owens, Groupo Fantasma, Groundation, Echobase Soundsystem, and Bambu Station have helped SINAI FIYAH to convert legions of music fans to the reggae genre.
The sign that SINAI FIYAH is truly a force to be reckoned with is its long standing alliance with Aaron Morris of Tierra Studios in Houston, TX (www.aaronmorris.org). After only a couple of months of writing and rehearsing new material together, SINAI FIYAH sent Aaron Morris several roughly recorded tracks, and he was so blown away that he booked SINAI FIYAH at Tierra Studios immediately to construct this 3-song demo recording. Morris has given the group a cherished opportunity to record their original material in Houston's premiere multi-mllion dollar studio with a producer who has recorded and ran sound for acts such as G-Love, Jack Johnson, Sheryl Crow, Ben Harper, and American Analog Set. This alliance, as well as internationally established connections from their former groups, will no doubt have an immediate impact for the ready-made fan base of this heavyweight foundation.
Although many great musicians have traveled down the road that leads to SINAI FIYAH, four people make up its efficient core and continue to be the driving forces. Jon Nelson, the frontman for The Stingers and a man who has traveled the world as a multi-instrumentalist member and session player for many other groups, leads the group with his mind-expanding songwriting and hypnotic rhythm guitar. Joshua Mouton, a man who has played with cross-genre instrumental band Collect All Five and has ran sound for such legendary artists as Susanna Hoffs, Matthew Sweet and Richie Furay (Buffalo Springfield), brings to KT88 his "Jaco Pastorius"-like bass playing, holding down a persistent anchor to the group's riveting rhythm section (Ft. Worth Weekly). Matt Jacobs, an Austin native and musical mastermind, brings his keyboard skills and sound engineering knowledge to bear along with his many years of road experience with Asleep at The Wheel. Although she is the newest member, Nina Singh is a seasoned veteran on drums holding down the reggae riddim like a clock.
While SINAI FIYAH prides itself on being the freshest sound of the Austin scene, their connections, growing visibility, and word of mouth will not let them stay underground much longer. Besides their recent and future recording situations with Aaron Morris & Tierra Studios, the group strives to develop the perfect live show collaborating with other art forms such as syncronized film, live art, and dancing, as well as continuing to write hit after hit; much to the pleasure of fans of other art forms as well as devoted dub and reggae heads. SINAI FIYAH will also be performing during many festivals and conscious gatherings in 2007, as well as constructing a new website and recording a full length album.
Revelling a combination of reggae riddims, soaring melodies, and swirling dub effects, SINAI FIYAH has certainly distinguished themselves as true dub musicians. While many groups now skirmish to adopt the increasingly fashionable sounds of reggae and dub music, SINAI FIYAH is constantly refining their sound and quickly becoming recognized as one of the best in the business. Great things are afoot, and its only a matter of time before these musical warriors succeed in their quest to spread the gospel of consciousness "inna" roots dub fashion.
