Picture this... Go back in the day... the 80s, a sizzling Sunday. The kitchen filled with the smells of yesterday's seasoned meat is in the oven, mixed with the sound of the pressure cooking tooting its steam across the stove top - the peas are nearly done. Macaroni and cheese is on the way. The sounds of the pots and pans clink and clanking in the sink by the rubber gloves. Mixed with this, i recall hearing the crackling radio or even the cassette playing. Sound waves that sent my mum crazy. "CHHHUUUUUUUNNNNNEE" she screams. I don't know what she's on about- cos it's the same ol' tune to me, but there's a vibe. It feels like magic. It's called Revival. This is where it begins.
I grew up listening to artists like Gregory Isaacs, Dennis Brown, Atton Ellis, Janet Kay and Louisa Marks. Reality is, I had no choice but to listen to them. See in the beginning, this sound was nothing like the pop and other stuff that would come on TV, but it soon emerged into soothing base tones and chords. This sound – music so sweet – made you kiss your teeth! Songs like “song title†and lyrics “song lyrics†became classic melodies – that still to this day could tear the roof off your house or a dance..
As time went on, my taste in music developed into reggae dancehall sound clashes – where at this time artists like Capelton, Bounty Killer, Beenie Man and Ninja Man were a big part of the reggae scene. The base and the riddims drove me crazy. Intertwined with these sounds, (the lovers and the rare groove), soul, rn’b and hip hop was still a big part of music for me, after all, it evolved the same time I did. Mary J Blige, Brandy and LL Cool J blared from my speakers throughout the 90s. But let’s not forget the slow jams. For me slow jams = the ladies. (not to sound sexist, but ladies – you and I both know you would slow dance with your handbag if you had to) I love the slow jams, the Barry whites, Luther, Freddie Jackson to the upfront Donell Jones and Usher – things can’t and shouldn’t always be hype!.
