- Irie Magazine

OCT 2015
CA 01.02
MAGAZINE
CALI
TREEZ
RESPECT
IRIEFUSE
IYA TERRA
PRIME LIVITY
HIGH HOPES BAND
EMPRESS UNIFICATION
PROSPERITY MOVEMENT
ROOTS / ROCK / REGGAE / RESPECT
ROOTS
PAUL BOGLE
ROCK
MARK JOHNSON
REWIND
BAY AREA VIBEZ
IRIEMAG.COM
CA ISSUE #01.02 / OCTOBER 2015
“Though the road’s been rocky, it sure feels good to me.”
- Bob Marley
Nicholas ‘Nico’ Da Silva
Founder/Editor in Chief
IRIEMAG.COM
TABLE OF CONTENT.
ROOTS.
ROCK.
REGGAE.
Paul Bogle
Mark Johnson
Cali Treez
Morant Bay Rebellion
Playing For Change
No War
RESPECT.
REWIND.
RIDDIMS.
Kindah
Bay Area Vibez Festival
Irie Trax
One Family
Oakland, California
Roots. Rock. Reggae
JAM
ROOTS.
PAUL BOGLE
Morant Bay Rebellion
ROOTS
PAUL BOGLE
Morant Bay Rebellion
“Today I stand here a victim but the truth is I’ll never die.”
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Irie Magazine
PAUL BOGLE, JAMAICA NATIONAL HERO
Paul Bogle (1822–October 24, 1865) was a Jamaican Baptist deacon and is a National Hero of Jamaica.
He was a leader of the 1865 Morant Bay Protesters, who agitated for justice and fair treatment for
all the people in Jamaica. After leading the Morant Bay rebellion, Paul Bogle was captured and
hanged on October 24, 1865 in the Morant Bay Court House by the British authorities.
Morant Bay Rebellion
On October 7, 1865, a black man was put on trial and imprisoned for trespassing on a long-abandoned
plantation, angering black Jamaicans. During the proceedings, James Geoghegon, a black spectator,
disrupted the trial, and in the police’s attempts to seize him and remove him from the courthouse, a
fight broke out between the police and other spectators. While pursuing Geoghegon, the two policeman were beaten with sticks and stones. The following Monday arrest warrants were issued for
several men for rioting, resisting arrest, and assaulting the police. Among them was Baptist preacher
Paul Bogle. A few days later on October 11, Mr. Paul Bogle marched with a group of protesters to
Morant Bay. When the group arrived at the court house they were met by a small and inexperienced
volunteer militia. The crowd began pelting the militia with rocks and sticks, and the militia opened fire
on the group, killing seven black protesters before retreating.
WEBSITE
iriemag.com/chronicle/
Governor John Eyre sent government troops, under Brigadier-General Alexander Nelson, to hunt
down the poorly armed rebels and bring Paul Bogle back to Morant Bay for trial. The troops met with
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no organized resistance, but regardless they killed blacks indiscriminately, most of whom had not been
involved in the riot or rebellion: according to one soldier, “we slaughtered all before us… man or woman
or child”. In the end, 439 black Jamaicans were killed directly by soldiers, and 354 more (including Paul
Bogle) were arrested and later executed, some without proper trials. Paul Bogle was executed “either
the same evening he was tried or the next morning.” Other punishments included flogging for over 600
men and women (including some pregnant women), and long prison sentences, with thousands of homes
belonging to black Jamaicans were burned down without any justifiable reason.
George William Gordon, a Jamaican businessman and politician, who had been critical of Governor
John Eyre and his policies, was later arrested by Governor John Eyre who believed he had been behind
the rebellion. Despite having very little to do with it, Gordon was eventually executed. Though he was
arrested in Kingston, he was transferred by Eyre to Morant Bay, where he could be tried under martial
law. The execution and trial of Gordon via martial law raised some constitutional issues back in Britain,
where concerns emerged about whether British dependencies should be ruled under the government
of law, or through military license. The speedy trial saw Gordon hanged on October 23rd, just two days
after his trial had begun. He and William Bogle, Paul’s brother, “were both tried together, and executed
at the same time.” The Morant Bay rebellion turned out to be one of the defining points in Jamaica’s
struggle for both political and economical enhancement. Bogle’s demonstration ultimately achieved
its objectives and paved the way for new attitudes.
In Reggae Culture
The second album of reggae artists Third World featured the title track ‘1865 (96° In The Shade)’, a
song that described the events of the Morant Bay rebellion from the point of view of Paul Bogle and
George William Gordon: “You caught me on the loose, fighting to be free, now you show me a noose on
a cotton tree, entertainment for you, martyrdom for me... Some may suffer and some may burn, but I
know that one day my people will learn, as sure as the sun shines, way up in the sky, today I stand here
a victim—the truth is I’ll never die.”
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Irie Magazine
Featured Album
96° Degrees In the Shade
1977
WEBSITE
iriemag.com/chronicle/
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Third World
Our Reggae Ambassadors
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USA
ROOTS.
MARK JOHNSON
Playing for Change
ROCK
MARK JOHNSON
Playing For Change
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Mark Johnson is a Grammy Award Winning Producer/ Engineer and Award-Winning Film Director.
For the past 15 years, Mark has worked with some of the most renowned producers in the music,
film and television industries, and with such musical artists as Paul Simon, Jackson Browne, Keith
Richards, Sara Bareilles, Bono, Taj Mahal, and Los Lobos. In 2005, he earned a “Contemporary Blues
Album of the Year” Grammy as producer/engineer of the Keb’ Mo’ album “Keep It Simple”. In hopes
of showcasing musical talent found on the streets, Johnson parlayed his musical knowledge and
technical skills to turn his vision into what is now known as Playing For Change. Mark has recorded
and filmed music around the world in over 45 countries and he has dedicated his life to connecting
the world through music.
Playing 4 Change
Playing For Change (www.playingforchange.com) is a multimedia movement created to inspire,
connect, and bring peace to the world through music. The idea for this project arose from a common
belief that music has the power to break down boundaries and overcome distances between people.
Mark’s vision became an effort to share this truth with the world.
It all began about ten years ago when Mark and his producing partner, Whitney Kroenke, assembled
a group of like-minded people with cameras and a mobile recording studio and embarked on a
journey across the globe. With their innovative mobile technique for recording street musicians
around the world and skill in editing their performances together, Mark and the crew created
Songs Around The World videos. After accumulating over 60 million views on YouTube, the first
video, “Stand by Me”, laid the foundation for the best selling CD/DVD set ‘Playing For Change:
Songs Around The World’. This CD/DVD debuted at #10 on Billboard’s Pop Chart in April of 2009.
WEBSITE
playingforchange.com
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Two years later, Playing For Change released their second album ‘PFC2 Songs Around The World,’
which debuted at #1 on Billboard’s World Music Charts.
Mark’s first documentary film, Playing for Change: A Cinematic Discovery of Street Musicians, won
honors at several International Film festivals and his following project, Playing for Change: Peace
through Music, received awards and critical praise at the Tribeca Film Festival.
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Playing 4 Change
Mark also sits on the Board of Directors for the Playing For Change Foundation, a separate 501(c)3
nonprofit organization created in 2007 in order to bring music education to children in communities
the team had visited while traveling. Mark Johnson has also been a keynote speaker at the United
Nations, TED Global, the University of Michigan’s Martin Luther King Day Celebration, the World
Economic Forum in Davos as well as the Million Dollar Round Table and a featured guest on “The
Colbert Report”, “Tavis Smily”, “Bill Moyer’s Journal and CNN heroes. Playing For Change has been
supported by such icons as Norman Lear, Chris Blackwell and Howard Schultz and the PFC movement continues to grow one heart and one song at a time.
The Interview
IRIE. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Mark Johnson. My name is Mark Johnson, Co-Founder of Playing For Change. I started PFC with
Whitney Kroenke back in 2001 and we have been traveling the world recording and filming music
ever since.
IRIE. How did the inspiration for Playing for Change first come about?
WEBSITE
playingforchange.com
Mark Johnson. The inspiration for Playing For Change was born from the idea that we can make a
much better world if we all come together and music is the best way to make this happen.
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About 10 years ago I had an experience in NYC that opened my eyes to the power of music. I was
on my way to work at the Hit Factory Recording Studio when I witnessed two monks performing
in the subway, painted all in white. They were wearing robes and one of the monks was playing a
nylon guitar and the other monk was singing in a language I had never heard before.
When I entered the subway platform it was packed with people all taking in this music and I saw
a homeless man and a businessman, a young girl and an elderly woman all enjoying this beautiful
music. I realized that great music and art are just moments in time and they exist everywhere.
We can use the energy from these moments to connect people in a deep way.
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Playing 4 Change
This is when I had the idea to bring the studio to musicians in their natural environments and record /
film them live and in the moment wherever they happen.
In order to truly unite and inspire the entire planet we need to include as many different cultures,
races, religions, political views and economic status as possible. We realized we could connect all
these different groups with Songs around the world such as (Stand By ME). This vision was the birth
of the global movement that is Playing For Change.
IRIE. How many members our in the PFC band to date?
Mark Johnson. The PFC Band changes from time to time but the current touring band features 12
musicians from 10 different countries. They have so much love and respect for each other through
the PFC videos and this energy they create gets transmitted to the audience and together they build
a world where we are going to make it as a human race.
WEBSITE
playingforchange.com
Each musician brings his or her own unique musical style and life philosophy to the band and these
components combine together to create something new.
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IRIE. Each music project delivers an extraordinary lineup of musicians. How do you choose
each destination to record a new music project?
Mark Johnson. The process of finding different artists around the world begins with a look at a map
and discussions about what instruments and vocal styles we can put together to create something
new. With PFC, world music is when the world plays music together and so we select diverse places
and search for a music guide that can introduce us to musicians within each community. The idea
with the Playing For Change Songs around the world is to record as many different musical styles
and cultures as possible and then combine them into something where people can see we are all
connected with music. The songs help us choose the locations and then, as they develop, we choose
where to go next. For example with ‘One Love’ around the world we wanted to combine the steel
guitar with the Sitar and roots singers with a Zulu Choir and from these initial ideas the songs take
shape and tell us where to go next.
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Playing 4 Change
IRIE. How do you come up with the song’s ideas? And do you record all the songs on the road?
Mark Johnson. We choose songs based on themes such as connectivity (“Stand By Me” / “One
Love”), celebration (“3 Little Birds”, “La Bamba”) and urgency to make a change (“Gimme Shelter”,
“Get Up stand up” etc…). The songs help us decide the musical direction to take and then we set out
on the journey to find the musicians. We record and film all the music live outside with a mobile
recording studio and cameras.
IRIE. Playing for Change mission is to spread peace through music. Why do you think music is
such an effective media for promoting change?
WEBSITE
playingforchange.com
Mark Johnson. “We live in a world that walks over homeless people on our way to work like they
don’t exist. We have far too many starving children and warring nations. What is there to remind us
of the power of the human spirit? We are hitting the streets to connect to our hearts. As a Human
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race we come together for birth, we come together for death, and what brings us together in between
is up to us. Stop and listen to the universal power of music and bring that positive energy with you
everywhere you go.”
IRIE. You’ve also established a foundation to create music schools throughout the world. In
which countries are these schools located?
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Playing 4 Change
Mark Johnson. As we traveled the world the musicians and the communities we were visiting
invited us in their homes, played us their music and shared with us their stories. We knew we
wanted to give back and that is why we created the Playing For Change Foundation in 2007.
As we traveled we would ask the communities we were visiting what we can do to give back and help
them leave each location better than we found it. We learned that all over the world there is a need
for music schools to offer the children, the future of our planet, hope. We currently support 12 music
programs in South Africa, Mali, Ghana, Rwanda, Nepal, Thailand, Bangladesh and Brazil. This is just
the beginning.
IRIE. Can you share with us a memorable moment from a past PFC projects?
Mark Johnson. For years I have had a photograph on my wall at home of musicians playing in
front of a shack in Gugulethu Township South Africa. In the photo the musicians had so much soul.
I researched and found the name of the bandleader was Pokie Klaas. A few years ago we where
recording music in South Africa and we asked a group of musicians if any of them knew Pokie.
One of the singers jumped up real excited and said, “Pokie, he is my Best Friend”.
WEBSITE
playingforchange.com
The next day we got in a van and traveled from the city through thousands of shacks to Pokie’s house.
We met him and while he was watching one of our videos I walked behind his house to see four little
shacks with families living in them. The atmosphere back there had so much sorrow and desperation.
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We were reluctant to film the music but as soon as the band arrived and they all set up the instruments everything changed!! The music started to play, the children and the mother’s began to come
outside and the next thing I witnessed felt like an exorcism. All the negativity, death and sorrow
went away and were replaced by singing, dancing and love. We made such a strong bond with Pokie
and the community that we asked what we could do to help them, they asked for a music school and
instruments and then one year later we returned to this exact spot and built the first PFCF Music
School!!! It is named after Pokie’s Grandfather, “The Ntonga Playing For Change Music School”.
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Playing 4 Change
IRIE. What do you hope fans take with them from experiencing the music of Playing for
Change?
Mark Johnson. Everyone in life has had to persevere through something, and in that lies our
humanity. Playing For Change shows the world that no matter how many things divide us they are
never as strong as the power of music to bring us together.
IRIE. What’s next for Playing for Change?
Mark Johnson. The greatest thing about Playing For Change is that it never ends. There are always
more musicians to discover, places to visit and schools to build. Playing For Change is born out of the
idea that in a world with so much division, we need to focus on our connections. With music we can
communicate from one human heart to another heart.
IRIE. Nuff Respect, Mark!
WEBSITE
playingforchange.com
IRIEMAG.COM
USA
REGGAE.
CALI TREEZ
NO WAR
REGGAE
CALI TREEZ
Photo Credit: Steve Guerrero
The Faded Republic
Artists BZ Bwai, Adam Willis, and Alex Puente are on the path to set a new musical standard once
again. They are ‘Cali Treez,’ a fusion of Reggae, Rock, Hip-Hop, and RnB. These talented musicians
have been formulatin new wave of music, called ‘Mash-Up.’ Combining the elements from each artist,
they bring together a continuous movement into a newly formed empire. At nearly 3 years of being
together with their most recent musical release entitled ‘No War’ out on all formats, their is no telling
how far they will get. Adam Willis
Already considered by many to be an extremely gifted guitarist, his ability to span the musical spectrum from explosive to soulful has earned him the nickname ‘Baby Hendrix’. Whether it’s playing lead
guitar for Nas or showcasing his talents in Kendrick Lamar’s music video ‘I’, Baby Hendrix’s melodious
prowess shines through with every note he touches.
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Cali Treez
Featured Album
No War
August 04, 2015
BZ-Bwai
This Belizean vocal dynamo is well-known for his diversity. Traversing all styles, this genre-bending
singer expertly raps, reggaes, croons, hips or hops his way to make any project a musical dream.
Alexander Puente
Unifying all the elements that is Cali Treez, drummer Alex has also been producing with Far East
Movement and T-Lopez. He masterfully asserts his bold and unique rhythms to seamlessly stitch
together rock, pop and latin soul into an exquisite cacophony of sound.
WEBSITE
calitreezofficial.com
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Cali Treez is a group of young musicians sharing similar struggles with diverse and authentic musical
behaviors encompassed together. They are sound of the Golden State. From Compton, CA to Belize.
Adam Willis and Alex Puente first met in a Latin Jazz music program. While BZ Bwai, originally born
in Chicago, Illinois, and raised in Belize, crossed each others destiny 3 years ago. With over 60 shows
together including performances in Russia, Bahamas and Mexico, the Dynamic trio newly named
‘Cali Treez’ have made a musical impact in the Reggae, Rock and Latin Blues genres.
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Cali Treez
Cali Treez is here to stay, hitting the big leagues with humility even after all the opportunities of
world travels and accomplishments. They have performed in festivals such as the 311 Cruise 2013,
Cali Roots 2014, back to back Kubana Festival 2013/2014 and the Unity Fest AZ 2015. They have
shared the stage with many great artist such as Rebelution, 311, Ziggy and Damian Marley, Wu Tang,
System of a Down, Matisyahu, Tech 9, Jboog, Fishbone and Anuhea. They give thanks and priase to
the many talented artists who showed them the ropes on the BIG STAGE.
Each member of Cali Treez has lived through the struggle of being an independent band. They are
very thankful for the opportunity to live their dreams. Their goal is to show their appreciation and
RESPECT to those that have paved the way. Cali Treez currently has a few music videos in the works
for “NO WAR” and ‘Just Humans’. They are also working on some international collaborative projects
with artist from Latin America, Hawaii, Jamaica and New York. Their latest EP, ‘No War; is out on all
music platforms. There’s even Cali Treez merch and memorabilia in development which is scheduled
for a late 2015 release through their exclusive distributor, www.musiconashirt.com.
You can catch Cali Treez at their next show at the Mint in Culver City, California as they join New
Kingston on their ‘Protect Me Tour’.
WEBSITE
calitreezofficial.com
Irie Magazine is proud to present Cali Treez as our October 2015 Cali Edition featured artist. As
a bonus, Irie Magazine subscriber’s can download a free copy of the title track, ‘No War’, in digital
format for their personal listening pleasure courtesy of Cali Treez! Nuff Respect!
IRIEMAG.COM
The Interview
IRIE. How did Cali Treez come together?
Cali Treez. We were originally in a band called Krooked Treez. We were always close, touring together, creating music, always looking out for each other. When we made the move to separate from
our previous band, we went into the studio and just started working on creating music and within 2-3
weeks we came up with a whole album. We all agreed to push that album and so we then focused on
a name for ourselves. We wanted to keep Treez in our name because we created something very big
with it. And since we are from California, Cali Treez became our new identity.
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Cali Treez
IRIE. What is ‘Treez’ symbolic for?
Cali Treez. It’s symbolic for our music… which to us, is like planting seeds and growing it into
something positive.
IRIE. Your sound is like a whole new genre of music. Who do you contribute that influence to?
Cali Treez. Our music influences include Jimmy Hendrix, Bob Marley, Gregory Isaac, Steel Pulse,
Tupac, Joe Satriani, Sade, the oldies, Heavy mMetal music, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden, Spanish Rock, Afro-Cuban bands, Jazz and funk, Rolls Royce, Earth Wind and Fire, Parlament and
George Clinton (the list goes on). It’s a variety. That’s what makes this group so special. There are so
many different influences that help us create our own genre.
IRIE. In August, you released your debut album, No War. Why the name, No War?
WEBSITE
calitreezofficial.com
Cali Treez. We came up with the name, NO WAR, for the album title because we feel like the world
is so screwed up right now with greed and poverty overtaking our society. We feel that these are the
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reasons for the wars we have. We feel like our music is a way to destroy the idea of war. Our instruments is the weapon against these war. We are soldiers with our music. There are a lot of people in
this world that are so lost. We shouldn’t be suffering as people. There is too mush selfishness that
continues this negative trend.
We are discovering that our music is impacting those lost souls while also opening up the minds of
our youth. The other day at a festival, a guy came up to us and said “My mom talks about you guys. If
my mom talks about you guys, then I have to come shake your hands!”
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Cali Treez
We had no idea that our music was touching the lives of others. We found out that our music helped
someone get through the loss of his dad. Listening to our music helped him cope with the loss of his
dad. That’s big, real big to us!
IRIE. What is your ultimate goal musically with the release of NO WAR?
Cali Treez. Our goal with NO WAR is to take our individual wars and bring them together through
our music so that we can reflect on them. We are all in the same boat. No War for us is a storyline of
our life. It isn’t intentional, it’s reality. And people forget about reality. You can make so many songs
and tell so many stories. That’s great in all but then at the same time, that ‘s what makes it artistic for
us. We want to make something where people can listen to our music and feel like, ‘Hey, they’re going
through that too?” Or, they feel the same way we feel when we wrote this song or how we played on
stage. You can definitely see that.
IRIE. You refer to your music as being Mashup Music. Define Mashup Music?
WEBSITE
calitreezofficial.com
Cali Treez. Mashup music is anything mashed up. In our music, you hear a little bit of jazz, a little bit
of hip hop, a little bit of r&b, rock, reggae rock and roots reggae. You’ll hear everything in one song.
Our love for all different types of music is reflected in our own music.
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IRIE. What do you expect the fans to feel when listening to your collaborative music of NO
WAR??
Cali Treez. We want them to feel healing from our music; to help them with their own struggles. We
want them to feel motivated to make a positive change in our world. We really want them to join us in
making this world a better place. Use our music and let’s address the issues that plague our world. We
want our music to touch them positively. This motivates us everyday!
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Cali Treez
IRIE. What do you have lined up for shows in 2016?
Cali Treez. Setting up tour dates as we speak for 2016, hitting the islands heavy, and doing some
colaboration with some dope reggae bands you guys may know! Its a secret lol.
IRIE. Is there anything you would like to say to the IRIE Audience?
Cali Treez. Hope you guys enjoy our music, stay tuned for the album and hope to meet each and
every one of you soon! Stay grateful, work hard, love life, NO WAR. Boom!
IRIE. Much Respect!
WEBSITE
calitreezofficial.com
IRIEMAG.COM
Cali Treez
Adam ‘Baby Hendrix’ Willis, BZ-Bwai and Alexander Puente.
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IrieFuse
Empress Unification
Iya Terra
United States
United States
United States
Prime Livity
Prosperity Movement
High Hopes Band
United States
United States
United States
RESPECT.
IRIEFUSE
USA
RESPECT
IRIEFUSE
Photo Credit: Stage Media
IrieFuse is a collection of long-time friends and fresh talent, sprouting from the hills of Marin County,
California. Performing together since early 2013, they hit the scene hard - flooding Northern California
with live shows and numerous festival appearances, including Reggae in the Hills and the One Love,
One Heart Festival in Sacramento within their first year together. They have gained local recognition
rapidly, packing the local bars and music venues repeatedly.
Sun Is Shining
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IrieFuse
Featured Album
The young group has become a favorite performer at several Northern
California universities. They have held the top positions on local Reggae
charts for San Francisco and have successfully toured the US West Coast,
winning over the hearts of promoters and new fans at every stop. They are
frequently invited to return and often to directly support popular reggae
artists such as Richie Spice, Anthony B, Junior Ried, Alborosie, Fortunate
Youth, and numerous others.
Give And Get Back
August 07, 2013
Their grooves are influenced by bands such as Sublime, Rebelution, Iration,
Tribal Seeds, and of course, the reggae legends Bob Marley, Peter Tosh & more.
Riding the success of their debut EP, ‘Sun is Rising’, IrieFuse released their much-awaited freshman
full-length album, ‘Give & Get Back,’ on April 5, 2015! They also performed this summer at the 31st
Annual Reggae On the River and the Thundervibes Reggae Festival sharing the stage with The Green,
Anuhea, SOJA and Ethan Tucker. You can catch IrieFuse performing next at the ‘Fenix’ in San Rafael, CA
on October 3, 2015. Until then, pick up a copy of their latest album and find out what it feels like to Give
and Get Back!
April 05, 2015
WEBSITE
iriefusemusic.com
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USA
EMPRESS UNIFICATION
RESPECT
EMPRESS UNIFICATION
Meet Empress Unification... a collective of Bay Area female artists who perform Reggae & World
music in 5 different languages (English, Farsi, French, Portuguese and Spanish). Depending on the
guest female artist, the performances may include Hebrew, Arabic, and Armenian as well. The purpose of EU is to highlight the works and message of conscious female artists who have championed
the message of peace, love and unity, and to raise funds & donations for local women’s charities.
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Empress Unification
Members of the collective include ‘Irae Divine’, the Empressive SouLJah of Rastafari, who finds love
and inspiration in Roots and Culture. Irae Divine’s main goal is to heal and uplift the massive with
love, good music and Roots and Culture. San Francisco based artist ‘Razteria’ (aka Renee Asteria)
can be described as a fusion of early No Doubt, Steel Pulse and Marissa Monte. Her multicultural
background (US-born, Bolivian-Dutch heritage) has had a profound influence on her musical path.
Performing in English, Spanish and Portuguese, her music has been described as ‘musically adventurous’
and ‘a one of a kind breaking of all rules’, uniting Reggae, passionate Latin grooves, Rock, powerful
messages and musical genius.
Humanitarian and world traveler ‘Sol Atash’ infuses conscious multiculturalism in all her music,
blending in the four languages that she speaks (Farsi, Armenian, French, English) while collaborating
with other multi-lingual musicians, creating a series of positive Reggae songs that can be understood
on pretty much any continent. Thru this vessel, she likes to bring awareness to subjects that she’s
passionate about such as the environment, collective cooperation among nations & beings, healthy
eating, food politics, natural healing, & more. ‘Ariel Marin’, the newest member of EU, was born into
music. Her mother was a professional rock & roll recording artist. Ariel’s music education began
early and since then, she has done everything from rock, reggae, pop, r&b, hip hop, and gospel. She
has a passion for the arts and inspiring creativity in others. Nuff Respect!
WEBSITE
empressunification.com
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IYA TERRA
USA
RESPECT
IYA TERRA
Photo Credit: Stage Media
As the genre of Reggae music is continuously evolving, Los Angeles, California, based Iya Terra has
found a way to take the messages of traditional Roots-Reggae and seamlessly mash them up in a
today version. The young group of musicians have chosen the name Iya Terra, meaning “Higher
Ground,” as the launching pad to create positive, conscious music while spreading messages of
anti-establishment, simple living, and a healthy lifestyle. Their modern approach to the music,
high-energy performances and full sound add a new dimension to traditional Reggae that appeals
to an audience of all ages, opening the doors for them to be labeled as one of today’s leaders in the
“New Roots” movement.
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Iya Terra
Featured Album
Lead guitarist and vocalist, Nathan Feinstein, along with lifelong friend and bassist, Nick Loporchio,
began their musical journey to spread a conscious message to the masses while singing songs on the
sidewalks of UCLA in the summer of 2013.
Since then, the band has gone on to add longtime friends, Luis Tovar on keys and Danny Monar on
percussion in the spring of 2014, while also acquiring drummer, Blake Bartz, in the fall. Most recently,
the band completed their current lineup with Nick Sefakis joining on rhythm guitar in March of 2015.
The band’s first recorded release consisted of a 6 song self-titled EP that dropped in the spring of
2014. After receiving a great response and several requests to put out more music, Iya Terra released
their first full-length album, “Full Circle,” on April 14th, 2015. Produced and engineered by the award
winning, JP Hesser, the 10-song album debuted at #4 on the iTunes Reggae Charts and #12 on the
Billboard Reggae Charts. Recorded at Castaway 7 Studios in Ventura, California, “Full Circle” is host
to several special guest appearances by some of the hottest rising stars in the modern Reggae scene.
Full Circle
April 14, 2015
WEBSITE
iyaterra.com
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Iya Terra set sail on their first tour in August 2014 with good friends, Ital Vibes. The “Link Up Tour
2014,” presented by Ozzie of We Should Smoke and constructed solely by Nick and Nathan with
no additional management, proved to be a huge success in the next step of the band’s musical
voyage. Following the tour, the band sought out guidance under Rude Entertainment Productions
and since then, has shown no signs of slowing down.
Since acquiring the new management in November of 2014, Iya Terra has been relentlessly playing
shows all throughout the Southwest region of the United States while also reaching new areas
thanks to generous invites to play several music festivals and joining on multiple tours running along
the west coast such as the Kingston City Tour with New Kingston (Brooklyn, NY) and True Press
(Monrovia, CA), The Youth Rising Tour with Synrgy (San Diego, CA) and Ital Vibes (Carson, CA), and
most recently, a run with Tribal Seeds’ own, Gonzo with Beyond I Sight (Redondo Beach, CA) and
White Glove Service (Fresno, CA).
In their brief time together, Iya Terra has also had the honor of sharing the stage with some of
today’s biggest Reggae artists, both old and new, such as Barrington Levy, Black Uhuru, Yellow Man,
Tarrus Riley, Easy Star All Stars, Alborosie, Ky-Mani Marley, Julian Marley, Marlon Asher, Matisyahu,
Common Kings, Proteje, Nahko, Collie Buddz, The Green, Pepper, The Expanders, Arise Roots,
House of Shem, Stick Figure, John Browns Body and many more.
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Iya Terra
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Iya Terra
January 21, 2014
Even with their impressive resume, Iya Terra, continues to move forward. The band is currently
working on new music with plans to record a new EP in December of 2015.
Iya Terra recently performed at the 31st annual Reggae On The River, Iya Terra is set to follow up
with a few shows playing alongside the recently reunited, Tomorrows Bad Seeds, and a September
run with Hawaii’s own Inna Vision. What has now become a result of the manifestation of their
dreams, the band holds the intent to spread their music through extensive touring so stay tuned
for Iya Terra bringing the vibes to a city near you!
WEBSITE
iyaterra.com
IRIEMAG.COM
RESPECT
PRIME LIVITY
Meet Prime Livity... a Reggae band from
Los Angeles, California that plays for
positive, conscious change in the world.
Through the power of the Most High,
Prime Livity’s music comes alive, uplifting
brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers,
while keeping spirituality, love, and respect
for all life in our musical being.
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Prime Livity
Since the beginning of their formation
in October 2014, Prime Livity has been
connecting with the people and inspiring
the masses. Prime Livity members include
Bellywize Davis (Lead Vocals), Alex Gonzo
(Drums), I-One Dread (Guitar), Stevie Ras
(Bass) and Aaron Valdez (Keys/Bubble).
Prime Livity has recently released several
IRIE trax including ‘She Knows’, ‘Cease Fire’
and ‘Holy Smoke’, which just happens to be
an Irie Magazine favorite!
Prime Livity is currently recording their
first album, soon to be released. Respect!
WEBSITE
artistecard.com/PrimeLivity
IRIEMAG.COM
RESPECT
PROPSERITY MOVEMENT
On July 14, 2015, the world was greeted by the rhythms from an artful compilation of Reggae-Urban
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World fusion with the release of ‘Prosperity Movement’, a beautifully crafted EP from the record label Prosperity Movement
of the same name. Prosperity Movement was made for the urban traveler. From Oakland, California,
to the rest of the world, WolfHawkJaguar and Osunfemi Wanbi Njeri travel through the beauty, love
and prosperity of our urban world culture. Their album features five lyrical compilations that fuse
Reggae, Orisa, Hip Hop, and Rhythm and Blues. With songs like ‘Ile’ (Hold Tight), ‘Sounds of My Heart’,
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‘House of the Rising Sun’, ‘Real Africans’, and ‘Movement’, the Prosperity Movement EP contains thoughtful lyrics and comes across as a breath of fresh air in today’s burgeoning Bay Area music scene. ‘Ile’ is a Yoruba word meaning house. Our house is comprised of family, friends, and like minded
individuals tuned into what’s going on in the world. ‘Ile’ calls for strength and unity in these perils
times. Prosperity Movement believes this, too, shall pass with constant elevation of I, YOU, WE to
claim our victory. The universe helps those that help themselves. Hold tight Ile, Asè.
WolfHawkJaguar is preparing to release his critically acclaimed film/album ‘Search For The Everlasting
Volume 1
July 14, 2015
Coconut Tree’, fresh off the April 2015 performance and film screening at Harvard University for
the Spiritual Soundscape Conference. The film chronicles the journey of musician and mentor WolfHawkJaguar on his quest from Oakland, California to Ile Ife, Nigeria to find answers to some
of life’s burning questions. He journeys with his crew, The Band of Hunters, to perform at The Orisa WEBSITE
World Congress, and gets the chance to connect with something larger than self. Meanwhile, Osunfemi prosperitymovementmusic.com
Wanbi Njeri will release her highly anticipated EP ‘Warrior Woman’ this fall. Heavily influenced by
music greats like Stevie Wonder, Lauryn Hill, and India Arie, Osunfemi Wanbi Njeri creates music that uplifts, inspires and moves the people. Her first EP, ‘From Oakland With Love’, was released in
2013 under her previous name, ‘Isoké Custom Designs’.
IRIEMAG.COM
HIGH HOPES BAND
USA
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HIGH HOPES BAND
With their roots steeped deep in the tradition of the classic 70’s period of conscious reggae, the
High Hopes Band (HHB) is considered one of New England’s premiere reggae bands. High Hopes
combines influences of roots reggae, dub, & RnB into its own style and sound. High Hopes has been
performing throughout New England for the last 10 years. 2015 marked their 3rd year of extensively
touring the U.S. Virgin Islands and their first East coast tour routing in September. High Hopes has
provided tour support for Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, Freddie McGregor, Maxi Priest & Midnite.
They’ve shared the stage with Steel Pulse, Third World & Yellow Man. A huge highlight for the band
was opening for Ziggy Marley’s Fly Rasta tour in 2014 to a sold-out venue in Rhode Island.
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High Hopes Band
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High Hopes Band pulls from the paths of many golden-era reggae musicians — Jamaican artists of
the late 60s-early 70s who drew upon the Motown, country/Americana, and rock & blues movements
of their time — and aims to fuse that classic, orthodox sound with today’s current styles. The result
is an amalgam of genres: sweet hints of R&B, soul, and country music matched with spicy influences
from second-generation Jamaican musicians.
Forever Love
Members of HHB include guitarist and vocalist ‘Jason Dick’; bassist ‘Julie Feola’ who keeps the band
grounded in the foundation of their heavy roots sound; vocalist ‘Sebastian Franks’, whose soulful
vibe, creative writing skills, and catchy melodic hooks adds a fresh neo-soul like RnB influence to the
band’s already diverse sound; keyboardist ‘Paddy McDonnell’ who brings his own reggae dub approach
to original material written by the band; the band’s percussionist, ‘Papa Zekes’, a traditional drummer,
who is the ‘glue’ in the band’s sound. He provides the intricate sounds that keep the music grooving; and drummer ‘A.J. Maynard’, the newest addition to HHB, who also plays guitar and saxophone, the
later of which can be heard on the 2015 single ‘Big Brother’. Irie Magazine highly recommends you get
High Hopes Band’s new single, ‘Big Brother’, today as a free download (click here). Nuff Respect!
September 23, 2014
WEBSITE
highhopesreggae.com
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USA
REWIND.
BAY AREA VIBEZ FESTIVAL
Middle Harbor Shoreline Park, Oakland, CA
Sista I Live
Bay Area Vibez Festival | Middle Harbor Shoreline Park, Oakland, CA
Aloe Blacc with Sankofa Sound
Bay Area Vibez Festival | Middle Harbor Shoreline Park, Oakland, CA
Aloe Blacc
Bay Area Vibez Festival | Middle Harbor Shoreline Park, Oakland, CA
Irie Family
Bay Area Vibez Festival | Middle Harbor Shoreline Park, Oakland, CA
Fishbone
Bay Area Vibez Festival | Middle Harbor Shoreline Park, Oakland, CA
Morgan Heritage
Bay Area Vibez Festival | Middle Harbor Shoreline Park, Oakland, CA
Stephen ‘Ragga’ Marley
Bay Area Vibez Festival | Middle Harbor Shoreline Park, Oakland, CA
Damian ‘Jr Gong’ Marley
Bay Area Vibez Festival | Middle Harbor Shoreline Park, Oakland, CA
RIDDIMS
Irie Trax
Cali Treez
No War
IrieFuse
Give And Get Back
Prime Livity
Holy Smoke
Prosperity Movement
Ile
High Hopes Band
Forever Love
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Irie Magazine
IRIEMAG.COM
Celebrate 420 everyday!
CA ISSUE #01.02 / OCTOBER 2015
IRIE would like to thank the following people who helped
make this issue a successful one. Without their efforts,
this magazine would not be possible.
Giovanna Guimarães, Michelle Monreal, Steven Guerrero, Stage Media,
Arturo ‘Art’ Solis, Mark Johnson, Greg Johnson, J Marie Jones,
Francois Viguie, Enzo Buono, Raan Williams, Jason Tamba,
Mermans Mosengo, Playing For Change, Sandra Selva, Andrew
Goodwin, Tanya Moore (Moore Media) and The Royal Management.
Nuff Respect!
IRIEMAG.COM