Where Do I Play

The child of Puerto Rican parents, Rivas remembers his father playing a lot of merengue and salsa in their Rochester, New York home. But he was drawn to a more rebellious sound coming from their neighbours. “My Haitian neighbours used to blast Bob Marley really loud. I remember as a kid telling my mother, ‘Man, I love the reggae sound…

The Royals’ Pick Up The Pieces is a perfect example of how a great Jamaican bassline can live far beyond the original recording. Written by Roy Cousins, the group’s only constant member, the song was first recorded at Studio One in 1967 and recut around 1973. The two versions are quite different, especially in the bass department. The 1973 cut…

NEW RELEASE There’s a lot to like about Nick Sefakis’ Way I Feel Riddim. Across eight tracks, the American roots reggae artist, producer and multi-instrumentalist keeps things firmly grounded in roots while giving the music a modern West Coast feel. Formerly a member of Iya Terra, Sefakis is known for his soulful vocals, strong songwriting and hands-on approach to production,…