CALIFORNIA BANDS ARE PRESERVING REGGAE’S ROOTS!

Arise Roots on stage in Los Angeles—-

The mission to preserve authentic roots-reggae music is not limited to musicians or recording artistes who have been born directly into the culture; artistes born overseas to Jamaican parents are equally potent in their due diligence to preserve and expand the sounds of roots reggae.

Karim Israel, the son of Jamaican roots-rocksteady singer Israel Powerhouse and lead vocalist of Arise Roots band, is one such activist.

“No matter what, reggae should never lose its connection to Jamaica, the struggle, spirituality, and militant quest for justice. This is the why the specific category of roots reggae is so important,” he stated.

Arise Roots is one of three reggae bands in Los Angeles, California, labelled four years ago as the leaders in the rise of roots reggae in the US. The Expanders and Ital Vibes are the others.

“First and foremost, Jamaica will always be the Mecca of reggae music worldwide. Or better yet, Jamaica is where the tree [of reggae] is planted, and we are like the branches and fruit of that tree,” Israel said.

With the heritage alive and thriving in that US state, Israel highlights places such as the Dub Club, which hosts live shows with everyone from the Marleys to Sister Nancy and new-generation reggae entertainers such as Protoje and Chronixx.

“The live-show scene is everything in LA, and the festivals are an even bigger deal in California as a whole. On a stage, live and direct, is where you give people the opportunity to see all you have to offer and introduce a large percentage of people to music, in our case, roots reggae that some have never really explored before,” he told The Gleaner.

The group was formed nine years ago out of a casual jam session, and the love and passion for roots reggae evolved from covering classics to bringing ideas to life in full rehearsals of original music. The rest is history.

BIGGEST SINGLE

The band’s biggest single to date is Rootsman Town, featuring Capleton, which was released in June 2016 and is holding over 2.5 million views on YouTube. There are more collaborations in the pipeline, including one with Lutan Fyah for their third full-length album.

The Expanders have shared the stage with some of today’s most popular reggae acts, including Ziggy Marley and Rootz Underground, and served as the backing band for legends like Alton Ellis, Pat Kelly, Prince Jazzbo, reggae vocal duo The Maytones, and The Wailing Souls, among others.

According to The Expanders’ drummer, John Asher, who was born in LA to Jamaican parents, collaborations give bands the opportunity to learn from, be mentored by, and connect with incredible Jamaican artistes who have helped to shape their sound. Yet, Asher believes that LA is home to more reggae bands than most other places.

He noted that the rise of festivals such as One Love Cali Reggae Fest, Reggae on the Mountain, and the increasingly popular Kaya Fest has afforded emerging artistes and bands of the genre to not only demonstrate their talent, but learn about the roots from the veterans and guests, especially those from Jamaica.

Asher explained that there is also a heavy dependence on live instruments, especially in recordings.

“Here in California, reggae is based primarily around the band, as opposed to a dancehall-centered type of sound, which would be heavier in the electronics. For younger musicians, I would suggest forging their own trail of creativity while respecting and appreciating the foundations of the genre. They should be encouraged to play instruments,” he advised.

The Expanders band has come to be known for their vintage style of reggae, played in the tradition of classic 1970’s Jamaican reggae groups. Their 2015 album,Hustling Culture, soared to the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Reggae Chart, while their latest album,Thanks for Life, is a collaborative effort with Walshy Fire from Major Lazer.