English producer scores big with Etana
LONDON-BASED producer, Curtis Lynch, of Necessary Mayhem Records, is riding high on the buzz of August Town — a song that he produced for the soulful Reggae crooner Etana. Based on the overwhelming response to the single, the Curtis Lynch/Etana collaboration could possibly result in a number one song.
August Town, the lead single on Lynch’s Inner City Lady riddim, propels Etana outside of her soul-infused rootsy style of music to dubwise, a sub-genre of Reggae that is heavy on drum, bass and dub effects with very sparse rhythm.
The single has found its way on numerous charts including Dubvendor (England’s Choice FM), Soundquake (Germany) and Riddim (Germany). In the Fall, Etana went to England to promote August Town and other new music, which sparked the interest in the single. Scores of Reggae music fans have embraced the song for its piercing social commentary and the massive have taken to the raw and edgy dubwise riddim over which its built.
Although August Town is an isolated incident in Etana’s community, it speaks to people all over.
“The thing about August Town is that its real and heartfelt,” says the song’s producer Curtis Lynch. “Real Reggae fans can relate to this tune because it reminds us of what’s going on in and around Jamaica and worldwide.”
“The day the events in August Town took place Etana came to the studio with them fresh in her mind and I wanted to capture these feelings. This tune just has all of the ingredients for it to continue rocking Europe for years to come and it stays true to Etana and what she stands for,” adds Lynch.
In addition to August Town, Lynch produced the lover’s rock tune Heart Broken for Etana. This new single, which recently made its debut on the Dubvendor chart, is a riveting love song over a slower paced dubwise track.
Curtis Lynch is one of Europe’s most visible Reggae music producers and his discography speaks for itself. Describing himself as someone blessed with a hunger to achieve, Lynch regularly lends his talents to established artistes and newcomers. Lynch runs Necessary Mayhem Records, one of Europe’s biggest Reggae labels, and the online music portal www.reggaesoundnetwork. com.
