A tonic is generally regarded as a brew taken for the improvement of one’s health. While acknowledging this, the popular online encyclopedia, Wikipedia, also offers a musical definition of the word tonic. It states, “tonic is the first note of a musical composition” and further notes — “In western European tonal music of the 18th and 19th centuries, the tonic centre was the most important of all the different tone centres which a composer used in a piece of music, with most pieces beginning and ending on the tonic,…..”

So the question that readily comes to mind therefore, just what was the thinking behind the conception of the Jamaican musical aggregation called Dubtonic Kru?

“Well, Dub, that came about because of how we play the music which is the foundation…So dub being the foundation, a lot of rub-a-dub, hardcore rough-edge, roots music. Then tonic — we always wanted to make sure that we are representing a medicinal musical brand. It’s more a situation if you listen, the lyrics they should be edifying and the music should allow you to move and put you into a positive vibes,” explains Beleon White

Continuing the definition of his five-man musical outfit, the dreadlocks drummer/vocalist better known as Jubba, philosophises “…Right now the focus is just music and people. Bringing people together through music with a positive influence. Music that makes you dance and music that gives you some real vibration to think about. Music to educate and entertain.”

The full complement of the approximately 15-year-old Dubtonic Kru are vocalist/bassist Strickland Stone, vocalist/guitarist Omar “Lanzo” Johnson, Horace “Kamau” Morgan (percussionist/vocalist), and keyboardist/vocalist Luke Dixon.

“We are at a stage right now where we are in a state of emergency. The state of emergency is really a world crisis where people need vibes and words to comfort them. To edify them. It’s all about love and unity and the upliftment of mankind. Not just one race, but all races,” Jubba told the Observer

“We see ourselves as world citizens,” he goes on, “and being apart of different cultures ….But music is music and we use it and our talent in the best way possible. And as a result of travelling throughout Europe for a number of years and seeing what people gravitate to, we realise that it’s about music and diverse kind of music but moreso, what was important to us was to bring our culture through that vibration….and set some trends with positive music…”

Luke was once Tony Rebel’s session/sideman, and Jubba along with Stone have recorded with Burning Spear, Mighty Diamonds, Daddy U Roy, and with the exception of Burning Spear, toured with them as well. They have also toured with Max Romeo, Ethiopians, Congos, and composed albums for Bushman, Junior Kelly, Chuck Fender, Richie Spice, along list of artistes mainly cultural.

Dubtonic Kru has composed music for Champaigne Records for groups such as Voicemail’s Ready To Party, D’Angel’s Downtown Girl Living Uptown Life, and recorded with just about everybody.

Their most recent self-titled album was released in December 2009. Their first, Jungle Fever was released in 2007. A compilation of both albums featuring the favourites on each has just been completed. Just finished editing also is a video for it (the compilation set) which should be released in two weeks called Sunshine Girl.

Having recently ended a tour of the US with Mykal Roze, Dubtonic Kru’s focus now is on the annual trip to Europe for the summer festivals. “We have included the US this year in our roster because there is now a demand since the tour with Mykal Roze, as we have expanded the boundaries as we are going across the boarders,” revealed Kamau.

In 2005, a descision was made to become a show band — doing less jobs as a backing band.

One of our major concerts is Bands Incorporated. The first one was in May of last year. And then we had a second one in December. We have not gotten around organising one for this year yet, but we are still thinking about it,” kamau said.

“The response has been great,” he enthused, “People enjoyed the shows. Appearing on the shows were groups like Rootz Underground. The first one was like a collaborated effort with us and them together and then they appeared again a second time. And we hope to continue that relationship with them going forward. C-Sharp was on the first edition as well. The second edition saw groups like Raging Fire, Mystical Revolution Band, and the Uprising Band.”