Jah Over Evil at the controls
A NEO-ROOTS collective steps up its campaign to revive interest in traditional reggae Sunday, with a novel concept.
Dread at the Control is the title of a song by five-member group Jah Over Evil. The 7-inch vinyl single will be launched at the Kingston Dub Club in St Andrew.
Kemesha Bolton, who manages the group, told Splash about the reason behind a vinyl release.
“When somebody buys vinyl, it’s something they can keep forever. It’s not like a CD when you lose it, you burn another copy,” she said.
“It’s also a way of getting to the real Rockers roots,” she added.
Produced by EDB Entertainment, Dread at the Control features Micah Shamaiah, TJ, Jahkime, Hempress Sativa and Infinite.
It is done to an updated version of the revered Stalag beat, originally recorded in the 1970s by the Soul Syndicate Band.
Five-hundred copies of the song have been produced. While it will be available locally, Bolton says there is already interest in Europe where there is a thriving vinyl market.
Rasta Luck, Dread at the Control’s B-side, is done by Phillip Crucial and Exile Di Brave.
Micah Shamaiah, TJ (son of old school deejay Brigadier Jerry) and Hempress Sativa (whose father is Jah Love sound system selector and Twelve Tribes of Israel drummer Ilawi) grew up in Twelve Tribes circles.
Along with Jahkime and Infinite, they are part of a roots music revival that has emerged locally in the last two years.
Dread at the Control is a teaser to Shalalak — Dread at the Control Rockers Rebirth, Jah Over Evil’s debut album, which is scheduled to be released in December.
