Reggae takes on rock with Paul Kastick’s ‘My Reggae Rocking Journey Vol 2’
In the early 1980s while most Jamaican teenagers were obsessed with Michael Jackson and Thriller, Paul Kastick was fascinated with rock music. From his home in Montego Bay, he watched videos by acts like Whitesnake and Foreigner on the fledgling MTV.
On August 28, the veteran drummer released My Reggae Rocking Journey Vol 2, an album of reggae covers of rock songs. It is the follow-up to ‘Vol 1’ which was released two years ago.
Kastick, who made his debut as a singer three years ago, again handles lead vocals. He produced 16 of the 19 songs which are reggae interpretations of Foreigner’s I Don’t Want to Live Without You and Play That Song Again, originally done by Neil Diamond.
Three of the songs on My Reggae Rocking Journey Vol 2 are co-produced by Kastick and guitarist Rudy Valentino, his longtime collaborator. Those are a Nyahbinghi take on One (a U2 original); Love And Hate (first done by Michael Kiwanuka) and The Red Hot Chilli Peppers’ I Could Have Lied.
Known for his work with Big Mountain, Maxi Priest, Diana King and Shaggy, Kastick said the album is aimed at people who appreciate well-produced songs.
“The demographic is serious music lovers of all ages who appreciate reimagined interpretations of classic songs. It’s for listeners who take the time to listen to a whole song, not just the first minute or two, and can truly appreciate the creativity, musicianship, quality and production that goes into each track,” he explained.
The album also has reggae takes on Lionel Richie’s Wandering Stranger and Wishful Thinking by Go West.
My Reggae Rocking Journey Vol 1 was released one year after Kastick made his vocal debut on a cover of Steely Dan’s Night By Night. It contains takes on Here I Go Again by Whitesnake and Poison’s Every Rose Has Its Thorn.
“I’ve Improved vocally, ‘cause I’ve been able to really listen and critique myself when producing my vocals. Since moving my studio to Jamaica, I’ve had more time to work on vocals without thinking of time and studio costs,” said Kastick.
While he started his career in Montego Bay’s hotels, Kastick moved to Kingston in the late 1980s to play with the 809 Band, which had saxophonist Dean Fraser, trombonist Nambo Robinson and bassist Michael Fletcher in its lineup.
