IT'S rare to hear Jamaican artistes doing ska, the sound that announced the birth of their country's music movement over 60 years ago. Singers Hopeton Lindo and Peter G show their love for ska and mature ladies on Grown Woman, their latest collaboration.
Released in October, Grown Woman was number one for three weeks on the South Florida Reggae Chart, starting in late December. Co-produced by Lindo, Richard Grant and Dwayne Hoilett, it was released by Irie Pen Records and Drahcir Entertainment.
"It was a collaborative idea, with co-producers Richard Grant, Dwayne Hoilett, singer Peter G and myself. The direction we took was to do a ska vibes, a song that makes people want to dance while paying tribute to ska music, one of reggae's foundation genres. In writing the lyrics I chose to salute grown women, some inspiring ladies among us," Lindo explained.
Grant, a longtime ska fan, played the music for Grown Woman with Hoilett. He was excited about being part of the project, having loved the music since his childhood.
"I grew up on ska, that's the type of music that my father played in the house. So, now as a producer I love to create and mix the classics with my love of the different sounds of today. Music excites me! But this particular track came from my roots, it brought me back home to where it all started," said Grant.
Lindo and Peter G have known each other for many years and worked on several songs together. The latter has recorded songs for some of Jamaica's top producers including Sly & Robbie and Mikie Bennett, both of whom Lindo has a long working relationship with.
Ska had its genesis in Kingston's clubs during the early 1960s. Acts like Derrick Morgan, Prince Buster, Eric "Monty" Morris, Jimmy Cliff, Toots and The Maytals, The Wailers and The Skatalites had great success with the uptempo, jazz-inspired beat.
When rocksteady, roots-reggae and dancehall took over, ska fell out of favour with Jamaicans but interest in the music remains strong throughout Europe and the United States West Coast where there are many ska bands.
To help build interest in Grown Woman in Jamaica, Lindo and Peter G filmed a video for the song in Kingston last week.
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