‘Kirkledove’ marches with Sound Clash Army
When musician/producer Kirk Bennett came up with the concept for Sound Clash Army, he believed veteran singer Anthony Red would be perfect to transmit the song’s old school dancehall vibe.
Bennett produced Sound Clash Army for his Kirkledove Productions. It was tailor-made for the rugged Red Rose, who started his career in the early 1980s as a protege of master engineer Osbourne “King Tubby” Ruddock.
“Mi love an’ respect dancehall, reggae, an’ rub-a-dub; it’s mi heartbeat,” said Bennett. He added that Red Rose captured the song’s vibe, a throwback to when dances were held in neighbourhood ‘lawns’.
“Red Rose is a close friend, like a brother to mi an’ wi have dis chemistry. He’s somebody I can call on anytime an’ he’s there,” Bennett stated.
Sound Clash Army is their second song released within one year. The first was Nice And Slow.
Bennett has doubled as an in-demand session drummer and producer for the last 15 years. He has played on countless hit songs, including I Feel Good by Beres Hammond, Queen Ifrica’s Lioness on The Rise, and Solid As A Rock by Sizzla.
Tek wey Yuhself by Mr Vegas and Yuh Too Bad Mind by Elephant Man are among Kirkledove Productions’ biggest songs.
The One Drop feel of Sound Clash Army has been utilised with considerable success by American bands like SOJA, who won this year’s Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album with Beauty in The Silence.
Bennett dismissed a growing argument that Jamaicans have forgotten how to make traditional reggae.
“Wi jus’ need to come together if wi want dis thing to happen a certain way. Respect di legends, respect di culture, respect di music. Treat di music with respect an’ things will happen,” he said.