Ken Serious releases debut album, ‘Better World’
Better World, the debut album from veteran deejay Ken Serious, was released on September 22 by Oddiowave Records. It contains 13 songs.
The Atlanta-based artiste (previously known as Captain Kenterius) has been recording since the early 1980s. The roots music he first embraced as a budding performer on sound systems in his native Manchester and Clarendon can be heard on Better World.
Songs such as the title track, Trust in Jah, Live Your Life and Make Things Better feature a cast of mainly American musicians including multi-instrumentalist Robin Letcher, and guitarist/keyboardist Mando Alvarez. Most of the songs were done at Ken Serious’ Iquality Recording Studio.
Born Kenton Matthews, Ken Serious’ career started on sound systems such as King Basil in Clarendon and Thunderbird in Manchester.
He gained even more prominence after moving to Stereomars, a ‘sound’ owned by Kenneth “Skeng Don” Black. His first released song, 1987’s Gone A Sea, was produced by Steely and Clevie for the Skeng Don label.
Over the years, Ken Serious has recorded songs for a number of influential producers including Sugar Minott, Tony Rebel, Richard Bell, Clement “Coxson” Dodd and Cocoa Tea.
It was while at Rebel’s Flames camp during the early 1990s that he had a change in moniker.
Ken Serious has released two EPs — Rise Above and Fit For A King.
Howard Campbell