Aza Lineage - Kingston To Cali EP

March 24, 2023 - Kingston, JA

‘KINGSTON TO CALI’ (EP) BY AZA LINEAGE

Aza Lineage, Jamaica’s rapidly rising reggae songstress has teamed up with More Life Productions out of California to release her debut EP, entitled ‘Kingston to Cali’. The 6- track EP is full up of live instrumental riddims and conscious lyrics. The EP showcases Aza’s versatile singing and toasting style over riddims ranging from foundation-style one-drop riddims to nyahbinghi / blues fusion riddims and everything in between.

Aza has recently been taking the reggae world by storm, performing on a multitude of international reggae festival lineups such as Rototom Sunsplash and Rebel Salute, as well as touring Mexico in March 2023. For more information, interviews or bookings, please contact LineageFamily111@gmail.com.

The Kingston to Cali EP is her fourth release on the More Life Productions label, to be distributed by VPAL Music. Available on all digital platforms on March 24, 2023

D'Yani - Live A Little

XTM Nation’s Special Request furthers label’s rich legacy of merging the old and new

For a long time the public has lamented the lack of essential riddim projects that amplified the potency of the 90s golden age. Just like in the 90s when Xterminator largely re-energized the local reggae sound within the digital production space, they are still here pushing that same line with their latest project Special Request. Literally back by popular demand, Special Request is a vibrant, soulful, groovy but most importantly cultural riddim featuring veteran artists like Morgan Heritage, alongside young and promising acts like Dyani. This first release under the title is sure to fill the void in the reggae dancehall space for music of the Dropleaf Riddim-esque anthologies depicting the realest aspects of Jamaican culture. This new offering by the XTM Nation label is scheduled for release on February 10th.

This XTM Nation release by Kareem ‘Remus’ Burrell is in fact a continuation of the legacy set out by his father Philip ‘Fatis’ Burrell, who had a similar ambition of mixing older traditions within the sounds and narratives of the music with a fresh perspective. Special Request is just that. It is a look back at an era in which we were all in love with our own music. The quality of the music was a great factor, and in a similar way, the quality in the production of Special Request is evident. But it is also uniquely its own sound, which Kareem achieves by tapping into the reggae dancehall’s sister genre Hip Hop. An influence we can hear faintly in the bass drums that create the initial excitement, like a great sales pitch. Only to enrapture the audience in a thorough musical drama.

With four tracks in its initial release, this Riddim project is kicked off by the lead single Just A Number by Morgan Heritage, scheduled for release the 27th of January. The highly anticipated single by the Grammy winning artists will also be supported by an official video directed by Samo, as well as a lyric video by Joshua Solas. These veteran artists do what they are known for which is write, create and perform lyrics and melodies that make us wonder how they do it. Younger acts on the project like Natel deliver exceptionally with the single Island In Your Sea, producing vocals that rival that of a choir on his own. Medisun’s Take You Home is another amazing performance on a beautiful but complex and traditional riddim. Special Request is a great listen but it’s not in any way easy to jump on. These younger artists like Dyani demonstrated expertise and skill on his single Live A Little, by not just creating great stories but also matching the skill level of grammy veterans like Morgan Heritage.

This latest project by the Xterminator label not only combines the old and the new, it also brings together the experienced and the young in terms of artists, and as a result audience. This is something the label is famous for as it initially began out of Fatis’ drive to give a platform to younger acts like Sanchez, Pinchers and Thriller U, although he later went on to work with some iconic veteran artists like Josey Wales, Cocoa Tea, Frankie Paul and Ninjaman, as well as Ini Kamoze.

Naomi Cowan and Chaka Demus - Kinston Traffic REMIX

Official Music Video for Kingston Traffic Remix by Naomi Cowan & Chaka Demus.

Video Credits:

Directed by: JP Williams

Edited by: Yoram Savion

Song Credits:

Title: Kingston Traffic (Remix)

Artists: Naomi Cowan & Chaka Demus

Written by: Tommy Cowan, Carlene Cowan, Naomi Cowan, Alecia Grey, Clevie Browne & Chaka Demus Produced by: Tommy Cowan

Label: 7th C Records