By Shelah Moody Photos by Lee Abel “Music is service, so we live in service continually,” said conscious reggae singer Jesse Royal. On Oct. 5, the “Modern Day Judas” singer, his dynamic Jamaican band and his younger brother DJ Justus, of the Ft. Lauderdale based group Firm Music, brought positive vibes to the Independent…
SusanOctober 13, 2021
Written By Maliika Walker “Come out the water is safe, no need for testing. If you come out to late, we lose Investments.” Taj Weekes, Crisis Taj Weekes has returned to the music scene with a new album opus reflecting on the events affecting the world today titled, Pause. This album is the…
SusanSeptember 14, 2021
Grammy Nominated Singer/Songwriter Releases Solo Album Interview By Shelah Moody Straight out of St. Elizabeth, Jamaica, vocalist Kumar Bent is gearing up to make a huge impact with his first solo album, “Kulture Walk,” releasing May 1st . In the midst of the Coronavirus Pandemic, the former Raging Fyah frontman and his family are sheltering…
devadminApril 29, 2020
Part One Of Maliika Walker's Interview I witnessed my first Soundclash on the Welcome to Jamrock Cruise in 2015. I always fashioned myself a “roots” girl but witnessing my first soundclash led me to research the Soundclash movement and such greats as David Rodigan, Kilimanjaro, Stone Love, Mighty Crown and Tony Matterhorn. I recently saw…
devadminJanuary 3, 2018
Island Stage was honored to cover select cities on the Stony Hill Tour this fall! Print a book from PDF
devadminDecember 8, 2017
By Shelah Moody Kabaka: Noun: The traditional king of Buganda, a region and former kingdom of southern Uganda.-dictionary.com. Pyramid: Noun (in ancient Egypt) a quadrilateral masonry mass having smooth, steeply sloping sides meeting at an apex, used as a tomb. (in ancient Egypt and pre-Columbian Central America) a quadrilateral masonry mass, stepped…
devadminJune 25, 2017
Interview and photos by Jan Salzman A Pato Banton concert is an event not to be missed and an experience not to be forgotten. Positive Vibrations abound with a beat to keep you on your dancing feet, while Pato delivers a message that is food for the mind and soul. Many have considered his charismatic…
devadminApril 20, 2017
Samory-Tour Frazer, otherwise known as Samory I was born November 21, 1989, a Gaddite, to parents Owen and Muriel Frazer. Samory I has a passion for music, as a child he sang every day. An ardent church goer, he performed at many church functions and brought the congregations to tears on many occasions upon hearing…
devadminApril 4, 2017
Interview and photos by Jan Salzman February 18, 2017 San Diego, California I met up with Hempress Sativa after her set at the Tribute to the Reggae Legends Festival at the World Beat center in San Diego, California. I was sitting to the side of the stage backstage and she came off stage and…
devadminFebruary 28, 2017
Interview by Jennifer Cheshire Kristine Alicia burst onto the reggae scene with her new album Songs From Zion produced by Rory "Stone Love" Gilligan, released on February 17 and is set to take the world by storm. "Where did she come from? Isn't she a gospel singer?" you may ask. Kristine Alicia is a singer/songwriter who was…
devadminFebruary 23, 2017
Seven-Time Grammy Winner Launches Family Cook Book in Menlo Park, CA By Shelah Moody with Safi Wa Narobi of KPFA F.M. Berkeley “The food of my youth, and my wife’s Orly’s, continues to be the food of our adulthood. An Israeli of Iranian decent, Orly really understands food and family. She grew up in a…
devadminNovember 15, 2016
Interview by Maliika Walker Remember the name Noah Landale, a reggae artist on the rise. His current single, “Can’t Let Go”, has not been released to the public, but is getting support from radio stations in the US, UK, and Jamaica. “Can’t Let Go” has a crossover to listener’s outside of the reggae genre. Noah…
devadminMay 5, 2016
By Shelah Moody Photos by Lee Abel Photography When you think of Harrison Stafford, Bob Marley’s song “Easy Skankin” comes to mind. Watching him open for Bunny Wailer at the Regency Ballroom in San Francisco, backed by an upcoming reggae band from Santa Cruz, CA called Pure Roots, singing and dancing with a joyous spirit,…
devadminMay 5, 2016
Interview: Maliika Walker “No I never been someone shy Until I seen your eyes Still I had to try, yeah Oh yes, let me get my words right and then approach you Woman I’ll treat you like a man is suppose to” Tarrus Riley has a gift that he shares with his fans. That gift…
devadminJanuary 7, 2016
By: Empress K Jah Mason has created an extensive catalog of music over the course of his nearly 25 year career. His latest album, aptly-titled, Love and Wisdom is his 20th official studio album and the first project with New Creation Records, his new management team based in Atlanta, GA. In high spirits after a…
devadminJanuary 7, 2016
Blending Purpose with Fury & Passion Biography written by Grace Vanriel Pulsating spirituality and pure creative energy through every vein, songwriter and vocalist Kindele Aixe known on-stage as Tuff Like Iron is a multitalented songstress, with an already established track record in the world of fashion design, who is also quickly gaining recognition on the…
devadminNovember 5, 2015
Interview by : Maliika Walker Alaine has the voice of love. When I hear her voice I hear the sweet sounds of how beautiful love can be. Not just romantic love but self-love, general love of all people, just love. Her voice embodies a feeling that she truly is living the lyrics she is saying.…
devadminNovember 5, 2015
If Lady Saw is a deejay that sings sometimes, then Abby Dallas is a singer that deejays sometimes. So, think a blend of Tessanne Chin with a little more street cred and a bit of Lady Saw with much more subtlety and you would not be far off from Abby Dallas. That Abby Dallas is…
devadminNovember 5, 2015
Miriam Simone is one of Europe’s hottest up-coming female Reggae artists, hailing from Amsterdam and now resident in Surinam. To-date she has released four music videos, and several singles, performed at major Reggae events, collaborated and shared stages with some of Reggaes biggest artists. At the age of four Simone started to sing. She was…
devadminNovember 5, 2015
Misty Campbell is a Jamaican international recording artist and winner of the competitive national TV program, Jamaica Digicel Rising Stars (J.D.R.S - 2009). Best known as “Shuga”, the artist adapted her moniker depicting the sweet sugary sound of her vocal ability. Embodying the spirit of a rebel with positive messages, Shuga’s mission is to create…
devadminNovember 5, 2015
Deborah Adela Marla Brown (born November 5th 1986), popularly known as Marla, is the youngest child of the late, great Crown Prince of Reggae, Dennis Emanuel Brown. With a history of professionalism through the arts, young Brown is no stranger to performance and entertainment. Having Ballet, Street and Contemporary dance as her foundation, Marla has…
devadminNovember 5, 2015
Interview by Maliika Walker Kamila McDonald is a wife, mother, Honors graduate from Stanford University, Master’s graduate of UC Berkeley, certified personal trainer, and sports nutritionist. She is also an official Adidas Ambassador of Jamaica who is a passionate advocate for preventing chronic non communicable diseases, like Diabetes. Kamila is also the founder of 10poundpledge.com…
devadminNovember 5, 2015
Jewel London was birthed by Jamaican born Sidjae Reid Cuellar, a former international fashion model, mother, wife and an intuitive life-long super lover of healing gemstones and crystals. The birth of her daughter “Jewel London” was the divine inspiration that manifested the vision to share her endless love of style combined with her knowledge of…
devadminNovember 5, 2015