Falling is a soundscape of rock disco. An exciting record, that places you into the world of a rock legend for a brief moment in time.

On June 3, Cumbancha releases the album Mista Savona Presents Havana Meets Kingston Part 2 featuring an all-star lineup of musicians from Cuba and Jamaica. An epic set of 15 tracks, Havana Meets Kingston Part 2 unites the deep roots grooves of reggae, dancehall and rocksteady with the scorching soul of Cuban son, timba and salsa.

While connected by common African roots and colonial histories, the music of Cuba and Jamaica have traveled largely in separate directions. Their influence on the music of the world has been immeasurable, but their influence on each other has been less evident – until now.

It took an Australian to bring these two musically rich cultures together. Melbourne producer and musician Jake Savona had already fallen in love with the music of Jamaica, having released a string of successful reggae and dub albums under his stage name Mista Savona since 2007. He first traveled to Cuba in 2014 and on his last day in Havana, he was struck with a vision: he could imagine the sounds of Cuban rumba mixed with Jamaican nyabinghi, the spiritual & folkloric styles unique to each island.

A year later, supported by a grant from the Australian Council, Savona returned to Cuba, joined by a quartet of Jamaican legends including Sly & Robbie (drummer Sly Dunbar and bassist Robbie Shakespeare), guitarist Winston “Bopee” Bowen (known for his work with Dennis Brown) and Studio One percussionist Bongo Herman. They spent the next ten days at the legendary EGREM studios recording with many of Cuba’s top musicians and vocalists. “It felt like a project that wanted to be born, and I was the one lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time,” recalls Savona.

More sessions followed, other guests were invited, and after years of painstaking effort, the first volume of Mista Savona Presents Havana Meets Kingston was released in 2017 to worldwide acclaim. By 2018 a live version of the project had performed three world tours, culminating in an incendiary show for the BBC Proms at The Royal Albert Hall in the summer of 2018.

Shortly thereafter Savona was back in the Caribbean to work on new recordings with a range of famous and rising stars in the Cuban and Jamaican music scenes. Much of this new record was also recorded at the famous EGREM Studio (Estudios Areito 101) in Havana, where the equipment and atmosphere has remained unchanged since the 1950s. This is the very same studio in which the famous Buena Vista Social Club album was recorded in 1996, and the Havana Meets Kingston albums share that unique sonic character and warm, woody room sound that EGREM is famous for. According to Savona “The Cubans told me an angel lives in the studio and that she blesses the music recorded there – and I believe it! Other studios we recorded at include Nelson’s Studio in Vedado, and Bob Marley’s Tuff Gong studio in Kingston, Jamaica.”

Havana Meets Kingston Part 2 includes guest appearances from Jamaican singers Clinton Fearon (The Gladiators), Randy Valentine, Prince Alla, Stevie Culture, The Jewels and Micah Shemaiah. Featured Cuban guests include Cimafunk, Barbarito Torres, Changuito, Brenda Navarrete, Solis, Beatriz Marquez, Dayán Carrera Fernández and many more. This second album simmers with energy that comes from the magic created by musicians discovering exciting new sounds and collaborators.

Savona first saw Cimafunk performing with the band Interactivo in 2015, years before he became a household name in Cuba. The music for “Beat Con Flow,” which Savona describes as “an old-school, funky, hip-hop and reggae jam,” was recorded at EGREM Studios by a top-notch band that included Sly Dunbar, Winston “Bopee” Bowen, as well as Cuban virtuoso bassist Gaston Joya and trumpeter Julito Padrón. Savona plays piano and Hammond organ and DJ Wasabi is on the turntables.

Cimafunk later recorded his vocals at a small, rundown Havana recording studio, bragging in Cuban slang about his talents as a singer and the infectious rhythm and vibe of the song. “I live at my own cool and easy tempo / And if is there are any problems / I solve them little by little / So go ahead, lose yourself to the beat / If being quiet is getting you down / Don’t worry, dance and sing / And you will see how it lifts your soul.” The song’s uplifting message and positive vibe is the perfect antidote for these challenging times.

“The Human Chain” is a powerful and uplifting rocksteady roots anthem about the looming threats to humanity. Clinton Fearon, an icon of Jamaican music who was the lead singer for the legendary band The Gladiators, sings in his trademark gravel-toned and soulful voice, “A chain is only as strong / As its weakest link / Greed and poverty / Weaken the chain / Now is the time to reflect / On what’s gone wrong / With the human chain.”

The single is accompanied by an epic music video filmed on the rooftop of a skyscraper in Fearon’s current home in Seattle interspersed with stirring clips of protest and conflict drawn straight from the headlines. The sixth single to be released so far from the upcoming Havana Meets Kingston Part 2 album, “The Human Chain” offers a stark warning and an uplifting message of hope that we can come together to strengthen the ties that bind us all.

“Guarachará,” featuring Cuban singer Dayán Carrera Fernández and a host of other stars from the island, is a scorching dance number that blends Cuban timba, salsa, flamenco and Afrobeat. The song opens with a touch of flamenco, then builds into a classic Cuban son before exploding into a high-energy salsa/timba groove that dancers will find impossible to ignore. As many parts of the world begin to open up, the lyrics to “Guarachará” couldn’t be timelier. Lead singer Dayán Carrera Fernández calls for all of his friends to join him at his home for a much-needed dance party. While the past year has seen most of us stuck in our homes longing for a social life, “Guarachará” invites people to get back together for a house party like no other. “A few days ago,” sings Fernández, “I had a feeling / My soul was hurting / And I didn’t know where my friends were / But we got together / In the end my people will get together / And we’re going to sing and dance.

The stunning music video for “Guarachará,” which was produced by Luis Toledo & Jake Savona, was filmed at an historic 1910 estate near the Havana airport. It begins with a 1940’s theme as old cars pull up to the house to deliver the musicians and flamenco dancers, who are meeting Dayán and guitarist Raynier Monserrat Gonzalez in their living room. The song soon picks up into an old-school Cuban son and moves outside as salsa dancers dressed in colorful vintage clothes show off their best moves. Once the song has reached the second bridge we are transported to modern day Havana, with the party raging inside the house all through the day and night. As morning approaches and the sun begins to rise, Dayan closes the doors to his house and pianist Rolando Luna is left alone on the verandah playing the piano, for a beautiful outro to the song.

These are just a few of the many highlights on an album that will go down in history as groundbreaking masterpiece.

Mista Savona Presents Havana Meets Kingston Part 2 will be released by Baco Records in Europe, ABC Music in Australia and New Zealand and Cumbancha in the US, Canada, Latin America and the rest of the world. It will be available in deluxe CD and double LP packages filled with photos from the historic sessions and tours.

The Havana Meets Kingston live project will be touring this summer in Europe and later in 2022 and early 2023 in North America.

Produced by tenderpunk pioneer Sarah Tudzin (of the renowned illuminati hotties), “Margaret” is about a late night phone call to an old friend, enveloping the listener in a warm blanket of guitars, uplifting vocal harmonies, and the dear memories of lifelong friendships. It’s your soundtrack for the road trips, with the windows down singing at the top of your lungs and knowing no one cares if you can’t hit the high note

http://emilyandersonak.com/

Happy, sing along hook. Expresses good vibes (date night, cruising, traveling, bbq’s), and provides listeners a “date friendly” song that musically is easy listening with complex elements to keep them engaged.

‘Beautiful Today’ is the new single from Floyd Thursby’s latest album ‘The Fuller’s Field’. It was produced in Los Angeles by Rob Kleiner and written in a bed and breakfast in the rainy city of Porto, Portugal back in 2018. Floyd was invited to a wedding in Wales by good friends. Because he couldn’t attend he wrote them a sweet, simple love song which he sent as a gift.

https://floydthursby.bandcamp.com/

I’ve Been Thankin’ is an upbeat summer jam about letting go of problems, toxic people and trauma, and moving yourself forward. It’s about being thankful for what you have and the journey that brought you there. Manifesting the reality you want despite the world trying to hold you back, and letting nothing stop you from achieving everything you deserve.

https://www.facebook.com/kaliauniverse/

ALT-FOLK SONGWRITER BRANDON JENNER RETURNS WITH NEW SONG “LONELY ROAD”

LISTEN HERE

https://brandonjenner.ffm.to/lonelyroad

ANNOUNCES NEW EP OVERSIZED SOUL DUE OUT SEPTEMBER 2ND VIA NETTWERK

May 20, 2022 – Today, Los Angeles troubadour and producer Brandon Jenner is proud to announce his forthcoming EP Oversized Soul, due out September 2nd via Nettwerk. In the time since his acclaimed 2021 EP Short of Home, Brandon has whittled his life down to the essential elements of his life, “family, music, and self-care.” With this new effort, he puts his focused awareness into his songs with his whole heart and soul.

In addition to the EP announcement, Brandon shares a new single, “Lonely Road.” The hushed, warm melody was conceived while on tour with Donovan Frankenreiter in the summer of 2021. It details the quieter moments when the crowds have gone, leaving you with yourself and your thoughts. Brandon longs for his wife. He croons, I blend into this crowd, I shake their hands they see me smile, but it’s you I’ve been dreaming of.

Listen to “Lonely Road” on all digital retailers (here)

https://brandonjenner.ffm.to/lonelyroad

Brandon Jenner constantly tunes into the inspiration around him. Whether it be philosophical questions posed by his children, moments of missing his wife, or nightmares dreams she destroyed his beloved truck, his music absorbs life’s everyday wonders and nuances. As such, the Los Angeles-born singer, songwriter, and producer paints a rich picture of the important things—what it means to be a good dad, good husband, good brother, and good son.

This picture comes into full focus on his 2022 Oversized Soul EP.

“Little moments inspire me to write,” he affirms. “I’ve gotten better at whittling my life down to the most important things, which are my family, music, and self-care. I don’t really do anything that doesn’t contribute to strengthening one of those three. Playing music in so many genres satisfies me the most. It’s an outlet for all of my emotions.”

He’s only opened up more and more over the years with each subsequent project. The world first heard his voice in the duo Brandon & Leah. However, he introduced himself as a solo artist with 2016’s Burning Ground EP led by the title single “Burning Ground.” Amassing tens of millions of streams, he released a string of fan favorite projects such as the Face The World EP [2018], Plan On Feelings EP [2019], So Childish EP [2020], and Short of Home EP [2021]. In addition to praise for Short of Home from Artist Waves, California Rocker, and more, American Songwriter proclaimed, “Together, these songs reveal the through-line of authenticity in Jenner’s storytelling that makes Short of Home the truest testament to his artistry yet.” Throughout 2021, he pieced together Oversized Soul, writing, recording, and mixing at his own studio.

He initially paved the way for the EP with “One Of A Kind” (where he details the dream of his wife wrecking the truck!) before unveiling “Til The Day We Die.” Initially conceived on his loop pedal, the track details a personal revelation. Meanwhile, “Lonely Road” originated when Brandon hit the road with Donovan Frankenreiter. Airy guitar moves in a fascinating 6/8-time signature as he lyrically longs to be home with his wife.

On “Vibrations”, an organic percussive beat builds in the background just as a head-nodding acoustic guitar groove gives way to a keyboard-laden hook. Over this soundscape, he delivers an intoxicating hook, “I get high on your good vibrations.”

His storytelling takes center stage on “I’m Over Who You Think You Are” laced with candid barbs such as “Ever since Elon retweeted your shit, you really think that you’re the shit, but you’re not.”

“The narrator gets dumped and is moving on,” he goes on. “This character is leaving a bad situation. Their ex thinks they’re on a roller coaster up forever.”

In the end, Brandon welcomes everyone to experience his life with him now. “If my music helps people feel in any slight way, there’s a purpose for me working hard enough to record it and put it out there,” he leaves off. “I hope it resonates on some level. That’s really the pinnacle for me. My favorite part about making music is when I get to play shows, meet people afterwards, and connect with them. They make me feel good, and I make them feel good, because I’m really appreciative of the love and support. We both leave feeling more inspired and more seen.”

https://www.brandonjennermusic.com

https://trashfalcon.com/

Mannen’s created on the same riddim (instrumental) as One Bagga Shh!. It’s an energetic dance song with flavors from dancehall, afropop and reggae. The song is performed by Jamkid from Rågsved, Stockholm. Jamkid got the name from his parents who saw that Jombo (his real name) hummed and danced to dancehall and reggae, and give him the name “the jaming kid”, later Jamkid. Mannen’s all about loyalty and suburban friendship that leads to disappointments. Boys often call each other “brother”, “fam”, “akhi” and so on, men who later get into the backside of the street with money, hype or drugs, they turn their backs on each other. Instead of remembering that you belong together and have shared moments and successes.

The word “Mannen” means something like an upset: “Hey, what are you doing!”

WATCH THE MUSIC VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAzwKeiJCNs

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PAPA SOUND is a Swedish producer duo focused on creating bass driven, dancehall, afrobeat, and reggae tunes. Founded by Patrik Arve and Paolo Albo, Papa Sound became a duo in the year 2020. The name PAPA comes from their given names initials Paolo Albo and Patrik Arve. In their songs, they vent the issues and passions they have in common, from social injustice or environmental issues to just their love for music

“Usually we are looking for the spark in the gap between different genres. For us, 90% of good music is all about the attitude. It’s more important than your actual “skill”. Hence our love for punk, hip-hop and reggae. We are baking outernational musical biscuits full of bass and riddim. The vocals are, at this point, made by guests from Jamaica or Africa and is considered the icing on the cake.”

Patrik Arve is one third of the award winning group Teddybears with hits like “Cobrastyle” featuring the Jamaican Mad Cobra, the song has the song has at this point 50 million streams. Arve and Teddybears have made songs with Beenieman, Ninjaman, Elephantman, Busy Signal, Cutty Ranks, Ward 21, Wiley, Kano, Ghetts, Iggy Pop, Eve, Robyn, Neneh Cherry to name a few.

PAPA Sound x Jamkid “Mannen” releases on all major plattforms 15 april via Icons Creating Evil Art.

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More from PAPA Sound

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/papasoundmusic

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@papasoundmusic

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2kZZNz7W2Qs6kXVEM7T8oj

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/ba/artist/papa-sound/1531077836

More from Jamkid

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1AXqKV1nhx3eMcHzD5pNVx

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamkidOfficiell

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamkid_officiell

Music allows connection to form on many levels, allowing one to tap into their dreams, desires, and hopes. For De Royce, music has been about connecting to his heritage. Hailing from diverse backgrounds: Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and America, the collision of cultures has enriched the artist’s ability to communicate through the emotional power of music. This has led him to explore various genres, including hip-hop, dancehall, pop, and R&B, curating a versatile discography that can move any crowd. When you tune into De Royce’s frequency, you are guaranteed a trip into a lush soundscape of melodic hooks and catchy beats. His song “Groove” has even caught the attention of BET Jams and MTV Spankin’ New, highlighting DeRoyce’s potential to reach audiences across platforms and backgrounds.

Soak in the tropical heat in De Royce & Alex’s summer jam “NRG,” an essential party-starting track that brings flavor and intensity. “NRG” is a play on “energy,” and it’s all about bringing the hype and excitement into every aspect of life. The sunset-saturated song showcases De Royce’s impeccable ability to capture the magic of dance hall, pop, and R&B into a trendy single that seamlessly transitions from beach parties to nightlife clubbing. The electronic flair brings rhythm and movement into each verse, with breezy lyrics and an infectious chorus. The song also features Alex from T.O.K., one of the biggest dancehall reggae groups from Jamaica, who is stepping into his solo artistry. The video has the two artists getting up close and personal with stunning models against a beach backdrop, as the music sets the tone for a fun night out. Together, the duo has created a playful summer anthem that is ready to kick off on an international level.

Follow De Royce and Alex (TOK):

http://deroyce.shop

https://www.facebook.com/TheRealDeRoyce

https://twitter.com/DeRoyce_

http://instagram.com/Deroyceoffficial

http://instagram.com/Alextok1

http://tiktok.com/@Deroyceofficial

http://tiktok.com/@alextheoneofficial