VIDEO; CHECK OUT I-OCTANE PERFORMANCE @ THIS YEAR REGGAE SUMFEST:

Mellow mood the signature of I-Octane’s Reggae Sumfest performance

Kingston, JAMAICA:- Renowned for his amazing high-energy performances once he

touches any stage, it was a cooled down, but no less electrifying I-Octane who treated patrons at Reggae Sumfest to an European-style performance last Thursday night.

The singjay, who has been dubbed ‘The Closer’ – owing to his history-making back-to-back closing performances at the festival in 2013 and 2014 – performed during prime time in a slot that followed insanely up-tempo sets from two of dancehall's luminaries.  Taking an on-the-spot decision to switch his set from the bouncy, riddim-driven, fast-paced flow to which his fans have become accustomed, Busta Soft Drinks Brand Ambassador I-Octane instead chose the more evocative songs from his extensive catalogue and went into straight singer mode as he wooed Reggae Sumfest Dancehall Night with a thoroughly entertaining reggae package which earned him huge forwards.

Ably backed by the award-winning Ruff Kut band, who, fortunately knows the artiste’s entire catalogue and was able to seamlessly move from the set rehearsed for the festival into this new unrehearsed track-list, the singer and the band were in complete harmony as Octane cemented his space in Sumfest history with mellow songs including My Story, Once More, L.O.V.E., Hurt By Friend, Study You Friend, Never Sell Out, Mama You Alone and others like these. He closed off with one of his most recent singles, Ghetto Life, a powerful, thought-provoking song which many critics say could very well have been the song to close the entire festival.

In an interview after his performance, the “Lose A Friend’ singer explained that he rarely makes changes to a rehearsed set, but his experience dictated that significant move last Thursday night. “As an artiste you have to keep in tune to the vibrations in order to give the audience maximum satisfaction. I know that Ruff Kut knows my songs, so although I went on stage with the high-energy Buss A Blank, as we had rehearsed, I signaled to them that we were going a different route, and by the third song, we were well on our way. It was good to give my fans a taste of a ‘mellow’ Octane and I think they loved it,” he said modestly.

Music critics, radio disc jocks, musicians have lauded it as a “brilliant move”.

“What I-Octane did had the hallmark of experience,” said the drummer for Ruff Kut Band Ricardo ‘Ricky’ Davis. “He realized that with the pace at which the show was going, the set he had planned might not have had the desired effect, so he changed up things and this made for a much more interesting Dancehall Night package overall. It was a good move and I would have advised him to do the same thing.”

And was the band fazed any at all by the last-minute change?

“Not in the least. We’ve worked with the best of the best in Reggae and Dancehall, and this is the type of reaction we have come to expect from those extraordinary artistes who have a deep passion for their craft. Once he paused and held up his hand to us we knew what he was about to do. Immediately, Beenie Man comes to mind as an artiste who would have successfully done the very same thing, given the same circumstances,” Ricky concluded.

‘Not since Bob Marley have I seen an artiste who cares as much about his audience,’ says Warrior King’s manager

Kingston, JAMAICA,:- One of the secrets to a successful career in show business is the

degree of care and respect that the artiste shows for the main body of people who can make or break his concert – the audience. And reggae singer Warrior King is only too well aware of this. So much so that his manager, Mark Miller, the man who was also reggae icon Bob Marley's stage manager and ex-Wailers Band business manager, has had huge words of praise for Warrior King’s treatment of his audience.

Speaking about the just-concluded tour of Europe, Miller noted, “The reaction from the music fans to Warrior King has been absolutely phenomenal. Everywhere we performed on this run had people singing along with the Warrior King tracks, encouraging King in his performance, and letting us know how much they love their hero, Warrior King. His command of the stage and the audience is amazing. Not since I worked with Bob Marley have I seen an artiste who cares as much as King about his audience.”

However, as Warrior King pointed out, “it’s just a natural flow”. He added, “I have to let every person in that audience know how grateful I am that they chose to spend their hard-earned euro/dollar to pay for a ticket to see me perform. When you stand on stage and look out and see a sea of people, it  is a humbling experience. Not everybody out there came to see me, but they all bought a ticket to see an entertainer. They could have spent their money on something else. So I have to give thanks and give the best show that I can possible give every single time I hold a mic and jump on a stage.”

The tour, which kicked off on June 12, included stops in France. Austria, Germany and the UK and although all the dates went well, Warrior King and his team have extra special memories of the Rast’Art Festival in Normandy, France. “It was absolutely fantastic!” they all agree of the festival at which the ‘roots warrior’ was making his debut appearance.

“We send out our love and thanks to every single music fan in Europe and also people like Aurel and Chloe at Rast’

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Art;  Maurits in Amsterdam; Bantam in Berlin; Kingsley in Hamburg and everyone else we can’t think of to name right now!” a very happy Warrior King said.

Meanwhile, the singer is reportedly working furiously on putting the finishing touches to his upcoming album, entitled Rootz Warrior. “Owing to the fact that so many people want to see him perform, we’ve had to take it a step at a time in between our touring activities. However, the album ‘soon come’ and will surprise many people,” declared Miller, who is also the author of the book "On the Road with Bob Marley".

VIDEO: Warrior King - Same Source

I-Octane reflects on ghetto life in new social commentary

Kingston, JAMAICA: - Following a blazing premiere by DJ Sunshine on Irie FM last Wednesday, the single The Ghetto (Ghetto Life), has definitely taken on a life of its own and is saturating radio, the dancehall and the clubs.

This new, must-listen, social commentary from consistent hit-maker, I-Octane, demonstrates yet again, the reason that this versatile singjay maintains his lead ahead of the pack. Octane is one of the select few entertainers who knows exactly where to find the big tunes and, added to that, he is also keenly aware of precisely when to drop them. Music critics predict that The Ghetto will have fans and detractors alike uniting is complete harmony as they sing the true-to-life words of this single on the De Saga riddim  

     

The Ghetto speaks to the roots of crime and violence, the effect on the ghetto youth and the role of the corrupt politician who facilitates the dons and at the same time shuns them. It is a thought-provoking single which seeks to open the eyes of the ghetto youth to the reality of the “system (which) tun you inna Don” and enables the “politician (to) control we”.

According to I-Octane, this song is more than just another commentary, it speaks to him on a personal level. The artiste, who was quoted in The Gleaner recently bemoaning the level of crime in his home parish, Clarendon, feels that the time has come for many in the society to wise up.

 “It’s time for ghetto youths to wise up, rise up and take a positive stand. A life of crime is not anything to aspire to. At the end of the day, it’s the youths who are losing their lives senselessly – whether they are killed or they end up behind bars. It’s time to send the politicians packing with their hand-outs, whatever they may be,” the Lose A Friend singer said.

The Ghetto, which is on the Jones Ave label, also has other big names making an impact on the riddim, including the likes of Vybz Kartel featuring Lil Miss, Mr. Vegas and others.

Meanwhile, the workaholic entertainer is putting the finishing touches to his third studio album, which takes its title from his trademark slang, Everthing Correck. Produced by Marcus Myrie, the son of iconic deejay, Buju Banton,Everthing Correck is a masterpiece production from the young Myrie. The first single, Don’t Stop the Vibes, has already been causing a stir since its release and the accompanying music video has already been packaged.  

Europe beckons Warrior King

Kingston, JAMAICA:- Feeling energized from his recent successful promotional tour of the US along with a gig in Mexico, the acknowledged ‘roots warrior’, Warrior King, is all packed and ready to hit the road again – this time to the continent of Europe.

The reggae artiste, whose newest singles, Aint Giving Up and Same Source from his soon-to-be-released album, Roots Warrior, are gaining traction both in Jamaica and on the international scene, is focused on building his brand and always upping the ante in terms of delivering conscious, thought-provoking songs and great performances. With his foundation-type reggae music finding its way straight into the hearts of music lovers globally, Warrior King is increasingly becoming a favourite in Europe and his tour, which kicks off on June 12, marks the second time the artiste will be performing there since 2015.

“I did a stint in Europe in February and it was everything I hoped for and more. The promoters did their job well and the venues were sold out. The fans showed so much love, it was really amazing. It’s really nice to feel appreciated, doing what you love to do and getting paid for it. Of course, touring is hard work; it’s not all about the glamour, but it’s music and we reggae artistes are passionate about our music. We are reggae ambassadors and pledge to bring the music to the four corners of the world, so the mission continues,” the Virtuous Woman singer stated.

Warrior King’s first show is Rast' Art Festival on June 12 in Normandy France. The following day, sees him performing at Studio Club in Cergy. On June 14, he travels to the Austrian capital, Vienna for a show at the Fania Live Club, while a mix of club and festival appearances in the UK will see him on the road until June 24.

Meanwhile, Warrior King is also putting the finishing touches to his upcoming album, Rootz Warrior, which is produced by Warrior King’s own Rootz Warrior Productions and Irie Sounds International. The singer recently packaged the video for the second single, Same Source and is eagerly anticipating its premiere.

Rootz Warrior is scheduled to be released in July 2015.

I-Octane performing @ Titchfield High School Tour