I-Octane 'My Journey' hit stores March 4th

With only 12 days left to go before 'My Journey' hits stores worldwide... 
We are allowing you to pre-order the album so that on March 4th you'll be the first to have it.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/my-journey/id824954945

#TeamOctane grab you cards (visa/master/credit etc.) and go buy the album, I promise you, it will be worth it.

“As Jamaican as Ackee and Saltfish”: Soul Rebel Cindy Breakspeare Part 1

Cindy Breakspeare and Bob Marley

Ever since Cindy Breakspeare gave the annual Bob Marley lecture last week interest in her story has heightened. I had interviewed her in 2007 for Riddim magazine. The article appeared in German in Riddim and it just occurred to me that I could publish segments of the English original here on Active Voice. Enjoy!

When asked in a radio interview about her origins Cindy Breakspeare once said “I’m as Jamaican as ackee and saltfish”. The comparison to the national dish was particularly apt as the codfish used in it is often imported from Newfoundland, Canada. Ackee of course is a strange fruit considered inedible in many places because of the potent alkaloid toxins it contains. Jamaicans however eat it with gusto. Apt too because Cindy is the product of a Canadian mother and a Jamaican father; coupled with her white skin her bi-cultural heritage is what often subjects her to questions about her eligibility to be considered Jamaican.

I started thinking about this article after listening to numerous radio interviews with Cindy Breakspeare over the last five or six years. Who was this extraordinary woman? I was struck by her voice and the down-to-earth sincerity it radiated, her healthy sense of humour, her refusal at a certain level to wield the celebrity that is her entitlement or even to take it too seriously. This was in stark contrast to the social columns of Jamaica’s newspapers–filled with the affected poses of individuals whose lives are completely banal and vapid, their only claim to fame being their  disproportionate control of the resources of this small postcolonial nation.

Cindy on the other hand had not only been the favoured consort of the first (and to date the only) global musical superstar from the third world—Bob Marley—shortly after meeting him  she had become a celebrity in her own right by winning the Miss World competition in 1976. In those days this was an even rarer achievement for an unknown from a small developing country than it is today. As for Cindy’s Marley connection, many of us would have given our eyeteeth just to have heard Bob Marley in concert live, let alone to have enjoyed an intimate relationship with this extraordinary musician whose fame and influence have grown exponentially since his untimely death almost thirty years ago.

Cindy actually bore Marley a son, Damian, or Junior Gong as his father called him, who has turned out to be an outstanding singer and songwriter in his own right. Damian, more than any of his half brothers and sisters, has seemed the reincarnation of his father–the champion of poor people’s rights, the shamanic performer chanting down Babylon. Some Jamaicans, however, criticize Damian Marley as an example of an “uptown browning,” suggesting that he lacks street cred, something essential to good Reggae.

The success of Damian’s 2005 hit ‘Welcome to Jamrock’ silenced most critics. In any case this sort of criticism rarely originated in the streets where people appreciated the younger Marley shining a spotlight on their plight. The question is where did he get this social conscience from? From where did he get his unflinching penchant for reality and plain speaking?

Without a doubt this was partly a legacy of his legendary father who had died when Damian was only 2 years old. But having the same legendary father had not led the other Marley siblings to produce music of this caliber. What if some of Damian Marley’s outspoken lyricism actually came from his famous mother, the beautiful Cindy Breakspeare?

Judging by the interviews I had heard with Cindy I began to suspect that far from being a pampered member of any VIP club the young Marley had actually benefited from a double dose of radicalism: Not only was he his father’s son he also had a mother who had flouted the values of Jamaican society, turning her back on the wealth and privilege that could have been hers and embracing a counter cultural lifestyle that was far from glamorous then no matter its currency today.

Who was Cindy Breakspeare exactly? Born in the fifties to a Canadian mother and Jamaican father Cindy was brought up in Jamaica and went to school at Immaculate Conception, a local convent school, as a boarder. Having to be a boarder at such an early age while difficult and challenging taught Cindy independence and self-sufficiency.

I went to Immaculate at the age of 7. I think when you’re separated from your family at that age you have to make a lot of decisions for yourself at a very early age–so you learn to trust your instincts, your own instincts, at a very early age; you develop your own value system, your own sense of what’s right and wrong for you. You tend to move away from being a sheep and doing what everyone else wants because you don’t have that safe cocoon; you have to follow your own feelings a lot more. Yes, this feels right for me and no that doesn’t and yes I like this and no, I don’t like that and maybe because there is no family constantly directing and supervising and saying no, you can’t do this and no you can’t do that you just tend to wend your own path and after a while you just kinda don’t know any other way to be–you just dance to the beat of your own drum.

While going to a convent school gave her the foundation of a good middle class upbringing her own family life was fractured and unstable so that when she finished school she was on her own, fending for herself and looking for any opportunity that might come her way. At 19 Cindy had been out of school for a while and done many different jobs. There was no money for further studies; her parents were separated, her father now in Canada and she had to get out there and hustle for a living. “I worked at a furniture store for a while, I worked at a jewelry store, I ran a nightclub, I worked at the front desk of what was then the Sheraton, now the Hilton, so I did many different things and eventually found myself at this restaurant …Café D’Attic.”

Café d’Attic was Jamaica’s first health food restaurant specializing in “fruit platters and salad plates and very healthy sandwiches…It was very health-oriented and attracted those who were looking for something other than your greasy spoon, your fast food”. It was during this period that Cindy met Bob whose own preoccupation with healthy food and ital living brought him to the restaurant. This was also what brought Mickey Haughton-James, the owner of a fitness club called Spartan there, a momentous connection that ultimately led to Cindy becoming Miss World in 1976.  “So Mickey came and began talking to me about leaving there and coming to be involved in Spartan. He had not opened it yet but he was looking for someone he felt embodied health and beauty. “I was looking for opportunity, always, always looking for opportunity. Whatever looked like the next good step to take, take, let’s roll with it. So I went to Spartan.”

Source: Active Voice 

NEW MUSIC VIDEO - CE’CILE MEDLEY VIDEO "REGULAR/WHINE UP MI BODY".

I-OCTANE REVEALS TRACK LIST AND LAUNCH FOR NEW ALBUM MY JOURNEY

Album Available Worldwide on March 4, 2014
from Tad’s Record

New York, NY (FOX FUSE) - Jamaican reggae star I-Octane reveals the track list and launch details for his highly-anticipated upcoming album My Journey, available worldwide in stores and online on March 4, 2014 from DJ Frass/Tad’s Record. Born Byiome Muir in Clarendon, Jamaica, I-Octane has been carving his niche in the reggae realm since hitting the scene over 5 years ago. A collaborative effort with his long-time friend and producer Andre “DJ Frass” Gordon, My Journey is a 16-track masterpiece that delves inside the soul and sound of this prolific artist, whose innate talents, conscious lyrical offerings and high-energy performances remain unparalleled.

“I want this album to help people to realize that we all have more in common than we are different,” reveals I-Octane. “We all go through the same types of things and experience love, joy, pain and suffering in our own ways. I hope that once people realize this, it will be easier to see each other as brothers and sisters and to genuinely love each other.”

Staying true to his signature sound that fuses velvety vocals and memorable hooks over catchy rhythms, My Journey lives up to its name as all tracks are penned by the multi-faceted entertainer, with a few singles co-written by producer DJ Frass. The first single, “Love You Like I Do,” has been receiving massive fanfare and radio play, at home and on reggae platforms worldwide. Its beautifully crafted, vintage-styled video was also released and is currently in steady rotation on television channels. The ambitious album also features reggae stars Gentleman on “It’s Alright” and Ky-Mani Marley on “A Yah Wi Deh,” while songstress Alaine takes a turn on the inspirational duet, “Lighters Up.”

“The Almighty has allowed certain things to happen to me so that I can learn, and then others can take from my experiences and apply those lessons to their own lives,” discloses I-Octane. “The music is just my vehicle of passing on my message. That is what reggae music is all about - spreading messages about love and life to help and uplift our brothers and sisters?”

The entire album was produced by reggae and dancehall hit-maker DJ Frass, with whom Jamaican imprint Tad’s Record teams up to deliver I-Octane’s latest work of love to the masses. “His musical journey is worth distributing,”states Tad Dawkins, President of Tad’s Record. “He is a youthful and refreshing sound in reggae, and his ability to transcend that without controversy into dancehall is deserving of high accolades. Like his name suggests, I-Octane is a high flame in the reggae/dancehall industry and we are privileged to be working with him and DJ Frass on this great project.”

The album release event is set to take place in Kingston, Jamaica on March 6at Chris Gayle's Triple Century Sports Bar (69 Knutsford Boulevard, New Kingston, Jamaica). Hosted by radio personality Big A from Jamaica’s top radio station Irie-FM, the program will run from 7PM to midnight and will feature I-Octane introducing the album to media and fans, followed by a full performance. Numerous local and Caribbean media outlets will be in attendance, along with mainstream music’s most acclaimed trade publication Billboard Magazine, which will be journeying to Jamaica to cover the exciting new release from this reggae music ambassador.

I-Octane "The Balancer" recently won two top prizes at Jamaica’s Youth View Awards (held on February 1, 2014 in Kingston), where he nabbed Favorite Local Music Video for “Happy Time” and Favorite Music Collaboration of the Year for “It's a Celebration,” featuring Konshens, Chris Martin and Ding Dong. He is now making the rounds on the international circuit, touring and introducing his new album to audiences far and wide, as he takes the entire world on his journey.

Get the latest news and artist updates from I-Octane at Facebook.com/itsioctanesiiick, Twitter.com/Realioctane,Instagram.com/Realioctane and YouTube.com/Ioctanetv. Please direct all media inquiries to the FOX FUSE Publicity Department at 212-300-3813 orcontact@foxfuse.com.

TRACK LIST:

1. Time Will Come
2. Million Miles Away
3. Stepping in The Name of Love
4. Babylon
5. It’s Alright Featuring Gentleman
6. Love You Like I Do
7. I Will be There
8. Mama
9. Pressure
10. Jah Jah Warrior
11. A Yah Wi Deh Featuring Ky-Mani Marley
12. Lighters Up Featuring Alaine
13. My Story
14. Blood A Go Run
15. Jah Jah Mission
16. Burn It

Alaine & I-Octane "Lighters Up" Official Video

Third World Lead Singer Bunny Rugs Is Dead

Bunny Rugs

Kingston Jamaica - Lead singer of the iconic reggae band, Third World, William 'Bunny Rugs' Clarke is dead. 

Clarke, who would have turned 66 this Thursday, February 6, passed away last night in a hospital in Orlando, Florida. 

He had been diagnosed with cancer and had been battling the disease in intensive care. 

It is reported that because of health problems, he missed some of the shows in Third World's 40th anniversary tour in 2013. 

Clarke, who has helped to shape the history of reggae, has spent the past 31 years with Third World. 

His musical career began at age 15

I-Octane nominated 10 times for YVAs 2014 - Set to release sophomore album in March

Kingston Jamaica - Reggae/dancehall star I-Octane already has much to look forward to in 2014, and the New Year has barely even started to unfold.

Nominated 10 times in eight different categories for the upcoming Youth View Awards (YVAs), the Happy Time singer says, "It's always humbling and rewarding when people acknowledge your hard work. I'm honoured to be nominated in so many categories and I feel good to know that my music and style are connecting with the youth."

The categories that I-Octane has been nominated in for this year's Youth View Awards are Favourite Local Music Video for Happy Time; Favourite Cultural Artiste; Favourite Local Artiste of the Year - Male; Favourite Summer Song of 2013 for Happy Time; Favourite Music Collaboration of the Year for Double Trouble (featuring Bounty Killer); Favourite Music Collaboration of the Year for Lighters Up (featuring Alaine); Favourite Music Collaboration of the Year for It's a Celebration (alongside Ding Dong, Konshens and Chris Martin); Fashion Icon of the Year - Male; Celebrity Role Model of the Year; and Young, Hot & Hype Male of the Year.

Cultural Artiste of the Year

Last year, I-Octane won in the categories of Cultural Artiste of the Year and Role Model of the Year at the YVAs, and this year, his winnings are expected to be even greater. The YVAs take place on Saturday, February 1 at the National Indoor Sports Centre.

Another great achievement that Octane will also be looking forward to in a matter of months will be the release of his sophomore album titled My Journey, which is set to be released in March. But for Octane, the work does not stop there as he says, "the goal is always to work harder and surpass what I did in previous years."

And specifically for 2014, I-Octane says, "I want to push my album, My Journey, so that it becomes a staple of reggae music worldwide. I'm also working to solidify and expand my brand by coming up with new, unique ideas that can cross into different markets. Finally, 2014 will just be about continuing to make good music that raises the bar and contributes to reggae and dancehall."

I-OCTANE "MY JOURNEY" ALBUM POSTER

CHECK OUT THE MUSIC VIDEO TO ‘LOVE YOU LIKE I DO” THE LEAD SINGLE FROM THE ALBUM “MY JOURNEY”