Light at the end of the tunnel – Festiville 2016

The global situation is difficult these days, “more than 60 million people are on the move, we are facing one of the greatest mass migrations in history” as we hear in a collage on Conversations, the brand new album by Ky-Mani Marley and Gentleman. Yet, the joint project extraordinaire does not just point out current challenges but the light at the end of the tunnel, that both artists are convinced of. In an in depth interview they shared with me their spirit, their ideas and more insight on the album. Even more conversations were held by my colleagues Angus Taylor and Gardy Stein-Kanjora who interviewed Stephen Marley, Protoje, Raging Fyah and many more on their new works. All amazing food for thought is compiled in the new Festiville, Reggaeville’s annual festival guide that is out now for free, digital and online. Of course, the magazine also serves its original purpose and provides a comprehensive agenda of this summer’s Reggae events as well as colorful galleries and musical reviews. For Summerjam we will print physical copies to give them away for free to the massive – so look out for us in Cologne.

United for Riddim #85

Many have joined forces and fused energies for the benefit and progress of Reggae music. There are not just Gentleman and Ky-Mani Marley with their project Conversations, but also the mutually ever inspiring Jah9 and Akae Beka or Zion I Kings and I Grade Records. All of them are highlighted in the new issue of Riddim magazine, as well as others, that started to walk on solo paths, like Seeed member Dellé who drops his own album “Neo” and Kaas of Die Orsons, who went to Jamaica to record an EP not with the group but the Jugglerz. I took a close listen to the latest producer album “Smile Jamaica” by Silly Walks Discotheque and added some words to the annual festival guide.

Seriously Positive – Jahcoustix at Wha’ Gwaan Munchy?!?

A new album is surely a reason to celebrate and singer Jahcoustix couldn’t miss to do so together with the Reggaeville fanmily. He invited the team of Wha’ Gwaan Munchy?!? to his new home Berlin to share the great news and excitement. With his guitar always tuned he didn’t just drop a few unplugged pieces, but also food for thought – and laughter. At the Yaam beach right by the river Spree Dominik spoke about the production process in Vienna and Berlin, working with good old friends, and the idea behind the interesting title “Seriously Positive”. Further there is more new music by Raging Fyah, Alborosie, Irie Souljah & Jesse Royal, and the show’s camera man: Ganjaman. We’re looking forward to the festival season and the proper guide for it, the Festiville, that we’ll be sharing with you at Summerjam.