Archive for category: Riddim Mag

When I first heard songs from Tanya Stephens’ upcoming album Some Kinda Madness I was deeply touched and greatly excited. What Tanya calls her “personal favorite album” is a musically and lyrically rich and diverse body of work, produced by Tad Dawkins Jr. of Tad’s Records, and created with such amazing musicians as Dean Fraser, Kirk Bennett and Glen Browne just to name a few. All details about the record are in my article in the new Riddim magazine that can now be purchased in stores or online on the Riddim website. Riddim also managed to speak to Protoje about his upcoming album and with Burning Spear about his return to the stages. Additionally the 109th issue includes a festival guide, a Jamaica 60 special with the history of all festival songs, and a beautiful portfolio from the Art Walk in Downtown Kingston.

For 20 years the German print magazine Riddim has enriched the Reggae and Roots community with countless intriguing, insightful, inspiring and impressive stories, news and articles in its issues. For the anniversary edition me and a group of soundmen, activists, producers and members of the industry revisited the early years of the millenium when Dancehall was bursting in Germany and the scene was as lively as ever. This oral history is included in the latest magazine that is in stores now, which also provides interviews with Spice,  Jan Delay, Shanique Marie, and my article on “King Bass” Bay-C.

The German Riddim magazine is one of the most prolific and long standing media houses to report and highlight Reggae music, roots, and culture. Being a member of the team of editors I was happy and grateful to both congratulate as a huge fan on the 100th print issue, and also contribute an article about Reggae Month in Jamaica to the anniversary edition. This magazine has taught me so much, made me laugh and cry, and was and will always be one of the most important pillars of worldwide Reggae journalism. Congratulations!

With major articles on Trettmann and Ricky Dietz, and Greeen, Tóke and Miwata gracing the cartoon like cover, Riddim #98 put a prime focus on the revitalized German Reggae scene. Also Sensi Movement, the sound system from Chemnitz is part of the local music fraternity and has been contributing to it for the past 16 years. As they are just now celebrating the 150th edition of their party series Dutty Wine, I couldn’t miss to speak with them about their past, present and future. But of course Riddim also includes international highlights such as the story behind the Red Gold Green & Blue album, Busy Signal’s Parts Of The Puzzle, and another chapter of the Dance In Jamaica series by Maggi Bönning-Ofori and Kai Eckold.

For the top story of the recent issue Riddim linked Popcaan in Jamaica to speak to him not just about his new album produced by Dre Skull but also about the spirit of family he sings of. At the same time acts like Iriepathie are actually family and Mono & Nikitaman just created one – as well as an album they told the writers about. These and more stories are in the latest edition #94 as well as great portraits by Jamaican photographer Richard Williams. I contributed some reviews and my column Artist Mixes with works by Busy Signal, Naomi Cowan and Santigold.