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June 28 2014 - With 16 Tracks released and
another 14 already done and scheduled for
release, the year 2014 is definitely one of
my most productive these last five or so. In
this update, I would like to expand a little
bit on these releases and my "Ariwa
Sessions" (work title!) project as well
as a number of other things.
Yesterday
was the
official release date of a
virtual 7" featuring Ras Kitchen,
which included an
official videoclip as well, the second
official video clip I did with one of my
productions. I'm hoping that this release
will raise at least a little bit of support
for this remarkable Jamaican brethren.
This year is a productive one thusfar,
that's something I can safely say. Both in
quantity and, I hope, in quality. I've been
sharing some unreleased tracks with some
producers and I got positive feedback. A
couple of brethren who are close friends of
mine could not even recognize my mark, which
is, well, remarkable.
It's not just the fact that I've been
shopping licenses (and attached recordings)
that made my music change significantly, or
the fact I'm using different effects and a
lot of additional techniques that were
previously unavailable for me. Not just the
fact that all of this is enormously
inspiring as I am able to reach deeper (or
higher, if you will) levels. It's not just
the fact that I am absolutely learning
enormously, just by trying
and applying things.
It's also the new hardware: 64 Bit, 8
Gigabytes of RAM and some more impressive
computer tech-know that goes beyond my
comprehension but something to do with dual
core Intel whatever. The system is now
running more or less smoothly after an
initial two weeks of enormous frustration
with hanging sound devices, Windows 8 with
bizarre ways of denying you access to your
own computer's hard drive locations and what
have you. For an old-skool guy who started
with MSX computers and MS-DOS back in the
1980's, it can be very frustrating to have
to deal with gadgets designed for people who
do not know how to deal with hard drives,
programs, even files, and not knowing how to
bypass these gadgets or "apps" as
they're called.
But I did it.
My programs (not "apps") are
functioning, the few programs that do not
work on this one do work on an older
computer which I have here, so I should be
technically ready to produce.
In fact, I am.
Even more: I'm grateful for the music
that is already out there.
Thus far, I have only released a couple
of discomixes, one of which a mini one. The
rest is stricktly dubwise. It's absolutely
my intention to release more full length
lyrical tracks with Dub mixes and I can say
that because I already have the full length
lyrical recordings plus licenses right here
in the Dubroom. I'm not going to drop names
here, because that's a thing I do in an
upcoming album that is already mixed and
mastered. It has the truthful title MESSIAN
DREAD PRESENTS A HEAVYWEIGHT DUBWISE
SELECTION WITHOUT OBJECTION, about which
more later in this update.
I've been uploading my music at a number
of Online Music Distributors (OMD's) these
last weeks as well and wrote an
article featuring some of them. They all
have their pro's and con's, but that is what
that
article was about and I know the
difference between a repeat and an echo, at
least I think I do, so I'll leave it at
that. Just one little thing, though: that
article will -Jah Willing- definitely get a
follow-up.
Here is where the current musical
productions can be found, if you want to
take a look:
ICOMPOSITIONS.com - CLICK
LAST.fm - CLICK
REVERBNATION.com - CLICK
SOUNDCLICK.com - CLICK
VERSIONIST.net - CLICK
Next to a number of tracks which are
scheduled for release in the coming weeks,
and the many vocal tracks which I hope to be
able to produce later this year, I felt
myself drawn hard into what I privately call
my "Ariwa Sessions". It's just a
private work title so don't take it too
literal. It's the result of my purchase of
Mad Professor's Reel To Reel Reggae Volumes
One and Two, the latter just released by
Loopmasters this last July 2014. For the
non-technical reader: this is a wealth of
material straight out of Ariwa's studio's to
be used in own productions.
I already released a three track EP with
extended Dubs called "Reel
To Real Dubwise", but at this
moment I have fourteen different riddim
tracks which -after just a little bit more
tweaking here and there- should be ready to
be transformed in a full length Dub album.
This album will sound like a combination of
Mad Professor's work and that of myself,
which it actually is. A virtual Ariwa
session for me. I want to take my time with
this, because this is material that not just
deserves to be treated with respect, it
simply demands it.
All this work in the studio that I'm kind
of busy with since around May this year is
now starting to show public fruit. I'm not
really promoting my releases like I used to
do, just through the various OMD's and a
forum here or there, but I'm really grateful
to see that sometimes as quick as twenty
minutes after a new release is published at
the Dubroom, the downloading starts from all
over the world right here at the Dubroom
server or it's mirror at Kim Dotcom's
MEGA.co.nz.
One of the planned releases is a full
length Dub album entitled MESSIAN DREAD
PRESENTS A HEAVYWEIGHT DUBWISE SELECTION
WITHOUT OBJECTION. It's a rather lengthy and
little bit theatrical title, but truthful.
This is a twelve-track Dub album which has
many, many vocal parts in the tunes and
definitely gives an indication to things I
hope to be able to release later this year.
The album features well known and even
legendary names like U Roy, Kojak,
Dillinger, Trinity, Prince Jazzbo, Dennis
Alcapone and Horseman. Also featured is
Iration Steppa's Dan Man plus singers like
Seamus, Ras Khaleel, Tallis and a female DJ
called Piracy. At a later stage, the Dubroom
will pay in-depth attention to these
vocalists but for now I just mention these
names.
Then
there is what I consider to be a more than
excellent backing vocals by a UK based Dubstep
singer called Aiva
and another non-Reggae UK based vocalist
called Mandy
Edge. Both singers definitely give a
touch to the music, because they are
talented and skillful where Reggae by it's
very nature can absorb elements from other
musical ways without even losing a millimeter
in authenticity. I like to think that this
is an accomplishment in my more recent
material.
Here is the track list:
TRACKS:
1. Dennis Alcapone - Dub The Dub You Dubwise (4:15)
2. Dan Man - Blaze The Dubwise (3:41)
3. Dillinger - Dwell In Love And Dubwise (3:45)
4. Trinity - Light Of This Dubwise (3:55)
5. Kojak - Prevailment Of Dubwise (3:43)
6. Messian Dread - Loving Dubwise (3:46)
7. Prince Jazzbo - Rastafari Dubwise (3:29)
8. Seamus - Babylon Dubwise (5:15)
9. U Roy - Mash Down Satan Dubwise (4:00)
10. Horseman and Dan Man - Robber Dubwise (3:39)
11. Messian Dread - Crazy But Dubwise (3:43)
12. Lone Ranger - Rock And Come in Dubwise (3:48)
In fact, I am so happy with and grateful
for the fact I'm able to release this work
that I'm currently looking into several
possibilities of having the material
presented on physical CD as well as (free)
download. Just a service for people who
would like a CD with full artwork wrapped in
cellophane sent to them by mail. The CD, by
the way, will have a few extra tracks which
are already released to make it into a full
70 minutes Dub experience.
BONUS TRACKS:
13. Messian Dread - His Imperial Dubwise (4:03)
14: Dennis Alcapone - Dub To Be Conscious (3:54)
15. Horseman and Dillinger - Dangerous And Dubwise (4:16)
16. Dillinger - Dwell In Love And Dubwise (Ext.) (5:26)
The Artwork is already made and at the
moment I write this, I've just concluded an
upload to AMAZON.com since they have this
print-on-demand service just like
REVERBNATION.com, where the CD is already
available. However, Shipping and
Handling costs for one CD there are 15
dollars to get it in the Netherland where I
live. I'm not going to actively promote the
CD at Reverbnation since I think 22 dollars
is a bit too much and this is only a service
to people who would like the extra dimension
of having the physical CD with Artwork
(click to enlarge a little).
Since I have to wait about ten days
before the CD can go live at Amazon, I'm
just mentioning the whole CD project here in
this newsletter. I've probably made a
mistake or two as well in my Amazon
submission, so it might even take longer
than that before I myself have a copy and
can decide if it is ready for promotion or
in need for change.
Something
else that was on my mind but never really
possible is to work on video clips.
Thus far
I've done just one, and a promo for my Reel
to Real Dubwise EP, but Jah Willing there
will be more as I'm trying to discover just
what you can do simply by using Windows
Movie Maker. Making a YouTube video is a
good way of getting something across, like a
musical track or a message or both, and
hopefully this will be a regular with new
musical releases.
Well,
hopefully I've summed up about everything
and added some new information as well
concerning the current musical projects I
find myself involved in. Looking forward to
your feedback!
One Love,
Messian Dread
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