Kingston, Jamaica,
June 28, 2013 Reggae has now gone beyond race and
nationality, just like the Rastafarian culture. It is Jamaica’s gift to the
world and Planet Earth loves it – not just for those irrepressible rhythms, but
what the music stands for. It is therefore no surprise to learn that fifty
years after its birth, reggae’s current elite includes a singer from Sicily –
one turned Jamaican national, and whose artistry has continued to grow and
develop with every release. Alberto ‘Alborosie’ D’Ascola is a multi-talented
Italian reggae singer with a unique story. In addition to his
talents as a singer and deejay, Alborosie writes the majority of his own
material and plays virtually everything we hear on his records.
He is the
modern-day Renaissance man – a global citizen who demonstrates mastery of
traditional reggae whilst pointing the way forward for himself and the genre.
Evoking classics of old, his music does not just sound great; it has meaning.
Alborosie may not be Jamaican by birth, but he promotes reggae music in its
truest sense. With dreadlocks almost touching the floor, he is a proud
Rastafarian armed with rebel philosophy and consciousness.
The “Kingston Town” singer welcomes a new milestone, this being his
twentieth year in the music business. To mark this new achievement Alborosie
will release his fourth studio album and embark on an extensive European summer
tour.
The
latest album Sound The System is a
real landmark. He describes the album as “a new chapter,” and says he
called it that “because people can expect good music and learn real
lessons.”
“It’s an
Alborosie album and so if you’re expecting something different, you’ll be
disappointed,” he says with a knowing smile, “except I really go all out where
the songs are concerned. They are revolutionary in terms of the message, which
is supposed to make you feel better and they could even change your life
around. I really believe that.”
The 16-track album
will be released on the Greensleeves label and features collaborations with Italian
singer-songwriter Nina Zilli, Kymani Marley, Nature and the legendary
Abyssinians. Sound the System will be released on July 1, just in time for his
summer tour that will see the artist performing at over 36 venues in Europe and
for the first time in Israel. The first leg of the tour runs from June 27 to
July 28 and the second leg from August 15 to August 31. One of the main highlights
of the tour will be a video shoot for the Nina Zilli collaboration 'Goodbye'
in Bologna, Italy.
In 2011, Alborosie copped the MOBO award for best Reggae Artist. With over twenty years in the music
business his music is in high demand worldwide and is internationally
recognized as one of the first Italian reggae artistes. A ‘rebel’ in his own
right, he
insists on following his own path and has kept on evolving, whilst retaining
the warrior instincts that have become his trademark.
Contributed:
Oufah Media & Productions