Future Reggae showcases new generation

Future Reggae, a platform to showcase new talent, had its début at Johnny’s Place on Saturday night with a roster of artistes who did the genre proud.

Adiel Thomas, the organiser of Future Reggae, said that he was happy with the first staging and noted that “it is important that spaces are created for us artistes to be heard”.

He added, “As someone who is working hard to establish myself in the reggae scene, I know firsthand how difficult it can be to get the kind of platform that truly lets you shine. I have always felt like young artistes in reggae do not always get the recognition they deserve. That is what inspired me to create Future Reggae.”

Among the artistes who made their voices heard were Sydney ‘Sobah’ Murray, Christopher ‘Chris Malachi’ Morris, Adiel ‘King Diel’ Thomas and Zhayna France.

The Future Reggae Collective kicked off the evening with a performance of Dawn Penn’s No No No, which was well received by the reggae enthusiasts and industry professionals came out to support and celebrate the promising young.

Sobah captured the audience’s attention with her unique blend of reggae and alternative sounds with tracks like 10 Fry Dumpling, They Say, and Lovers Rock. She invited her father, Paul ‘Lymie’ Murray, former lead singer of the Skool Band, to join her onstage for a heartfelt father-daughter duet, which brought the crowd to their feet.

Chris Malachi’s blend of reggae and gospel included tracks like Army of Light, Cool and Easy, and Tek on Street. “I want my music to uplift people, inspire them to go after their purpose, and challenge them to think deeper about life,” Malachi explained. “I also want to see more reggae incorporated into reggae. The genre can evolve without losing its core values.”

Known for his love-infused tracks, King Diel skilfully delivered Pretty Little Melanin and Nostalgia. A special cameo by recording artiste Joby Jay, performing You Stole My Heart, added an extra spark to the set.

Zhayna capped off the night with her soulful voice and emotive delivery. Her latest single Attention received exactly that.

King Diel is hopeful that platforms such as Future Reggae “will show Jamaicans that reggae is in good hands and help introduce the world to the fresh sounds coming out of Jamaica”.