The original vocalist of Black Uhuru, Mykal Rose, collaborates with New York City's dub specialists and London's Lover's Rock Queen for a fresh track
Mykal Rose with Subatomic members
Reggae veteran singer Mykal Rose, original voice of the Grammy Award-winning Jamaican group Black Uhuru, ascends into the future with Lee "Scratch" Perry's former band, NYC dub specialists Subatomic Sound System and London lover's rock queen Hollie Cook on the brand new single "Get High," which serves as the debut offering from the trio's upcoming collaborative full-length album, slated for release this summer via joint venture between Dubshot Records and Controlled Substance Sound Labs.
The production showcases a robust blend of bass, drums, and effects, highlighting Subatomic's dedication to preserving the essence of classic Jamaican reggae. With percussion by conga virtuoso Larry MacDonald, timeless horn melodies by Troy Simms, and Emch's dub melodica, the foundation is solid.
"I always want to do my ting different," stated Rose. "With Black Uhuru and with Sly & Robbie we try to reach beyond reggae, draw everything in to create a universal music. The first song me ever record was with Scratch (Lee Perry) at Black Ark when I was just a teenager. Scratch different for sure! And I see the work Scratch do with Subatomic different too, same way for this generation, reaching beyond."
"Get High" and the upcoming full-length project are the product of long-standing connections spanning decades. Three artists from Kingston, NYC, and London, each with their own backgrounds, converge to create an album and perform together. Summer tour dates will be announced soon.
Regarding the first single, Emch of Subatomic expresses, "Musically, this is a journey through the past and the future at the same time, with ancient melodies and drums floating on electronic bass waves and a subatomic heartbeat. This song is a return to a tradition of elevation and natural cultivation as well as celebration.”
Hollie Cook and Emch first crossed paths in 2010 through mutual friend Ari Up from The Slits. maintained the connection with Cook over the years, eventually inviting her to contribute her vocals to balance Mykal "Ruff" Rose's powerful delivery on their current project.
"With Black Uhuru and with Sly & Robbie we try to reach beyond reggae, draw everything in to create a universal music."
"I feel honored to be in any collaboration with Mykal Rose," gushed Cook. "I really appreciate Emch’s vision of how I fit into this new project. Doing background and harmony is my favorite! I’m so thankful to be doing it in this context with these people. I always vibed on vocal harmonies," He said.
