Interview with Walshy Fire: “Whatever platform I’m getting, I try my best to bring my Jamaican culture along with me”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83-7wp30Uho

We interviewed Leighton Paul Walsh, better known by his stage name Walshy Fire via Skype. Grammy Award Winning Jamaican American DJ, MC and producer, Walshy Fire had so many memories to share with us. His musical journey is very long and full of accomplishments. He started with his first sound called Change Disco when he was 18, then he continued to play with CoppershotBlack Chiney and 9 years ago he started his prolific union with the brand Major Lazer. This collaboration made him travel all over the World smashing up every single place. He used a mainstream formula to promote jamaican sonorities and that’s the key of his huge success. Walshy Fire would like to see a different highlight for Jamaican artists internationally like it’s happening right now with his ward Koffee. Not by chance, he got the Grammy to produce her major hit “Toast”.

Walshy Fire with Koffee in Usa (contributed)

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Interview with KOFFEE: “Just want to put out more conscious music to create a positive young reggae movement” (2018)

Gege Vibes Team meets the young jamaican singer Koffee during the 25th edition of Rototom Sunsplash 2018 in Spain before of her performance with Cocoa Tea on the main stage of the Festival. Koffee is only 18 years old but she is an aware artist already with a really conscious mentality and she is able to inspire the new generations as well. Koffee says her main musical inspirations are firstly Chronixx and Protoje (she performed together with them last November in London, UK for the event BBC Introducing at Tobacco Docks and the day after at the prestigious venue Alexandra Palace for a sold out show of ten thousands people), but even artists like Agent Sasco Buju Banton, Sizzla and many more. Her last single “Toast”, from upcoming Rapture Ep out on every platform from last month, got very good feedbacks in the worldwide musical panorama. “Gratitude is a must”, Koffee tells in the lyric of this song. She is actually considered a rising reggae star and definitely the revelation of last and this year.

Interviewer: Gege Vibes

Shooting: Noctis 

Editing: Bussweh Visuals

 

ROTOTOM SUNSPLASH 2018 DAY 01 / Stars of the main stage : Julian Marley, Cocoa Tea Ft Koffee and Ben Harper

The first night of “Rototom Sunsplash 2018 – 25 years walking together” was explosive. The day one of the biggest European Reggae Festival started last evening with high-level performances. On the main stage there were Julian Marley from Jamaica, Cocoa Team ft Koffee from Jamaica and Ben Harper from Usa. Julian Marley & the Uprising gave us a great show as usual. “Juju” conquered the spectators reinterpreting some Bob Marley’s hits like One Love and Exodus. The brand new album of Julian Marley will be out very soon. Then there was the turn of Cocoa Tea that smashed up the stage. His energy was incredible for the whole performance and his special guest Koffee was the real revelation for the Rototom’s crowd. Koffee is only 18 years old, but her talent and intelligence is impressive. She was defining herself blessed to have the opportunity to share the stage with a veteran name of the Jamaican music as her mentor Cocoa Tea. Last star on the main stage was Ben Harper. Ben leaded the massive during the show with his historical band the Innocent Criminals and the sound of his own guitar. After it everyone moved in the dancehall area to enjoy Spice’s performance and the New Level Bcn Crew, sound system from Spain. Spice confirmed yesterday in Benicasim her title of “Reina of Dancehall” and we must give a big up to her official dancer Rebel as well. Tonight we’re attending legendary names on the main stage: Groundation (Usa), Sly & Robbie, Yellow Man, Johnny Osbourne, Bitty McLean (Jamaica/Uk) and “dulcis in fundo” Jimmy Cliff (Jamaica).

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ROTOTOM SUNSPLASH 2018 is #25YEARSWALKINGTOGETHER Edition

#25yearswalingtogether is the slogan created by Rototom Sunsplash to celebrate his 25 Edition. A fourth of century is already passed but not the memory of the places where everything was started : in Pordenone and Osoppo, Italy. Actually Rototom Sunsplash is organized every summer in Benicassim, Spain . In these 25 years a lot of people was reunited in the mighty name of the stars of reggae and their philosophy. More than 3.2 million people reached Rototom Sunsplash along the different editions, coming from all the Continents of the World. Today this Festival is considered the biggest one in Europe and one of the most important in the World. On the stage, along the different years, more than 2,300 artists alternated. This summer it will be exactly from 16th to the 22nd of August. ’25 years walking together ‘ means prestigious artists of the old and the new generation will be there performing in unity.

Check The entire line up 2018 on the official website : https://rototomsunsplash.com/it/line-up/

Julian Marley and the Uprising, Tarrus Riley, Jimmy Cliff, Spice, Cocoa Tea ft Koffee, The Mighty Diamonds, David Rodigan, Spice, Konshens are only some of the popular singers and bands will perform on the main stage or in the Dancehall area. But remember there are more than two stages. There are 5 options : Main Stage, Dancehall, Lion Stage, Dub Academy and Carribean Tempo. Plus Rototom Sunsplash is not only music. It’s even “Foro Social”, culture, experiences, great food, camping, African Village, Beach, workshops for dancehall dancers, social projects, press conferences, stands and many many more. That’s why we will delve into a different topic about Rototom #25yearswalkingtogether every week before it starts. We guess this edition must be rich of unforgettable vibes.

 

Eugenia Conti