Earlier in 2015, Rize and Notis played some massive stadiums and amphitheatres across North America supporting the legendary Michael Franti & Spearhead. Having previously supported Franti with BKB, Rize beams with enthusiasm about the tour.
“It was amazing,” she says. “The very first tour BKB did in North America was playing with Franti. It feels like things have come full circle. Under the wing of Franti with this new project gave us so much more confidence in what we were doing. Michael has always been a massive supporter of my music and to play to such big rooms and have the community spirit behind us felt invigorating. We click and we get along well because we are trying to change the world for the better through music.”
After completing the last Blue King Brown album, Born Free, a portion of which was recorded in Kingston, Rize made the decision to move to Jamaica. Judging by the August-released New Era Frequency, setting up camp in the birthplace of reggae has had an extremely positive impact on her songwriting.
“The music scene here is absolutely thriving,” she says. “When we moved here, there was a real resurgence in reggae and roots whereby it has been dominated by dancehall music the last ten years. It’s like a next generation of Bob Marleys and Peter Toshs are starting to stand up right now and it’s like a reggae revolution.”
Working with Notis in a range of home studios around Kingston, Rize tirelessly demoed the tracks that would go on to form New Era Frequency. After several weeks of song development, the band hit the studio to lay down the final product. Given the thriving music scene in Kingston, there are many different studios available around the city. However, only one place would suffice for Rize: the legendary Tuff Gong Studios.
“We went to Tuff Gong to lay down the live instrumentation and then layered the vocals over the top. I’ve been to many studios over the years, but there is an immediate energy and vibe when you walk through the door of Tuff Gong. Bob [Marley]’s piano is still there and you can use it, and all the engineers and personnel that worked with him are around to help you out and you hear stories from back in the ’70s. It’s nice to be surrounded with such a legacy whilst you record.”
Despite BKB winning various awards and accolades over the course of their three album career, fame and glory isn’t why Rize plays music. “I think success is the decision that somebody has chosen music as their chosen career path. I think fulfilling that spirit within yourself as an artist and being able to connect with people through music is success enough. Music is more powerful than the level of consciousness that we are currently at. There are so many amazing qualities to it.”
Rize is bringing her new project back to Oz for some east coast dates in early January. However, before that there’s the big New Year’s Eve bash at The Croxton, alongside Melbourne Ska Orchestra and Mista Savona DJ set.
“I can’t wait to unite my Jamaican and Australian families. The Ska Orchestra are great friends of mine and who knows when we will all be there on the same night [again]. It’s New Year’s, I wouldn’t say no to an all-in collaboration, but you’ll have to come down to find out for yourself. See you there for a wicked time.”
BY TEX MILLER
