I just took a break from an assignment from Sick Donkey Records to polish my first draft of lyrics on a song called ‘West Indian Rock’ that I am singing with my great friend Lenni I-Music. He’s pretty much the best pal a guy could have in Jamaica or anywhere, and I really want to figure out a way to get him up here for BrodieNation Music Festival.
This is a video from the radio station Stylzfm Portland Jamaica. This turned out to be a pretty awesome day for several reasons, including the fact this moment of space time connected me directly with Reggae Powerhouse Band. Lee the man that runs that powerful backing band took home the CD that Anthony Red Rose duplicated for us, and being an old friend of Red Rose, he gave it a listen.
Lee sent the song off to DJs through out the Caribbean, gave me a call and now I am writing some songs for his band and helping him edit his book. He has told me stories about the rise of reggae I wish we could print, but probably won’t.
I present to you this video of Lenni being interviewed on air about his own forthcoming album, by legendary DJ and MC, Jah T.
This was also the day Lenni brought me up in the hills in Maroon country where he had a friend cruise me around the Rio Grande in his Bamboo Boat. It was a moment of tranquility I can still feel if I just close my eyes and let the darkness be filled by memories of the warmth of the Sun.
This is world he grew up in, where he recognizes the lines deepening in every aging face kissed by the baking Jamaican sun, as he shouts greetings from his white van as we make our way up the old Parish roads.
It is this Port Antonio and its surroundings that I hope to capture in a music video for ‘West Indian Rock’ when I am fortunate enough to return to Jam Rock. I want Port Antonio and its parish or Portland to capture the entire essence of the Carribean, that Lenni I will weave into ‘West Indian Rock’.
‘West Indian Rock’ is also the title track of my debut solo album, though in truth this album is a series of pretty incredible collaborations, many of which happened because of Lenni in a myriad of miraculous, subtle, or on his part well calculated ways.
Here is one line I am afraid to cut from ‘West Indian Rock,
“West, West Indian Rock, this music is an invisible Empire, and it’s the only one we really got (Where our friends can sing forever)”
Davin’s new song has been released and is fast becoming a dancehall hit. Listen here on Reggaeville: DAVIN MICHAEL STEDMAN & ANTHONY RED ROSE – FREE YOUR MIND FEAT. SLY & ROBBIE WITH LENKY MARSDEN
– Musician and writer Davin Michael Stedman has many musical ventures and is one of the driving forces behind the Staxx Brothers. He has just returned from three weeks of networking and reporting from Kingston, Jamaica.
