Rebelution first united in Santa Barbara, California, built from a wide array of musical backgrounds. With Reggae as the focus, the group set out to create a fresh and vibrant sound which they dub California Reggae. The band released their highly anticipated full-length album in June of 2007 and just weeks after its release, “Courage to Grow” became one of the most downloaded Reggae albums on iTunes. By the end of the year, it had been awarded the iTunes Editors Choice: Best Reggae Album 2007.

“Apparently, California Reggae is hot. Stemming from a foundation of local support, Rebelution soared into iTunes Reggae Top 10 (album downloads), amongst some lofty company. Lofty like Bob, Stephen, and Damian Marley.”
– Santa Barbara News-Press

Rebelutions dynamic sound is led by diverse vocalist and guitarist Eric Rachmany. Together with the elevating melodies of Rory Carey keyboards and hard-hitting beats by bass player Marley D. Williams and drummer Wesley Finley, the band will make you move both physically and mentally.

“If you love Bob Marley, Sublime, and Jack Johnson and youre a regular on the State Street scene, then chances are youre already crazy about Rebelution. Their combination of reggae, hip-hop, and rock have made them a favorite of music lovers all over town.”
– The Santa Barbara Independent

Within the last year, Rebelution has made a name for themselves with their iTunes success and performances with notable artists like Barrington Levy, Israel Vibration, Junior Reid, Don Carlos, Pepper, Eek-A-Mouse, Pato Banton, Tanya Stephens, Half Pint, SOJA, Yellowman, Talib Kweli, E-40, and The Pharcyde. Rebelution has already proven themselves in the musical arena and intends to further expand their success with a sound that confidently claims itself unique.

Posted: September 5th, 2008 under Rooted Creatives.
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Dominic Balli

Public Announcement

By Indy Staff

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Dominic Balli places himself among some of the brightest upcoming Santa Barbara music-makers with the release of his debut album, Public Announcement. Reggae is the band’s core sound, but Balli’s voice veers toward a more hip-hop/rap tangent. It’s with this vocal factor that the message of “freedom, hope, and love” transcends throughout the album with hard-hitting lyrics that are backed by epic and well-timed bass and percussion accompaniments. “Sacrifice of Me” brings out the reggae-rap combo, while “Bread for the Broken” proves that Balli’s first album isn’t simply a sonic pleasure—it’s a means of transmitting a message to the public. With some Christian imagery infused into his tracks, Balli retains the essence and values of the reggae/rasta culture. It’s the ubiquitous plea for people of the world to love everyone, because “all we need is love.”

Article courtesy of the Santa Barbara Independent http://www.independent.com/news/2008/aug/21/dominic-balli/

Purchase the entire album on itunes and you will thank yourself.

Posted: September 5th, 2008 under Rooted Creatives.
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Hey all,

We have started a new blog devoted entirely to food, drinks and all that falls in between.  Check out our site at www.vivalafoodies.com.  Content and site will be continually updated in the weeks to come.  If you like what you see please pass it along to your fellow foodies.

Posted: September 5th, 2008 under Rooted Creatives.
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We are calling out to all “Reggae” artists from all sub genres to submit your tunesfor our Hybrid Roots/VibeSetter Recordings upcoming reggae inspired CD compilation titled “Roots of the Underground”. I have included below
the link to our project website for a brief overview of the compilation and details on how to submit materials. Please review this information and let us know if you are interested in working with us to help bring
your music to a wider audience with the Roots of the Underground Compilation CD.

http://VibeSetter.com/Compilation

For any questions or further information:

Adam Rubenstein aka: Dubliner
renew@hybridroots.com

J Goger Malo
support@vibesetter.com

Special thanks to Dubliner and Wiked-bass-man

Posted: August 3rd, 2008 under Rooted Creatives.
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Maui Film Festival at Wailea and the Maui Arts & Cultural Center

By JON WOODHOUSE, Contributing Writer

Big Island reggae artist Jack Miller invited some musician friends to join him on the opening track of the soundtrack of the new documentary “Dreadlock Rock,” which receives its world premiere tonight at the Maui Film Festival.

The anthemic song “Love, Peace & Unity,” features help from Toots Hibbert of Toots and the Maytals fame, Cat Coore and Bunny Rugs of Third World, Jamaican rhythm kings Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare, Big Youth, and legendary guitarist Earl Chinna Smith, who worked with reggae greats from Peter Tosh and Jimmy Cliff to Black Uhuru and Gregory Isaacs.

It’s an astounding ensemble, and a tribute to Miller’s stature in the Jamaican reggae community.

Many of those artists appear in Miller’s new documentary, a personal homage to the power of roots reggae to move audiences around the globe. Profiling his early immersion in reggae music in the mid-1970s to the present day, the film provides a unique perspective on the history of Jamaica’s profound gift to the world.

“It’s an autobiographical story about the journey I’ve had having these relationships with some amazing musicians,” Miller explains. “It all started in 1975 when we formed the Roots Band, the first surf reggae band in Southern California. We started seeing the different Jamaican acts coming through like Toots and the Maytals and Jimmy Cliff, and of course Bob Marley. I ended up going to Kingston (Jamaica) and meeting Sly and Robbie and the Revolutionaries. The film is about this journey and it comes full circle to the present. I went down about two years ago to finish the soundtrack for the film and I hooked up with a lot of the same musicians from the early days like Sly and Robbie, Big Youth, and Cat Coore and Bunny Rugs from Third World. It was like a homecoming.”

Featuring interviews (subtitled for the non-Rasta-patois literate) with a number of leading reggae artists including Peter Tosh, Sly and Robbie and Aston “Familyman” Barrett of the Wailers, it includes a clip of Bob Marley describing reggae’s evolution from ska through rock steady.

“In terms of getting archival footage, the seed started back when a musician named Chili Charles had a video company in Los Angeles and had a show called “L.A. Reggae with Roger Steffens,” Miller continues. “They were going out videoing all the reggae bands that came through Los Angles, and they heard about these white guys playing reggae and shot us live one night. Shortly afterwards, we put together the Reggae All Stars. We went to Sunsplash and he shot that.”

As a young white musician raised in Kansas, Miller surprisingly recalls he had little difficulty entering Jamaica’s insular studio world.

“The scene was pretty much in its infancy in terms of the U.S.,” he notes. “England had a lot more exposure through the Jamaican immigrant population. In many parts of the U.S., it (reggae) was almost completely unknown in the mid-’70s. So the musicians were quite open to me, and very few people were willing to go into the ghettos of Kingston and look these guys up. I had studied the music and knew who these people were and they could see this guy gets it. They dug it because it was different from what they had been doing in the studio, they enjoyed that I mixed up rock and soul and R&B with it.”

Some rhythm tracks from these early Kingston sessions are mixed with songs on the exceptional soundtrack CD, which features such other legends as the Mighty Diamonds, Peter Tosh bassist Fully Fullwood, Bob Marley and the Wailers guitarist Junior Marvin, and Willie Nelson dueting with Maui’s Marty Dread on the powerful “Take No Part.”

In conclusion, Miller hopes his film will “pull people into the story and then they will look deeper. It’s like what ‘Buena Vista Social Club’ did for Cuban music. A lot of young people in Hawaii love reggae, but they don’t know a lot about the founding fathers of the music, they don’t know how it evolved. We want to get people on the train and let them go on this journey and hope that it will spark some deeper interest in the music.”

http://mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/504834.htm

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Posted: June 19th, 2008 under Rooted Creatives.
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Joshua Doolittle
Scotia, NY

Bouldering is my passion. Creating artificial boulders in city parks will serve as eco-ambassadors to the remaining wild places. “Kids” of all ages could congregate and play together, fostering community, athleticism and the strong fingers needed for future field trips to the real rocks waiting outside city limits.

Bouldering gardens would be created using the Chi’bagoda glue-less, composite bamboo strip, beam system [please visit http://bambitat.com/]. Massive, organic rib caged pods would emerge, woven bamboo mats would provide the skin and an innovative texturing process would provide the “grips”.

Alternating passes of random soy-foam splatters would be partially encased by sprayed concrete. Upon curing, the foam would be power-washed away leaving thousands of Swiss cheese like pockets, crimps and jugs.

These custom crafted, lunar limestone blocks will become the “skate parks” for climbers. They would range in size and shape to accommodate all skill levels and age groups.

Costs would vary depending on dimensions, but contained bamboo groves could be planted nearby to affordably support the growth of more urban asteroids in 3-5 year cycles. This system could be replicated all over the world inspiring never ending generations of metro climbers to seek out, enjoy and then protect our natural world.

The Chi’bagoda Boulder projects impact will be multifaceted but primarily focus on:

1. To promote the architectural potential for building with banded bamboo strips/ “…

1. To promote the architectural potential for building with banded bamboo strips/ “organic steel.”

2. Encourage environmental stewardship by inspiring people of all ages, across the socio-economic spectrum to become climbers.
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In progress, seeking support to fabricate initial prototypes.

The journey began with a nocturnal dream that I had 9 years ago that took place on a hill overlooking a meadow outside of Eldorado Canyon, CO. I was standing there, looking down a…

Keen is an inspiring pioneer in the “conscious capitalism” revolution. Chi’bagoda will follow in similar footsteps, but address sustainable architectural projects instead of footw…

Hike along the Snake River dyke in Jackson, WY on a hot summer day, jump in and float for 9 minutes back to the boat launch ramp, then repeat.

http://www.keenfootwear.com/stand/submission_detail.aspx?id=457&c=out&cps=32767&cpi=1

Posted: April 4th, 2008 under Green Life, Rooted Creatives.
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Hybrid Roots is currently seeking a Graffiti artist for a project in development. All interested parties can email renew@hybridroots.com.

Posted: March 20th, 2008 under Rooted Creatives.
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Calling All Reggae Fans!

Check out and reach out to Dreadlock Rock. An upcoming documentary about the history of reggae music. The soundtrack is amazing.

http://www.myspace.com/dreadlockrock

http://hoperoad.com/

A must for all reggae fans

Posted: March 9th, 2008 under Rooted Creatives.
Comments: none

Cari Cole is an award winning singer-songwriter who has captured a steadily growing audience since her 2002 debut, The Circle of Fire: an intimate and honest expression of life seen through the eyes of love. Musician, composer, poet, and singer, Cari Cole, has walked the shaman’s path to create a music and artistry that heals. ’Transformational Music’ is what listeners are calling “The Circle of Fire,” the inspirational debut CD on Amber-Allen Publishing.

Originally from Minneapolis, Cari Cole has been a musician and songwriter for most of her life, exploring a variety of musical endeavors through her early beginnings. She often found herself strumming her acoustic guitar or lugging her round-necked Dobro or mountain dulcimer to cafes and friends homes for a song or two before she was old enough to go to clubs. She sang the folk songs of Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez and Bob Dylan as she wrote her own and found her way to New York City at the age of 19 where she joined a rock and roll band.

She went on to teach voice in New York, founded her own voice studio, was a soloist in The Metro Mass Choir and performed everywhere from CBGB’s and the infamous Bitter End to Carnegie Hall, Town Hall, and The Apollo Theatre where she shared the stage with legendary singers such as Cissy Houston and Martha Wash to name a few. Although she is best known as a vocalist and songwriter, Cari is also a versatile musician: playing piano, acoustic and electric guitars, dulcimer, and flute. In the teaching arts, she is regarded as one of the most notable in voice studies, working with four-time Grammy Award winning recording artist Donald Fagen of Steely Dan and the legendary band of Journey among others.

Throughout her musical quests, Cari’s career as a singer and songwriter was always in competition with her thriving NY voice studio. She pursued her music in between sessions with students, demo~ing songs, performing and writing with other writers. After awhile, like many artists who don’t persevere in their own art, she turned to helping others instead of nurturing her own music. However, as time went on, her then fiancé, who listened to Cari sing songs night after night in her home, dared her to close her voice studio and pursue her songwriting. While at first Cole couldn’t imagine shutting her doors, she heard something in his words and hesitantly but firmly closed her studio on a mission to discover what was to come. “I knew there was a record coming and it was my deepest desire to pursue it”. In 2000, Cari’s life and work took a dramatic turn upon reading the teachings of Toltec Shaman don Miguel Ruiz, author of the NY Times bestseller “The Four Agreements”. She delved into an apprenticeship with don Miguel, from which an album and a new music was inspired. A composition written to the words of Miguel’s ’The Circle of Fire Prayer’ seeded the musical journey to come. “These songs began to pour forth, one right after the other. It was like someone turned on a fountain,” says Cole. “As the material began to manifest, it was clear that a record was in the making.”

“I started writing these songs on a private journey and never imagined I would sing them in public,” she recalls. “I wrote them as affirmations for myself”. Cole composed the lyrics without self-consciousness allowing them to flow as organically as possible. Cari’s music is a result of the deep healing and metamorphosis throughout many stages in her own life. Perhaps the most trying time for her was from the trials and tribulations of being left by her mother at age 2, and given up by her father at the age of 4. In a foster home for several years, she ended up with her aunt and uncle at the age of 5 where she lived until the age of 15 when she struck out on her own. Her personal quest for love and comfort is perhaps the main ingredient in her songwriting and reason why to this day she continues to write to heal. Cole points out, “The songs on Circle of Fire have such a positive outlook because life has many difficulties. I sing about love because that is the vibration I reach for and, I think we all, deep down reach for. That’s how my music comes to me, when I am struggling for relief and comfort… a light in dark places… ”. But if Circle of Fire isn’t meant for preaching salvation, it certainly carries an understanding that has already led audiences to identify passionately with her songs. Cole’s vulnerability and open honesty in her songwriting perhaps is why her message is so universally received.

‘The Circle of Fire’ CD was produced by producer/husband Paul St James. ‘The Circle of Fire’ is rich in instrumental texture but beautifully spacious, honoring the integrity of its songwriting, which suggests a timelessness such as Carole King’s “Tapestry” or Joni Mitchell’s “Blue”. Producer Paul St. James has created a definitive soundscape for a music that transcends trend and a record that is highly accessible while remaining true to its authenticity and intent. Rooted by Cari’s exquisite piano, acoustic guitar and gorgeous vocals, and sculpted by the fretless bass work of Paul St. James and Larry Saltzman’s (Jewel, Simon & Garfunkel) ambient guitars, the CD hosts a spectrum of musical color in arrangements of violin, native American flute, and melodic drums and percussion that flow throughout.

Cari Cole was a finalist for Best Female Artist in the IAMA Awards 2004 and as one of five finalists the IMA Awards 2004. She was on the Grammy Nominations Ballot for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for 2004, was a 2004 & 2005 ASCAPlus Award winner and received Honorable Mention in the Songprize.com Songwriting Contest in 2003 and the DiscMakers Contest of 2003. Cole graces the pages of Billboard Books author Daylle Schwartz new book “I Don’t Need a Record Deal! Your Survival Guide for the Indie Music Revolution” as an indie artist on the rise. She was selected as the AOL Musician of the Week/Tonos.com in July 2002 and debuted COF at Carnegie Hall in 2002. She has recorded and performed extensively across the U.S. and is currently in the studio writing and recording for the new record.

Cari has performed at the following venues among many others:
Carnegie Hall, NYC
Town Hall, NYC
The Apollo Theatre, NYC
Shine, NYC
Crash Mansion, NYC
Columbia University, NYC
The Bitter End, NYC
CB’s Gallery, NYC
CBGB’s, NYC
Le Bar Bat, NYC
Omega Institute, Rhinebeck, NY
The Bluebird, Nashville
Asilomar Retreat Center, Pacific Grove, CA
Center at The Peaks, Telluride, CO
The Center for Happiness, Carlsbad, CA
The Spindrifter, Kona, Hawaii
William’s Pub, Minneapolis, MN, MN

http://caricole.gaia.com/

http://www.caricole.com/interact/ContactUs.aspx

http://www.caricole.com/media/promo.aspx

Posted: January 30th, 2008 under Rooted Creatives.
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Jo Davidson is an accomplished musician, composer, producer, photographer, writer and talk show host! As the host and producer of the popular online podcast Zentertainment Talk Radio, Jo has interviewed well known authors such as Carolyn Myss (Entering the Castle), Candace Pert (The Molecules of Emotion), Dr. Larry Dossey (The Extraordinary Healing Power of Ordinary Things), Nora Ephron (When Harry Met Sally), Catherine Anne Jones (Touched by an Angel), Martha Beck (Columnist for the Oprah Magazine) and many others.

Formerly signed to Warner Chappell Music Publishing, Jo left WC to form her own publishing company, SIMPLY SAID SONGS. Her music has been featured in film and television, including All My Children, General Hospital, Felicity, Blossom (sung by Melissa Manchester), The campy cult classic Friends ‘Til The End, VH-1, MTV, NBC, OXYGEN Network, Tom and Jerry The Movie , Along For The Ride starring Melanie Griffith (the song “Ghost town”, produced and written by Jo), The Good Girl starring Jennifer Aniston (the song “I Don’t Dance”). Jo’s music has also been featured on an Oprah Winfrey compilation CD along with Rod Stewart, Bette Midler, Eric Clapton and others.

Jo wrote all of the tracks for her debut CD “Kiss Me There” and also co produced along with enginner Greg Ladanyi (Jackson Browne, Don Henley, Fleetwood Mac). Jo played the piano & keyboard tracks and recorded many of the guitar tracks. String arranger David Campbell (Alanis Morisette, The Goo Goo Dolls) contributed his talents with string arrangements for Jo’s two songs “Secrets” and “Tonite.” After signing to Edel Records in 2000, the CD was re-titled “Kiss Me There” and was released nationwide in 2001.

“Kiss Me There” was a top 20 Modern AC hit on radio and received nationwide airplay with adds in markets such as WBMX (Boston), WSSR (Tampa), WKDD (Cleveland) and WVRW (St. Louis). During this time,Jo performed at radio shows and festivals along with artists such as Nelly Furtado, Alana Davis, Better than Ezra, The Go Gos, Eagle-Eye Cherry and others artists.

In 2003, Meat Loaf recorded Jo’s song “Why Isn’t That Enough” on his “I Couldn’t Have Said It Better” album.

Jo has recorded and released two piano instrumental albums: Tell The Story – A collection of intimate piano solo compositions reminiscent of Erik Satie, and Merry Christmas and Happy New York – Brimming with nostalgia and intimacy, featuring traditional Christmas songs recorded on a vintage 1929 Steinway Grand piano in Jo’s NYC loft.

She offers private songwriting and piano lessons, record production, and piano work.

(professional bio is below)

Mp3 Review called this NYC based artist “a modern-day Marianne Faithful.” Cafe Music Network said she’s “alluring, feisty and poignant,” and Album Network called her “the real deal, a passionate singer, fluid piano player, and a kick-ass, tell-it-like-it-is songwriter!”

Jo Davidson is an accomplished musician, composer, producer, photographer, writer and talk show host! As the host and producer of the popular online podcast Zentertainment Talk Radio, Jo has interviewed well known authors such as Carolyn Myss (Entering the Castle), Candace Pert (The Molecules of Emotion), Dr. Larry Dossey (The Extraordinary Healing power of Ordinary Things), Laura Hillenbrand (Seabiscuit), Dr. Judith Orloff (Positive Energy), Martha Beck (Columnist for the Oprah Magazine) and many others.

Formerly signed to Warner Chappell Music Publishing, Jo eventually formed her own publishing company, SIMPLY SAID SONGS. Her music has been featured in television and film including VH1′s campy cult classic “Friends Til the End,” Felicity, Blossom (sung by Melissa Manchester), MTV, NBC, OXYGEN Network, Tom and Jerry The Movie (Jo’s song “All in How Much we Give” sung by Stephanie Mills), Along For The Ride starring Melanie Griffith (the song “Ghost town)”, The Good Girl starring Jennifer Aniston (the song “I Don’t Dance”). Jo’s music has also been featured on a summer giveaway Oprah Winfrey compilation CD along with Rod Stewart, Bette Midler, Eric Clapton and others.

Jo produced and recorded her debut CD KISS ME THERE along with co-producer and engineer, Greg Ladanyi (Jackson Browne, Don Henley, Fleetwood Mac).

Jo wrote and arranged the 13 tracks, performing the piano tracks on her vintage 1929 Steinway grand piano as well as performing many of the guitar tracks.

String arranger David Campbell (Alanis Morisette, The Goo Goo Dolls) contributed his talents with string arrangements for Jo’s two songs “Secrets” and “Tonite.” After signing to Edel Records in 2000, the CD originally titled Fragile Tough Girl was re-titled “Kiss Me There” and was released nationwide in 2001.

“Kiss Me There” was a top 20 Modern AC hit on radio and received nationwide airplay with adds in markets such as WBMX (Boston), WSSR (Tampa), WKDD (Cleveland) and WVRW (St. Louis). During this time, Jo performed at radio shows and festivals along with artists such as Nelly Furtado, Alana Davis, Better than Ezra, The Go Gos, Eagle-Eye Cherry and others artists.

In 2003, Meat Loaf recorded and released Jo’s song “Why Isn’t That Enough” on his album titled “I Couldn’t Have Said It Better”

Jo recorded and released two piano instrumental albums: Tell The Story – A collection of intimate piano solo compositions reminiscent of Erik Satie, and Merry Christmas and Happy New York – Brimming with nostalgia and intimacy, featuring traditional Christmas songs recorded on a vintage 1929 Steinway Grand piano in Jo’s NYC loft. “ A Top Choice” – The New York Post, 5 STARS – Albany Times Review.

In 2004, Jo released The Simply Said Sessions, which she recorded in Newport, Rhode Island along with co-producer Steve Rizzo (Kristen Hersh). The Simply Said Sessions is a collection of songs one fan described as “the musical equivalent of Monet’s Tiger Lilies.” Haunting piano melodies and vignettes, perfect for long drives and rainy days. “You could swear your living room is actually a Greenwich Village Coffee Shop and Davidson is playing in the corner… Indie-music.com.” Featuring a song about September 11 2001 which Jo witnessed from her window, titled “Bird in the Sky.” “A voice that is simply gorgeous… Beautiful piano rock in the vein of Sarah McLachlan and Vienna Tang. The melodies are haunting and will stick with you long after the CD ends.” – Collected Sounds

Jo has also produced songs for independent artists such as Jenny Bruce and Rachael Sage (the song in which Rachel won the grand prize in the John Lennon Songwriting contest). She has done voiceover work, and is also a private songwriting coach in NYC.

Jo is managed by Tommy Manzi for The Umbrella Group (Eagle-Eye Cherry, CAKE, Bebel Gilberto, Grant-Lee Philips, Neneh Cherry)

www.Jodavidson.com
www.Zentertainment.org
http://www.myspace.com/jodavidson
http://zentertainment.gaia.com/

Posted: January 24th, 2008 under Rooted Creatives.
Comments: none