Hailing
from the Island of St Croix, Midnite is one of the most promising roots reggae
bands of the millennium. They are vanguards of conscious reggae who represent
the King's and Queen's music to the fullness of Jah. Midnite's profound and
innovative lyrics are sincere and deeply rooted to present the other half of the
story. Their cd recordings and live performances will have reggae and non reggae
listeners open to the messages they bring.
Lead singer Vaughn
Benjamin's electrifying voice seems an amalgamation of many great voices in
reggae--soulful, chanting, edgy. Vaughn's potent lyrical style and his brother
Ron's exquisite keyboards and musical directorship form the nucleus of this
musical quintet. Midnite weaves the cultural lyrics of "old school" roots music
with modern day experiences to create a unique listening encounter. Reggae -
naked and raw is an apt description for Midnite's musical style, in which they
forgo the frills of extensive remixes, overdubbing and other musical
refinements.
"Unpolished" is the suitably
named title of their debut album which includes such classics as "Don't Move",
"Mama Africa", and "Love the Life You Live". Originally released in 1997, while
the band was located in Washington, D.C., this crucial album has recently been
made widely available on Rastafaria Recordings.
In 1999, Midnite linked up
with Wildchild! Records for their second release "Ras Mek Peace". Incredibly,
this album was recorded using only two channels and was mastered without any
reverb, filtering, compression or equalization. Songs like "Hieroglyphics", in
which graffiti is likened to ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics, showcase the
intelligent songwriting that pervades all of Midnite's works.
Following the release of Ras
Mek Peace, Midnite returned to live in St. Croix so that they could work with
the local musicians and make recordings at their African Roots Lab without any
outside interference. The fruits of these labours can be found on their third
album "Jubilees of Zion", which was released on their own independent Afrikan
Roots Lab record label. The expansive, hypnotic rhythms continue, alongside the
messages of peace, universal brotherhood, and cultural resistance to Babylon.
In 2002, Midnite made their
Northern California debut at the 9th Annual Sierra Nevada World Music
Festival. The combination of Vaughn’s searing lyrics, raw roots music and the
warmth of the sun beating onto the masses at the village stage made for a potent
and memorable experience for all who were present. That same month saw the
release of Midnite’s fourth album "Seek Knowledge Before Vengeance". Released on
the Afrikan Roots Lab record label, this album raises the bar of cultural roots
reggae, as we know it today.
Midnite explodes in live
performances with sets that often exceed 3 hours. Their vigorous, weighty sound,
driven by the punchy bass lines creates a vibe that penetrates straight to the
heart. These epic musical communions have earned Midnite an enormous following
throughout the roots community. This is especially true in St. Croix, Puerto
Rico, Brazil, St. Louis and here on the West Coast where they have toured
extensively including another rousing appearance at the 10th Annual
Sierra Nevada World Music Festival. In the fall of 2003, Midnite released their
first dub album "Intense Pressure", which includes some tracks from their prior
releases along with some dubs of forthcoming albums.
In 2004, Midnite released
2 brand new studio albums "Ainshant Maps" on their Afrikan Roots Lab record
label and "Scheme A Things" on the Rastafaria label. Midnite has also
collaborated with I-Grade Records for four releases: "Nemozian Rasta", "Assini",
"Vijan" and the recently released "Let Live". Several members of the band have
also released a quintet of albums under the name Midnite Branch I: "Cipheraw", "Geoman",
"He Is Jah" "Project III" and "Full Cup".
By breaking all the rules,
Midnite is setting a new standard. Armed with a firm foundation in Jah Rastafari,
their natural talents, and a strong and uncompromising musical vision, Midnite
champions a unique sound that is on the cutting edge of modern roots music.
Daniel
(RAW#495)
Ireggae.com
