Dona V revives classic Jammy riddims
The post Dona V revives classic Jammy riddims appeared first on Reggae Vibes.
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Dona V revives classic Jammy riddims
Going to dances in Jamaica during the late 1980s and early 1990s, it was a given to hear the hottest juggling ‘riddims’. Many of them came from the Waterhouse recording studio of Lloyd “King Jammy” James.
The legendary producer recently revisited some of those beats for ‘When Last’, an album by New York-based singer Dona V. It was released in April by VPAL Music.
Dona V said he has always loved songs like ‘I Know The Score’ by Frankie Paul, done to the cozy beat of the same name; the timeless ‘Far East’, made famous by Barry Brown at Channel One; and the ‘Peanie Peanie’ which drives songs like ‘Lonesome Side of Blue’ by Cocoa Tea.
A similarity in vocal style is what drew King Jammy to Dona V. Their recording sessions took place in February at the producer’s Waterhouse complex where countless hit singles were recorded 30-odd years ago.
For Dona V, it was a privilege to record on the hallowed beats.
“Thirty years ago, yuh used to feel a vibes an’ want to make songs to dem. Thirty years forward, yuh still find yuhself having dis thirst to sing on these riddims, an’ dance to dem,” he said.
‘When Last’ contains songs like ‘President Nebuchadnezzar’, done on the ‘Far East’; ‘Mus haffi Get You’ (‘Storm’ rhythm); and ‘When Last You Give’, which is on the ‘Peanie Peanie’.
Dona V says he wrote most of the album’s songs 30 years ago. The exception is ‘I Will be Fine’, which was inspired by a broken relationship in which he was involved, which ended in 2001.
A longtime New York resident, he is originally from Manchester, a rural parish in central Jamaica. He has been recording music since the mid-1980s, with ‘When Last’ being his third album.
‘Cry For Tomorrow’, Dona V’s first album, was produced by Clement “Coxsone” Dodd for Studio One and released in 1999. ‘Any Means Necessary’, his second collection, came out in 2022.
Working with King Jammy on beats he has loved for years makes ‘When Last’ a special effort.
“It’s always been a dream for me to sing on these riddims. It’s an achievement,” he said.
(Photo contributed)
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