The vibes flow heavy and full in "Kingston Soundsystem," this exclusive clip from The House of Marley's new campaign The Get Together. Emphasizing the communal spirit that music brings to the often rough and rugged city, the sixty-second clip, directed by Wonford St. James, revisits the DIY pick-up loaded amplifier systems of Jamaica's capital city and rightfully places the modern-day speaker line in the rich tradition of old-school Jamaican dancehalls. Below, St. James recounts the real-life party that served as the backdrop for the speaker house's latest visuals.
“To communicate the campaign message of one idea reaching many,we did the only thing that felt right for a speaker designed to bring people together – we threw a party, original dancehall style, hosted by legendary selector Albert ‘iLawi’ Johnson at his yard in Kingston. The Get Together dance was a celebration of old school dancehall played out by Jamaican soundmen, DJ’s and selectors. The party was a vinyl only event with iLawi digging through his extensive archive of 45’s to drop a roots and culture history lesson on the gathered crowd while MC’s Fyah George and Natty Pablo toasted and bubbled on the mic. iLawi was joined by DJ Yardcore who represents a new generation of Jamaican selectors dedicated to keeping the positive fires of roots and culture reggae alive in modern Jamaica.”
After basking in the vibes of Kingston Soundsystem above, feel free to browse The House of Marley's selection here and for more on the current state of Jamaican dancehall check out our Summer Music cover story, "Popcaan Is Making Dancehall Nice Again," right here.