We don't want to flood the market - Canadian reggae group wants album to resonate with listeners

Canadian reggae group wants album to resonate with listeners

Reggae group Caleb Hart and the Royal Youths is gearing up to release their first studio album, titled 'OrigiNation'. The seven-track project is comprised of roots reggae and dub singles, with the intent to establish intimacy between musicians and their audience.

"This album has seven tracks because we want to give the music time to marinate and resonate with the fans. We are not trying flood the market, but to make good-quality music for the world to consume because we want to be here for a very long time," Hart told THE WEEKEND STAR.

The group released an EP earlier this year, titled Island Soul, but for this project Hart, wanted to create a new wave for reggae lovers.

"This title means the beginning or creation of something. OrigiNation is a combination of stylistic creativity between Caleb Hart and The Royal Youths. A Caribbean flavour combined with North American musical influences, infused with a consistent message of positivity and hope. It's merely the introduction to what the world is going to experience from us," he said.

Though based in Canada, the band boasts strong ties to the Caribbean, as Hart grew up in the region's twin-island nation of Trinidad and Tobago.

"Everyone assumes that because I grew up in Trinidad and Tobago, I am just naturally going to do soca music. However, I grew up in Tobago, and we are a bit more 'roots' than Trinidad," he said

Regardless, the influence of soca music was prominent during his formative years. But Hart told that it was the Jamaican beat that really sparked his ongoing, productive interest. According to him, "The reggae bass line is irresistible."

"Reggae has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I love every part of it. From the unignorable bass lines to the sweet one drop that go hand-in-hand with one another. From the rhythmic guitar to the bubble on the keys. From the soulful lyrics to the brilliant horn lines. Reggae music is the sweetest," he said.

With Hart tackling the job of lead singer, Royal Youths is made up of Rhett Reilkoff on guitar and backing vocals, Liam Mackenzie on drums, Karl Williaume on bass and backing vocals, and Andrew Greenwood on saxophone.

The band will take OrigiNation's promotional campaign throughout the US, the Caribbean and Europe, in the support of the album over the coming weeks.

"We will be releasing a music video for our single, Everywhere, in early October, and then we'll see where we go from there," Hart said.