Fans react to Kabaka Pyramid ‘Kontraband’

Following the successful launch of his album 'Kontraband', Kabaka Pyramid moves to the next phase the promotional tour. His first stop will be in the United States of America, from June to July, before he moves on to Europe during the summer, including a reggae festival in Spain. "And then, we will see about South America and Africa later this year." Kabaka told The Star at last Friday's launch.

He is looking forward to seeing the reaction from the people to the songs on the album, and to find out which songs they like, "and see what we can do better the next time and just take mi career to ah next level."

But it is a career that almost did not happen for the young and talented Keron Salmon, now known as Kabaka Pyramid.

Salmon attended Campion College, and, as a student, never saw himself doing music. "I wanted to be an electrical engineer like my father, but music was always in me." He had a sound system, "When we were young, we used to play at parties and them thing, but me never see the whole artiste thing until later on me just develop the craft for the writing and everything."

His craft developed into the release of his first album, and a soon-to-be-released video of the title track. "We wanted to drop the video for the single Kontraband (the title track) tonight at the launch", but the video will definitely be out by Monday (today)." Future videos will be determined by "which song the people ah feel. We will see."

PERSONAL LEVEL

Here are two for starters.

"The first time I heard Natural Woman, I burst into tears just because of how much it spoke to me on a deep and personal level. So that song really touched me and that's the one I would choreograph a piece of one day, probably not for the up coming season. I like to conceptualise for a while before I actually execute," said Renee McDonald of The Company Dance Theatre.

Can't Breathe is the favourite song for Carmen Rives, Chargee d'Affaires at the Embassy of Spain, and sisters Myka and Makaila McKenzie. Rives believes the song is a good reflection of how we feel in life, for different reasons. "I think he captures very well that human feeling. That's what I like about his music that he is able to identify different emotions in his lyrics and makes you connect with them." She also loves the idea of a Spanish artiste performing on the album. Reggae has touched the hearts of Spaniards, and one of the biggest reggae festivals in Europe takes place in Spain every year in August, on which Kabakis will be performing this year.