The independent label has created an impressive body of work that includes those above-mentioned in-house productions, along with progressive recordings from envelope-pushing acts like John Brown’s Body, The Black Seeds, Tommy T and Ticklah; reissues of classic reggae from the vaults of Sugar Minott and Linval Thompson; new music from reggae legends The Meditations and Sister Carol; and collaborations with international reggae stars like Matisyahu, Luciano, Anthony B and Morgan Heritage.

Easy Star has steadily built a scene that extends in many directions, following any path where reggae leads, bringing together young producers and musicians, reggae stars, and even artists outside the genre who have been influenced by Jamaican music, like Citizen Cope and blues musician/musicologist Corey Harris. Now Easy Star moves forward with the newest member of the Easy Star family Cas Haley who’s LP Connection drops September 14th. For Easy Star Connection continues an evolution of the company. “We have been stretching further from being strictly a roots-reggae-only label for a while, with progressive bands and artists like John Brown’s Body, Tommy T and The Black Seeds on the roster,” says Easy Star CEO Eric Smith. “Cas’s sound is unique, accessible, and a great way to keep expanding the Easy Star audience. And it’s not often we come across a singer-songwriter this talented, regardless of genre, so we had to work with Cas.” The label’s musical director, Michael Goldwasser, remixed a version of the single “Better” in a hardcore roots reggae style, which is being included as a bonus track.

I had the good fortune of conducting a brief Q & A session with Eric Smith and Lem Oppenheimer, Easy Star’s CEO & COO respectively.

EC: What was the initial motivation for Easy Star All-Stars covering popular rock albums?

ES & LO: “We had been searching for ways to bring reggae to a larger audience without losing the true sound or essence of the music. In our opinion, the songs and albums that crossed over had tended to water down the music or get lost in translation. At the time, we had those thoughts rattling around our heads as a label, so when we had the idea that Dark Side might translate well into reggae, it all clicked. We felt like Dub Side of the Moon gave us a chance to reach out both to rock fans and to reggae fans and that we could be as hardcore reggae as we wanted and still succeed with the project. Once it worked, we wanted to try it again, because it was a fun project, so we turned to Radiohead and the Beatles.”

EC: Easy-Star All Stars have managed to stay on the Reggae charts for an amazingly long time. How has the Digital music business helped Easy Star maintain a chart presence for so long?

ES & LO: “We always looked at the Digital music business as an important part of our label. We were one of the first reggae labels to have an interactive website back in 1996 when the online music community was very small and we got involved in digital distribution early on, partnering up with IODA back in October of 2004. This digital retail and marketing helped level the playing field for us. Without being held back by many of the financial obstacles indie labels have had in the physical market, we were able to build our brand more effectively. This has been a key factor in helping the Easy Star All-Stars connect to their global audience. Touring for the band in Russia, South America, the Middle East and other places may never have happened without the spread of our music online.”

EC: How has embracing the changing trends in music and the music business helped Easy Star succeed in a time where so many labels are facing trouble?

ES & LO: “From the beginning, it has been about building loyalty from our fans in the Easy Star brand by investing a lot of time and energy into the music we put out. Our preference is to release a small amount of music that has a long shelf life and does not depend on quick sales out of the gate. We have been very careful to sign artists that complement this model. Also, most of our artists are strong touring acts as well, which is critical to marketing right now. All of these factors have allowed us to manage the current challenges in the business.”

Grab some great free tracks after the jump including songs from Cas Haley and the Easy Star All-Stars:

Cas Haley
“Better” (mp3)
from “Connection (Bonus Tracks Version)”
(Easy Star Records)

More On This Album

Easy Star All-Stars
“Bed Of Rose” (mp3)
from “Until That Day EP”
(Easy Star Records)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at Amazon MP3
More On This Album

John Brown’s Body
“Amplify” (mp3)
from “Amplify”
(Easy Star Records)

Buy at Easy Star Records
Stream from Rhapsody
Buy at Amazon MP3
More On This Album

The Black Seeds
“Slingshot” (mp3)
from “Solid Ground”
(Easy Star Records)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
More On This Album

Sugar Minott
“Dreader Than Dread” (mp3)
from “Ghetto-ology + Dub”
(Easy Star Records)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at Amazon MP3
More On This Album

Don’t miss the downloadable tracks at the bottom and stay tuned for the latest IODAcast featuring many of the artists included below!

Thanks and Enjoy!

Adam Rabinovitz- VP Marketing

1. We Were Promised Jetpacks- These Four Walls [Fat Cat Records]

2. A Sunny Day In Glasgow- Ashes Grammar [Mis Ojos Discos]

3. Deer Tick- Born On Flag Day [Partisan Records]

4. Bela Fleck- Throw Down Your Heart… [Rounder Records

5. Ultre- The Nest And Skull [Audiobulb Records]

Re-issue: The Monks- Black Monk Time [Light In The Attic]

Bethany Clayton- Marketing, UK

1. Various Artists- 5: Five Years Of Hyperdub [Hyperdub Records]

2. Brother Ali- Us [Rhymesayers Entertainment]

3. Bass Clef- May The Bridges I Burn Light The Way [Blank Tapes]

4. Felt- Felt 3: A Tribute To Rosie Perez [Rhymesayers Entertainment]

5. The Orb- Baghdad Batteries [Malicious Damage]

Re-issue: The Gun Club – Death Party [Cooking Vinyl]

Christophe LeBreton- Marketing, France

1. Imaad Wasif- The Voidist [Tee Pee Records]

2. Oumou Sangare- Seya [World Circuit]

3. Liquid Stranger- The Intergalatic Slapstick [Interchill Records]

4. Deer Tick- Born On Flag Day [Partisan Records]

5. Boo Boo Davis- Ain’t Gotta Dime [Black and Tan Records]

Re-Issue: not specified

Craig O’Neill- Marketing Account Manager

1. BadboE- Break The Funk [Auditorydesigns]

2. Black Moth Super Rainbow- Eating Us [Graveface Records]

3. The Prodigy- Invaders Must Die [Take Me To The Hospital]

4. The Phenomenal Handclap Band- The Phenomenal Handclap Band [Friendly Fire]

5. Big Boss Man- Full English Beat Breakfast [Blow Up]

Re-issue: Various Artists- Disco Loco, Vol. 1 [LocoBop]

Elijah Carroll- Marketing Coordinator

1. We Were Promised Jetpacks – These Four Walls [Fat Cat Records]

2. Mantis – Still Life [Brick Records]

3. Megafaun – Gather, Form & Fly [Hometapes]

4. Souls of Mischief – Montezuma’s Revenge [Hieroglyphics Imperium]

5. Tommy T – The Prester John Sessions [Easy Star]

Reissue: The Roots – Organix [Groove Distribution]

Greg Beshers – Director of Marketing

1. Willie Nelson, Asleep at the Wheel – Willy and the Wheel [Bismeaux Records]

2. John Doe And The Sadies – Country Club [Outside Music]

3. The Phenomenal Handclap Band – The Phenomenal Handclap Band [Friendly Fire Recordings]

4. General Elektriks – Good City For Dreamers [Quannum Projects]

5. Tinariwen – Imidiwan: Companions [World Village]

Reissue: Rail Band – Belle Epoque Vol. 3: Dioba [Sterns]

Jillian Putnam-Smith- Programming Manager

1. Here We Go Magic – Here We Go Magic [Western Vinyl]

2. Choir of Young Believers – This is For the White in Your Eyes [Ghostly International]

3. Ultre – The Nest and the Skull [Audiobulb Records]

4. Sleepy Sun – Sleepy Son [ATP Recordings]

5. Bear in Heaven – Beast Rest Forth Mouth [Hometapes]

Reissue: Milton Nascimento – Travessia [Dubas Musica]

Mai Sasaki- Marketing, Japan

1. Céu – Vagarosa [Six Degrees]

2. Madeleine Peyroux – Bare Bones [Rounder Records]

3. General Elektriks – Good City for Dreamers [Quannum Projects]

4. Abigail Washburn & The Shanghai Restoration Project – Afterquake [Undercover Culture Music]

5. Tinariwen – Imidiwan: Companions [World Village]

Reissue: Milton Nascimento – Travessia [Dubas Musica]

Matt Wright- Marketing Account Manager

1. Here We Go Magic – Here We Go Magic [Western Vinyl]

2. Ecstasy & Friends – Lone [Werk Discs]

3. Various Artists – 5: Five Years of Hyperdub [Hyperdub]

4. Yura Yura Teikoku – Hollow Me / Beautiful [Death From Abroad

5. Jega - Variance (Volumes 1 & 2) [Planet Mu]

Reissue: The Monks – Black Monk Time [Light in the Attic]

Ozgur Okter- Senior Manager, Marketing

1. Ancestors – Of Sound Mind [Tee Pee Records]

2. Astra – The Weirding [Rise Above Records]

3. Baroness – Blue Record [Relapse Records]

4. Cave – Psychic Psummer [Important]

5. Shrinebuilder – Shrinebuilder [Neurot]

Reissue: Ofege – Try And Love [Academy LPs]

Robert Litsen- Marketing, Scandinavia

1. Miss Li – Dancing the Whole Way Home [National]

2. The Prodigy – Invaders Must Die [Cooking Vinyl]

3. Ane Brun – Changing of the Seasons [Determine Records AB]

4. Florence Valentin – Spring Ricco [Startracks]

5. Pauline – Never Said I Was An Angel [Tri-Sound]

Reissue: The Hellacopters – Supershitty to the Max [MNW]

Tara Cuesta- Marketing, Spain

1. Matt & Kim – Grand [Artwerk Music]

2. Vic Chesnutt – At the Cut [Constellation]

3. Wojtek Godzisz – Wodjtek Godzisz [Tigertrap Records]

4. Bettina Koester – Queen of Noise [Asinella Records]

5. Apse – Climp Up [ATP/Recordings]

Reissue: Blue – Another Night Time Flight [Demon]

We Were Promised Jetpacks
“Ships With Holes Will Sink” (mp3)
from “These Four Walls”
(Fat Cat Records)

More On This Album

Brother Ali
“Us” (mp3)
from “Us”
(Rhymesayers Entertainment)

More On This Album

Liquid Stranger
“Soundboy Killa” (mp3)
from “The Intergalactic Slapstick”
(Interchill Records)

More On This Album

Black Moth Super Rainbow
“Born On A Day The Sun Didn’t Rise” (mp3)
from “Eating Us”
(Graveface Records)

More On This Album

Tommy T
“The Response (featuring Gigi)” (mp3)
from “The Prester John Sessions”
(Easy Star Records)

More On This Album

Willie Nelson, Asleep at the Wheel
“Hesitation Blues” (mp3)
from “Willie And The Wheel”
(Bismeaux Records)

More On This Album

Here We Go Magic
“Fangela” (mp3)
from “Here We Go Magic”
(Western Vinyl)

More On This Album

Milton Nascimento
“Canção do Sal” (mp3)
from “Travessia”
(Dubas Musica)

More On This Album

The Monks
“Monk Time” (mp3)
from “Black Monk Time”
(Light In The Attic)

More On This Album

Vic Chesnutt
“Chain” (mp3)
from “At the Cut”
(Constellation)

More On This Album

Abigail Washburn & The Shanghai Restoration Project
“Sala” (mp3)
from “Afterquake”
(Undercover Culture Music)

More On This Album

Artist: Tommy T
Title: The Prester John Sessions
Label: Easy Star Records
Genre: African : Reggae
UPC: 702932003424
Territory: World
Release Date: 11.10.09

Most people know Tommy T as the bass player for the gypsy-punk powerhouse Gogol Bordello. His thumping rhythms set the undercurrent for GB’s unique grooves. Growing up surrounded by music in Ethiopia, helps Tommy bring a globally oriented sense of rhythm to his bass playing. On his new record The Prester John Sessions Tommy takes the listener on a journey through Ethopian rhythms and gives us a sampling of the amazing music played in Ethiopia today. The record features 11 tracks including a remix featuring fellow GB band mates Eugene Hutz and Pedro Erazo mixed by Michael Goldwasser of the Easy Star All-Stars. It also features Gigi, one of the most popular modern Ethiopian singers, on two tracks.

“In the 70s, funk, wah-wah pedals, and jazz had a huge impact on Ethiopian music,” Tommy explains. “The Prester John Sessions will give people an idea about the musical diversity of Ethiopia, which includes influences and ideas borrowed from the sounds of the 70’s with the added bonus of up-to-date production values.”

The Prester John Sessions takes the listener on a journey through funk, jazz, reggae, dub and traditional Ethiopian rhythms all masterfully woven together by Tommy. It is an education in modern Ethiopian music and a voyage back through the sounds of the 70′s. Tommy gets to show off his versatility playing many different instruments not including the bass.

“I believe in music without boundaries,” Tommy says. “Music should be inclusive, not exclusive. People who love music know the best music is created without boundaries and limitations. The Prester John Sessions take that idea to the next level.”

Here’s track featuring Gigi:
Tommy T
“The Response (featuring Gigi)” (mp3)
from “The Prester John Sessions”
(Easy Star Records)

More On This Album