Med Dred meets Rastaveli Mc & Ras Nelson - Freedom

The Cypriot producer Med Dred returns with a brand new riddim featuring Russian vocalist Rastaveli Mc and reggae artist Ras Nelson from Norway. The track Freedom is presented in three versions: the radio edit, a live dub and a special extended cut.

Med Dred is the leading reggae/dub producer from Cyprus, with many releases on Dubophonic Records, digital and vinyl. He is known for his deep roots sound that blends classic analog dub techniques with modern digital production. 

He is well respected in the European dub community, particularly among independent reggae networks. His music has been played on international reggae radios and included in compilations supporting conscious and spiritual dub culture.

Rastaveli Mc, is also no stranger on the label. Through releases like Better Galaxy and Jah Plan, he showcases productivity and conscious lyrics, his main features distinguishing him from many musicians. Rastaveli MC is in constant search and creation of something new.

Ras Nelson is a Norwegian roots reggae artist with enormous passion for music, with roots from Cape Verde. On stage, he has an energy that gives the audience a fantastic show. This is his first appearance on Dubophonic Records.

 

 

 

Nuff respect king Rootsman showcasing on @lifefmtv our latest single FREEDOM by @MedDred #RasNelson and @#RastaveliMc FREEDOM IS A MUST❤️💛💚Get it from https://t.co/F97PPneVrW #newmusic #dubophonic #reggae #rootsreggae #dub #nowplaying #Cyprus #Russia #Norway #onelove #Rastafari pic.twitter.com/1peI8JnSD5

— Dubophonic Records (@Dubophonic) January 29, 2026

Starlight / Med Dred - Resident / Resident Dub [DUBR-704] (7inch polyvinyl dubplate)

[DUBR-704] Starlight / Med Dred - Resident / Resident Dub (7inch polyvinyl dubplate)

A. Starlight - Resident / B. Med Dred - Resident Dub 

<<  ORDER FROM DUBOPHONIC SHOP >>  <<  ORDER FROM BANDCAMP >>

The original riddim was released as digital single in 2023 entitled Forward Melodicas with Med Dred and Shaky Norman (the riddim has been in the Top 10 Outernational Chart 2023 on R&D Vibes / Radio Sonar in Italy). 

Since then, the track has been played on radio shows around the world, events and on Soundsystems in Cyprus with vocalist Starlight chanting on Med Dred's riddim about the tribulations refugees are facing in a foreign land. It received a great feedback from the crowd, with people asking to release a vocal version on that riddim.This is how RESIDENT was created!

The time has come to finally drop RESIDENT on a special special edition 7 inch polyvinyl dubplate. It is cut on a limited run of 50 hand-numbered copies and it includes on the a side the vocal version by Starlight and on the b side a special dub by Med Dred! The vinyl is now being cut and will be released soon (we hope there will be no delays on vinyl cutting). Nevertheless, you can reserve your copy by per-ordering now!

❤️💛💚

<< ONLY 50 COPIES / ORDER NOW >>

Credits: Vocal & Lyrics: A. Jallow aka Starlight / Music, Mixing & Production: Med Dred
Mastering: Flowmasterz / Dub Cutting Services: dubwise.it

The Business meets Dub Siren - Dub Down To Business

Dub Siren is a Dub-inspired electronic music composer, producer and remixer, a Cypriot from London now based in West Sussex. Home studio is a shed filled synthesizers, analogue hardware and old-school mixing desks.

The Dub Down To Business EP includes four remixes by Dub Siren on four tracks written by the London-Brazilian production trio The Business. The Business serve up irresistible dancefloor-ready electronic music drenched in analogue soul, groovin' basslines, vintage synths and recycled 70s vocals that will have you jackin’ your body and pumpin’ your fists to the high heavens.

The original tracks are included in their debut album ‘Get Down To Business’ - a heady mix of 80s-influenced groove, electro, disco and funk, all brought together by their clever knack of sampling, cutting & reshaping it all into something brand new.

On the remix EP Dub Down To Business, Dub Siren brings his Tubby-inspired trippy soundscapes to the party and transforms the band’s retro-dancefloor grooves into deep, dubby explorations of space and time.

No General / Bun Dem Out - Prince Jamo / Cheshire Cat / Hermit Dubz [DUBR-1202]

A1. No General - Prince Jamo / A2. Dub General - Hermit Dubz
   B1. Bun Dem Out - Cheshire Cat / B2. Dub Dem Out - Hermit Dubz

After his 2019 vinyl release Seek Jah First (featuring Robert Dallas, Ranking Joe, Med Dred & Bongo Damo), the UK/Cyprus producer Hermit Dubz returns with a new 12inch.

Our new vinyl release is based on the classic General riddim and features two great vocals by Prince Jamo and Cheshire Cat, plus two heavyweight dub versions for the soundsystems, all produced by Hermit Dubz. ❤️💛💚

Percussion: Damon Wilding
Guitar: Robin Giorno
Produced by Hermit Dubz
Vinyl Mastering and Pressing by Jah Tubbys

< AVAILABLE AT A SPECIAL EARLY BIRD PRICE FROM OUR ONLINE SHOP >

< AVAILABLE ALSO FROM OUR BANDCAMP SHOP >

Med Dred & Shaky Norman - Forward Melodicas

Written by Shaky Norman and Med Dred, Forward Melodicas is the new outernational collaboration between Cyprus and France. The tune is written by the two melodica virtuosos, herewith opening year 2023 with more positive vibes.
 
Both artists have already a rich discography on digital and vinyl releases and need no special introduction.
 
The new tune is presented as usual in the original version and the dub version by Med Dred, staying true to the culture of roots reggae music. 

 

It is available from all major online stores for streaming and download.

   

 

Med Dred & Shaky Norman - Flying Melodicas

Seven years after the release of King Solomon’s Dub back in 2015, the two acknowledged melodica players Med Dred from Cyprus and Shaky Norman from France, both with a bright musical background, meet again and introduce a brand-new instrumental tune, composed, arranged, mixed and mastered by Med Dred. 

 

Based on a new roots reggae riddim written by Med Dred, Flying Melodicas is a playful musical reasoning with the two melodica players complementing each other in a fun and soulful way!

 

The riddim is presented in two versions: the original instrumental version and the obligatory special dub cut by Med Dred and it is available from all major online stores for streaming and download.

 

Roadblock Dub Collective - Suwarnadub

Mid 2000s saw the beginning of the Roadblock Dub Collective. At that time, Iday & Sam settled in the same residence for their work at a local production house in the city of Tanjungkarang (Lampung). They had previously known each other, as fellow musicians from the Lampung scene. Iday is one of the founders of “Pimps,” the first Industrial outfit in Lampung. Together with “Pimps” he had released an album titled “Set Lampung on Fire!” in 2000. Meanwhile, Sam previously was a member of “Shooter Water,” Rocksteady-Ska music unit that is part of the “Pelita Crew” (one of the melting pots for many Lampung musicians in the late 1990s) and he released an album called “As Steady As A Rock” in 2001.

Roadblock Dub Collective was born after they used to share playlists between their working hours. Also shared insights into music production as part of their current job. Starting from the use of software, to the flow of a composition. They had released several bootlegs and remixes which were often played by local DJs at that time. Until 2009, they released their first single “Youth Culture“. A single that later brought them connected with many electronic music and Jamaican sound scenesters in the country.

The single “Youth Culture” itself indirectly encouraged them to have more intense interactions with several bedroom electronic musicians/producers in Lampung. Collectively, they often hold sets of electronic shows in various places, from music workshops at school to headliners at the biggest rave in Lampung at that time, The Beats Of Sumatera.

Having been on hiatus due to Iday & Sam moving out to different cities, Roadblock Dub Collective has just re-released their works “Mukadimah” (2015), and “Rua Jurai Echoes” (2016) for free and limited. Having held an independent mini tour in 2017, they released “Dutty Bizness” with InBassion Recs (Bass music label from Bogota, Colombia).

At this moment, Roadblock Dub Collective often shares the stage with many Indonesian dub acts, from the likes of Mantasticmate, Anjing Dub, Baxlaxboy, Radit Echoman, and Yella Sky Sound System. Together with these names they were also involved in a various artist album project; “Nusantara Dub Connection” in 2019. In this project Roadblock Dub Collective released “Intercity Dub“. Then, in June 2020, they released the single set “Sepinggungan/Russ” a collaboration with Terranova Waksman and Oddateee, a release supported by 100ribu recs. Still in the same year, Roadblock Dub Collective was involved in other various artist album projects. This time a project initiated by “Echo Chambers” (one of the oldest reggae radio shows in the United States) in collaboration with Dandada Records, a cutting edge dub music imprint from Portugal. In the project “Echo Chamber – Around The World In Dub Vol 11 & 12“, Roadblock released “Puaghi 45” along with many Dub acts worldwide.

Their first ep on Dubophonic Records is entitled Suwarnadub and it consists of six tracks: two vocal tracks (Ngelajau Dub & Achtung! Ghetto Lioness) in a fine style fusing Dancehal with Hip Hop, two dub mixes and two live dub mixes by the rising Cypriot dubmaster Sub Conscious Dub.

CREDITS: Ngelajau Dub: Vocals recorded at GMC Studio - Jakarta, engineered by Yulius Samiaji./ Electric Guitars by Andry Karnegie, recorded at Jiung Room 07 Studio - Jakarta, engineered by himself / Brass Section by Iriawan Wijaya, recorded at AD Studio - Palembang, engineered by Jemi Delvian / Contains a portion of ‘Tepik Tanggungan’ performed by Hila Hambala./ Mixed by Tegi Merkuri at SuaraSuku - Jakarta / Achtung! Ghetto Lioness: Vocals recorded at SuaraSuku - Jakarta, engineered by Ben Gunawi / Mixed by Ben Gunawi at SuaraSuku - Jakarta / Remixes: 3 & 4 Reconstructed by Roadblock Hi-Fi at Harmony Inn - Yogyakarta / 5 & 6 Live Dub Mix by Sub Conscious Dub at Tumbana Studio - Cyprus / Ngelajau Dub written by Hidayat Surodijoyo & Yulius Samiaji / Achtung! Ghetto Lioness written by Yulius Samiaji & Hidayat Surodijoyo / Produced by Roadblock Dub Collective / Artworks & photos by Nugroho Arif Prabowo / Mastered by Sub Conscious Dub at Tumbana Studio - Cyprus.

  

01 Ngelajau Dub / 02 Achtung! Ghetto Lioness / 03 Ngelajau Dub (Tahtim Mix) / 04 Achtung! Ghetto Lioness (Khesek Mix) / 05 Sub Conscious Dub - Ngelajau Dub (Tahtim Live Dub Mix) / 06 Sub Conscious Dub - Achtung! Ghetto Lioness (Khesek Live Dub Mix) 

Chebeen Teriya meets Sub Conscious Dub - Ajabro

Chebeen Teriya is a unique 5 piece band lead by singer/multi-instrumentalist Dramane Bakwan, who brings original music from his homeland of Burkina Faso. From a young age, Dramane participated in the sacred musical traditions of the Gourounsi people of Burkina Faso (West Africa). His insatiable appetite for music drove him to study the myriad of rhythms and melodies of ethnic groups throughout the region. A love of country and continent has inspired him to write over one hundred original songs with lyrics in five languages. His work explores social, environmental, and political themes with the aim of inspiring people to take care of one another and the planet they share.

Sub Conscious Dub is the project of Antreas Kassos, representing the new breed of dub producers coming from Cyprus. His talent was already recognised very early, participating in various local festivals and online events (Unity Vibes, Reggae Sunjam, Lockdowndub Weekender) and being featured in the Explorations In Dub Vol. II compilation. His dub mix of Dubmatix tune Jump And Twist has received some crazy airplay and the artist was endorsed by Dubmatix himself, including him in his Bassment Sessions radio show.

Blending West African sounds with roots reggae, “Ajabro” (which means in the African tradition “Sorcerer”, “Witch Doctor” or “The one that evil can’t hide from”) is the result of the collaborative work of those exiting new artists. The EP is the first collaboration between Cyprus and Burkina Faso. It contains “Jeune Africain” & “Terrorist”, two vocal tracks with a big social message, composed by Dramane Bakwan and written in French and in Dioula languages, as well as two heavy dubs/versions by Sub Conscious Dub. The tracks were originally recorded in Vietnam, where the artists met each other, and dubbed in Cyprus.

CREDITS: All tracks writen by Chebeen Teriya / Lyrics/Vocals: Dramane Bakwan / Mixing & Mastering by Antreas Kassos at Tumbana Studio / Label: Dubophonic Records   

 01 Jeune Africain / 02 Jeune Africain Dub / 03 Terrorist / 04 Terorrist Dub

Dub Cmd & Soul Fire - Blessed

Lee “Scratch” Perry’s 70‘s classic “Soul Fire” was the ignition for the songwriter and singer Vassilis Savopoulos a.k.a “Jah Smiley” from Thessaloniki to form in the beginning of 90’s “Soul Fire”, the first reggae band in Greece. It has been almost thirty years since then and probably no one could have ever imagined, that this reggae band would record their first album with the internationally renowned dub producer Mad Professor from Ariwa Records and play as the opening act for the legendary band of Bob Marley, "The Wailers”. Well-known artists participated in that first album: drummer “Sinclair”, member of Lee Scratch Perry’s band “Roboticks”, Aisha on the backing vocals, Cofi and Mafia from “Mafia & Fluxy” plus MC Fredi Kruga.

Fast forward in year 2019, Soul Fire visit Cyprus for a performance at the Reggae Sunjam Festival and thanks to the organisers of the festival, local and international artists who were also participating had the chance to meet each other and build a bond. Artists became friends, new connections were established and good things fired up some new collaborations. The friendhip worked as a boiler, cooking some brand new vibrations!

“Yuh affi know, dat life ah raw, Aal dat glitters ah nah gold
Mi affi seh, only wid pray, Cah living inna babylon ah rough
Guh wid de flow de spirit grows, One day will shine lacka rainbow,
It has been told de days of ole(old), Written inna fi wi hearts Jah Jah law”

God, love, inner self, consciousness and justice could be the keywords for someone searching behind Soul Fire’s songs. «Marley was the light and Burning Spear was the mystic spirit of reggae for me»  says Jah Smiley. Nuff respect Aki Mittoo for the spiritual melodica cut, adding the missing link to this conscious journey and to Versioncos  for the amazing artwork!

CREDITS: Production & Riddims - Dub Cmd (UK) / Vocals & Lyrics – Soul Fire (GR) / Melodica – Aki Mittoo  (JP) / Artwork: Versioncos (CY)

01 Blessed / 02 Blessed Version / 03 Melodica Cut (ft. Aki Mittoo)

 

Music is a conversation - The Jamaican Parliament Audio database (JPAD) by dj Afifa

The Jamaican Parliament Audio database (JPAD)

About the author
Dj Afifa is a selecta and researcher. She makes sound projects and spaces inspired by music. Her work is released on the Sounds of Life label. Visit www.djafifa.com and www.disoundsoflife.org for more dub stories. 

The Jamaican Parliament Audio database (JPAD) is a project about national memory and the history of Jamaica. The database is a collection of audio recordings of sittings from the Jamaican Parliament from 2016 to present.

Jamaica is an island nation in the Caribbean Sea originally called Xaymaca, by the Arawak indigenous population. In 1494 the Italian sailor Christopher Columbus captured and claimed the island for the Spanish Empire. In 1655 the island was recaptured by Admiral Penn and General Venables for the Queen of England and it became a British colony.

The British ruled Jamaica directly for 307 years, agreeing to grant self rule in 1962. Jamaica is a democratic nation with its government organized on the West minster system. George William Gordon House is the home of the Jamaican Parliament. The Parliament is the center of the political and legislative life of the nation. The Parliament consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Elected members of government sit in the House of Representatives and members of the Senators are appointed by the Prime Minister and leader of the Opposition.

Excerpts of the database are currently being aired as a one hour radio programme on Zanj Radio in Jamaica and Decolonizing the Archive Radio in England. The programme is accompanied by a dub music soundtrack featuring releases from Dubwegians and The Dubbstyle, on the Dubophonic label.

The first four selections on the programme’s soundtrack are from the “King of Dub” album (2020) by the Dubwegians, a Scottish band. “King of Dub” is a tribute to Jamaican producer King Tubby. The album name is the same as a 1979 classic by another dub pioneer Bunny Striker Lee recorded at Channel One Recording Studios in Jamaica for Clocktower Records. The opening track called “Cut through Dub” is the most familiar, it is the Ali Baba/Arabian Dub riddim originally done as a Ska/Rocksteady track by John Holt, Tommy McCook and the Supersonics at Duke Reid’s Treasure Isle studios in 1969. This track has a lot of history, the King Tubby version is called “Hijajck the Barber” performed by the Aggravators in 1974. In 1975 Sonia Pottinger, Jamaica’s first female producer released “I Shave the Barber” and “Barbering” Dub by Tommy McCook and the Supersonics on the High Note label. Ali Baba is definitely a Jamaican Classic.

The second set of selections on the programme’s soundtrack is from the “Sun is Dub” album (2019) by The Dubbstyle, an Argentinian duo. They describe the album as “a journey into the dub sounds and the cultures of the world. Sometimes melodic and organic, other times rhythmical and heavyweight, the dub is to be heard in all eight tunes of the album”. They maintain a heavy bass feel with some new dimensions, particularly on the Bob Marley sampled “Sun is shining” track and the “Simona rework”.

You cannot tell a history of Jamaica without music. Following the music closely will help you to understand the soul of the island and how that conflicts with the identity of the nation. Dub music emerges in Jamaica as a genre and a practice in the late 1960s. It is the creative use of studio technology by Jamaican people with a strong memory of Africa. Dub music is African music. Dub music is Bass music. Africa gave birth to the Drums, the Drums gave birth to Bass and the Bass gave birth to Dub music in Jamaica. Dub is the reminder that the story of Jamaica is the story of Africa, the story of the violent collision between the old world and new world.

Dub has given birth to many other genres of music and Dub music producers worldwide continue to draw inspiration from the music discovering and reinventing dub. This is how music becomes a conversation. The music starts in one place and extends itself, so there can be different versions and nterpretations. The JPAD soundtrack is a reminder that Jamaica is an important nation. It is an island nation with a history that we can learn many lessons from.

Listen live to excerpts of the database on Zanj Radio every Sunday 6-7pm (-5UTC) and Decolonizing the Archive Radio every Wednesdays 3pm (BST). For more information about the memory project and the Jamaican Parliament Audio database email disoundsoflife@gmail.com.

 

A soundtrack for the Jamaican Parliament Audio Database by dj Afifa
 

Please also see links to archived episodes

https://archive.org/details/jpad-zanj-radio-ep-5

https://archive.org/details/jpad-zanj-radio-ep-3

https://archive.org/details/jpad-ep4

Munay Ki Dub - Bad Babylon

Dub Cmd - Moonsteppa

Dub Command is a solo project of the UK based dub producer and musician Gabriel Ufir, born and raised in Poland, where his love for reggae and dub originates from.

After moving to the UK at the age of 18, Gabriel started learning to produce electronic and computer music and fell in love with composing music. During this time he continued to explore dub scene and through years of experiments in the studio he managed to create a unique blend of serious dub basslines over electronic-reggae, often lo-fi style tracks. With a fast growing audience and positive response from soundsystems, Gabriel will be working soon on his new material and start to perform live shows in 2020.

The Moonsteppa EP is the artist’s first official release. It includes two heavyweight rootical dubs, accompanied by their crucial versions. Give thanks to Mantsche for the inspiring artwork. 

 

01 Moonsteppa / 02 Moonsteppa Dub / 03 Integrity Dub / 04 Integrity Version

Hermit Dubz - Pursuit Of Balance

Hermit Dubz is out of his cave again! His sonic weapons became heavier than ever and his new album entitled “Pursuit Of Balance” is a proof of his new ability.

On the way to find the perfect balance between the world within and Babylon, the new album from the Birmingham’s rising dub specialist includes four heavyweight tracks and four even heavier dubs. Psydub infused with a spiritual vibe and oriental sounds, alongside the Rootical stylings.  Stepper meets orient and the bass chases every vampire away … the way it should always be!

 ► GET IT FROM BANDCAMP

01 Truly Dread / 02 Mushin / 03 Arrakeen / 04 Valhalla / 05 Truly Dread dub / 06 Mushin dub /
07 Arrakeen dub / 08 Valhalla dub 04:52 

Culture Horn ft. Madi Simmons - I Am A Rootsman

Culture Horn Sound System is a weighty and heavyweight Russian dub sound system from the town of Kremenki in the Kaluga region in Russia. Built in year 2012, it managed to gather at least a dozen musicians are around it, forming a big musical family from all over Russia. Armed with dubplates from local and international artists produced exclusively for CHSS, their sound is constantly being improved. Culture Horn Sound System plays a very important role in the local sound system culture and scene of Russia, not only playing uncompromising roots reggae and heavyweight steppers, but also releasing their own reggae and dub compositions on vinyl.

On their first release on Dubophonic, Culture Horn collaborate with Madi Simmons, hailing from the USA and Dubophonic resident artist Med Dred, representing the likkle island of Cyprus. Madi has been performing and recording music for the last 20 years, going through lots of blood, sweat and tears in the music industry. Having toured the Pacific Northwest, Hawaii, California and the Midwest and being just recently voted as BEST MALE INDIE REGGAE ARTIST of 2018, Madi had a lots of ups and downs, nevertheless loving every minute of it and enjoying not following the rules of reggae music (whatever they are).

The EP includes alltogether 6 tracks:  The first one is done ina dubplate style followed by a melodica version by Jahpapu and an uncompromising CHSS-dub. The second one is the title track, followed by a special melodica dubmix by Med Dred and a heavyweight dub by CHSS, demonstrating the uncompromising style of the artists. Culture Horn Sound System is coming to shake your town!

1. Culture Horn ft Madi Simmons - Dubplate / 2. Culture Horn ft. Jahpapu - Dubplate Version II / 3. Culture Horn - Dubplate Version III / 4. Cultre Horn ft. Madi Simmons - I am a Rootsman / 5. Culture Horn ft. Med Dred - Rootsman Dub (Dubophonic Dubmix) / 6. Culture Horn - Rootsman Dub Version III