Midnite (band)

Midnite
Background information
Origin St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
Genres Reggae
Years active 1989 (1989)–2015
Labels Rastafaria, I Grade Records
Website www.midniteband.com
Members Vaughn Benjamin
Ron Benjamin
Christian Molina
Edmund Fieulleteau
Edwin Byron
Ras L
Past members Ambrose "Amby" Connor

Midnite is a roots reggae band from St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, which started playing in 1989.[1]

The band's music follows in tradition with the roots reggae bands of 1970s Jamaica. The lyrical portions of Midnite's compositions are characterized as the "chant and call" style which gives their music a spiritually intense and an overtly Rastafari movement feel. The lyrics are centrally focused on the plights of the oppressed, the inherent faults of the current political, economic and social settings on a global scale, and the redemption available to mankind through a life dedicated to Jah.

In 2015, the band reformed around co-founder Vaughn Benjamin as Akae Beka without bassist Ron Benjamin. Ras Elyments Took Ron Benjamins Position on Bass. Suren Felton Replaced Ras L on Keys. The reasons for the reformation have been stated as due to "Life changes, convictions and revelations. Stated on the band website was "Due to a medical emergency the tour is postponed" Members of the band themselves wont even say during the recent Akae Beka Coronation Tour in November 2015. '.[2] Akae Beka's first performance took place in Denver, Colorado on July 17, 2015 in honor of Nelson Mandela Day.[3]

History

The band was started by Benjamin brothers Vaughn (vocals) and Ron (keyboard, but later switched to bass) circa 1989 according to an interview with former Midnite drummer Ambrose "Amby" Connor by Midnight Raver. The brothers were raised in St. Croix, Virgin Islands, the sons of Antiguan musician Ronnie Benjamin, Sr. Vaughn Benjamin cites Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, The Abyssinians, and bassist Flabba Holt as his earliest influences.[4]

"Bob Marley has had a big impact. And the drum and the bass from like Flabba Holt. Sometimes I listen to the bass man alone or the drummer alone."[4]

The group's debut album Unpolished was released exclusively in Namibia in December 1997. The album would not see a proper U.S. release until the Rastafaria label released it wide in 2001. They recorded Ras Mek Peace (Before Reverb and Without Delay) while living in Washington, D.C. during the mid-90s, and it was released in November 1999.[5] The album was named so, because it was reportedly recorded live in one room, straight to two-track analog tape. It was mastered without the use of compression or corrective equalization. [6] Like Unpolished, Ras Mek Peace (Before Reverb and Without Delay) is recorded using no mixing board, no filtering, no compression, no equalization, no noise reduction, multitracking or overdubbing, giving it a similar raw sound. The album was recorded using only two-tracks at Mapleshade in Upper Marlboro, MD with studio engineer and owner Pierre Sprey whose recording style is summed up in the phrase he had printed to green Mapleshade t-shirts to promote the studio: NO Mixing Board, NO Overdubs, NO Noise Reduction, NO Compression, NO Multitracks, NO Reverb, NO EQ, Nothing BUT The Excitement of Live Music, MUSIC WITHOUT COMPROMISE.[7]

Later, they returned home to St. Croix in the late '90s to play with local musicians and record at their music studio, African Roots Lab.

Midnite frequently collaborates with new artists and has played as the back-up band on a number of African Roots Lab artists' releases, such as Dezarie's Fya and Gracious Mama Africa and Ikahba's Trodding to Zion.

In September 2011, Midnite released their first professionally produced music video for their song "Mongst I&I".[8] The video features members of the band in casual settings and depicts the Rastafarian culture in Frederiksted, United States Virgin Islands (referred to as "Freedom City," St. Croix), and Kingston, Jamaica.

Singer Vaughn Benjamin featured on Tribal Seeds' 2014 album Representing.[9]

The band was featured in the 2014 documentary film Escape To St Croix.[10]

Discography

Midnite & I Grade collaboration

Midnite & Branch I collaboration

Midnite & Mystic Vision collaboration

Midnite & Ras L collaboration

Midnite & Groundbreaking collaboration

Midnite & Lion Tribe/Fifthson collaboration

Midnite & Desmond Williams collaboration

Midnite & Rastar collaboration

Midnite & Higher Bound Prod collaboration

Midnite & Iaahden Sounds collaboration

Midnite & Lustre Kings collaboration

Midnite & Natural Vibes collaboration

Midnite & Youssoupha Sidibe collaboration

Midnite & Various artists collaboration

References

  1. ↑ The British Virgin Islands: Frommer's ShortCuts 2011 "Reggae bands, such as Midnite and Inner Visions have found renewed popularity, although they've been around since the 1980s. Midnite Intense Pressure, Midnite's debut album, firmly established them as a force in roots music; the group .."
  2. ↑ "The Akae Beka: Vaughn Benjamin (of Midnite) & full band". Envision Festival. January 2016. Retrieved 2016-01-28. http://www.envisionfestival.com/
  3. ↑ "Midnite --> Akae Beka?". Sierra Nevada World Music Festival (blog). July 2015. Retrieved 2016-01-28.
  4. 1 2 "Midnite: It A Go Dread Inna DC". Midnight Raver. August 19, 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2016. http://midnightraverblog.com/
  5. ↑ "Midnite Ras Mek peace", CMJ New Music Report, December 20, 1999, p. 29. Retrieved December 26, 2014
  6. ↑
  7. ↑ "MIDNITE: It A Go Dread Inna DC". Midnight Raver. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  8. ↑ Press Release, Jamaicans.com
  9. ↑ "Best Bets: Reggae group 'Tribal Seeds' at Wild Buffalo", Bellingham Herald, April 11, 2014. Retrieved December 26, 2014
  10. ↑ Campbell, Howard (2014) "Docu-flick on St Croix's reggae scene", Jamaica Observer, September 5, 2014. Retrieved December 26, 2014
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