A Yot Club favourite, Cornerstone Roots will be hitting up your local this Saturday to drop their brand new 5-track EP, Summer Haze, and will be joined by special guest the Mad Professor.
Summer Haze is a collection of five songs, and is described as “a special collection of tracks for our friends and family”. It’s a pre cursor to the fourth studio album to be released early 2017.
The EP is a dedication to Raa Smith, and a pre-curser to a fourth studio album.
“Take Me was written while living on Cliff St when times were not easy,” says vocalist Brian Ruawai.
In the song, Tane Rore is the personification of shimmering haze as he performs a haka for his mother.
“Another song, Inna Web, features Reiki on the Oneness riddim produced by Moritz von Korff from French band Dub Inc.
“The song is a call to push through life’s disappointments and seize the day because you won the ultimate race to be here.”
The track Places To Be was written while the band was in Budapest during their 2014 European tour.
“We wanted to really get across an international vibe not inspired by our laid back environment here in Raglan,” explains Brian.
“Its an 8-minute album track which features Jonathan Crayford on a Wurlitzer.
“He was in New York at the time and we sent him the files to record over. Matt Bizzle features on saxophone, and the final mix of the EP was completed at Neil Finn’s Roundhead Studios in Auckland.”
Since their inception in 2001 at the iconic Raglan Musician’s Club sessions, Cornerstone Roots have evolved from the original three-piece outfit into a family-oriented band. Daughter Kaea is now on keyboard, samples and vocals, and son Reiki is on backing vocals.
A stalwart in the New Zealand reggae scene, they’ve supported some heavyweight acts including the likes of Burning Spear; Toots & the Maytals; Sly and Robbie with Michael Rose; Jimmy Cliff and Lee “Scratch” Perry, so it was only apt that they are joined by dub legend Mad Professor for their Raglan launch.
A disciple of Lee “Scratch” Perry, Mad Professor was one of the leading producers in dub reggae’s second generation with his productions taking over the mainstream reggae sound during the 80s. Old school with over 20 albums, he’s most notably known for his “dub Me Crazy” original recordings as well as his work with Lee Scratch Perry and Massive Attack. More locally, he has remixed tracks by Katchafire and Salmonella Dub.
Expect a great night of roots, dub and reggae with some local and international legends. Cornerstone Roots will have copies of their new EP for sale and will be supported by their good friend, the Mad Professor. If you don’t make it on Saturday, Mad Professor will also be making an appearance at Sunday Sessions the next day, from 4.20pm in the YOT Club yard.
