Aba Shanti-I (born Joseph Smith) is a sound system operator and dub producer from the UK. Aba and his sound system have been playing through UK and Europe for over 30 years. He has been a resident sound system at Notting Hill Carnival since 1993 and was voted the No. 1 DJ in the World by DJ Magazine in the same year.[1][2]
Aba Shanti-I | |
|---|---|
 Aba Shanti-I at the Notting Hill Carnival | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Joseph Smith |
| Also known as | Jasmine Joe |
| Born | Hackney, London, UK |
| Genres | Reggae, roots reggae, dub |
| Occupation(s) | DJ, sound system operator |
| Labels | Falasha |
| Website | falasha-recordings |
Early life
editJoseph Smith was born in Hackney, London, UK of Antiguan parents, who immigrated to the UK in the 1960s.[3] He was first introduced to roots reggae music by his father Alan Smith, who himself ran a sound system called Count Alan in the 1960s.[2][3][4]
Sound system career
editWhile deejaying for the Jah Tubby's sound system, Aba Shanti-I was known as Jasmine Joe.[3][5] In 1990, Aba took over the running of the Jah Tubby's sound system,[6] debuting at the Leicester carnival.[4] Since then, Aba Shanti-I and his sound system play regularly in the UK, with residencies at the Notting Hill Carnival since 1993, Leicester Carnival and the University of Dub.[5][7][8] The sound system has also played in Belgium, France, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Portugal and Spain.[2]
Recording career
editAba Shanti-I has produced and recorded with his brother and the band the Shanti-Ites, releasing records on their own Falasha imprint.[5] Their first record, Tear Down Babylon was released in 1993.[5] Aba Shanti-I currently has a studio on Morning Lane, Hackney.[2]
Singles
edit- Tear Down Babylon (1993)
- The Zulu Warrior (1994)
- Positive Vibration (1995)
- Children of the Most High (1996)
- The Position Vibration (1999)
- Jah Liveth (2000)
- Love in the Ghetto (2000)
- What A Gwan (2004)
- Father Give Life (2004)
- Behold (with Prince Malachi, 2004)
- Inna Sanctuary (with Shandi-I, 2005)
- Every Day (2005)
- Revelation Time (with Shandi-I, 2008)
- Digital Children (with Sister Miriam, 2008)
- Youth Man (with Emmanuel Joseph, 2009)
- Rastaman (with Emmanuel Joseph, 2009)
- Our Father (with Jackie B and Sister Miriam, 2012)
- Babylon Falling (2013)
Albums
edit- Wrath of Jah Verse I (1996)
- Pure Spirit (1996)
- Jah Lightning and Thunder (1996)
- Rasta Soul-Jah (with Ras Iyah, 1997)
- Jericho Walls (1999)
- Undiluted
- Psalms From The Heart (with Emmanuel Joseph, 2010)
- Inna Sanctuary (with Shandi-I, 2011)
- The Whole of Me – Testament I & II (with Blood Shanti, 2014)
Style
editAba Shanti-I sound system plays music in the roots reggae and dub style. He cites, Dennis Brown, Bob Marley, Junior Delgado, Yabby You and Prince Lincoln as inspiration.[2] The original tracks are usually supplemented by reverb, delays and effects to generate his distinctive sound.
Notable residencies
edit- Notting Hill Carnival The sound system has been resident at the Carnival since 1993. It was originally situated on Powys Road, moving to Springbrook Road, then Southern Row; the system is currently situated on the corner between Southern and East Row.[2][8]
- University of Dub Aba Shanti-I was a founder sound system of the University of Dub in the late 1990s and has been a regular ever since.[7]
Family
editAba Shanti-I's brother, Blood Shanti, is a drummer and vocalist, contributing to both Aba Shanti-I's recordings and live performances.[4] Aba Shanti-I also has a son who accompanies him to many of the shows. His son is a drummer in the band Six Soldiers.[2]
References
edit- ^ Cunningham, Katie. "You won't believe who's on the 1993 DJ Mag Top 100". 30 October 2013. In the Mix Webzine, Australia. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g Red Bull Music Academy (2010). "Aba Shanti-I profile at the Red Bull Music Academy". Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
- ^ a b c Leicester Mercury (27 July 2013). "THIS MUCH I KNOW: Aba Shanti-I". Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
- ^ a b c Falasha Recordings (14 November 2004). "Who's Who page on Falasha Recordings website". Retrieved 23 December 2013.
- ^ a b c d Falasha Recordings (14 November 2004). "Aba Shanti-I profile on Falasha Recordings website". Retrieved 23 December 2013.
- ^ Barrow, Steve; Dalton, Peter (2004), "8", The Rough Guide to Reggae (3rd ed.), Rough Guides, p. 413, ISBN 1-84353-329-4
- ^ a b University of Dub (2017). "University of Dub Sound Systems". Archived from the original on 4 September 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
- ^ a b The Notting Hill Carnival (2013). "Sounds Systems at the Notting Hill Carnival". Archived from the original on 26 October 2013. Retrieved 23 December 2013.