New Name

New Name
Studio album by Jah9
Released February 26, 2013 (2013-02-26)
March 18, 2013 (2013-03-18)
Genre Reggae
Length 42.63
Label Rorystonelove
Producer Rorystonelove[1]

New Name is the debut studio album by Jamaican reggae artist Jah9. Released on February 26, 2013 through the imprint Rorystonelove,[2] it peaked at No. 3 on the iTunes chart in France, No. 7 in Switzerland,[3] and No. 9 in Germany.[4] A deluxe edition was released on CD and digital download in 2014.[5] The album was named to a midyear "KDHX DJ top 10 albums" list in 2013.[6] Largely well received by critics,[2] High Times later wrote that New Name was released "to warm acclaim in the reggae community,"[7] with the Washington City Paper writing in 2015 that Jah9 "quickly developed a following among roots reggae fans with her 2013 debut album."[8] Reggae Vibes wrote that New Name "has a very distinctive vibe as it expertly blends conscious reggae riddims with classic jazz grooves and dub overtones."[2]

History

Background and production

Janine "Jah9" Cunningham is a reggae artist from Falmouth, Jamaica. After starting her career in the poetry scene, she began recording demos with the producers Sheldon Bernard and Beres Hammond. She released several singles before starting work on her debut album New Name.[9] Jah9 worked with the reggae producer Rory "Stone Love" Gilligan[2] throughout 2012,[10] with the album released on his imprint Rorystonelove.[9] Themes in the album are diverse, touching on topics such as Rastafari and spirituality among others.[11][12] About its meaning, Jah9 stated that "I think New Name is kind of a statement to say: I am a Rastafari woman, first and foremost, seeking the Kingdom and this personal journey is foremost."[11]

Singles and release

Before the album was released, a number of tracks were released as promo singles.[7] The lead single, "New Name," was produced by Gilligan.[13] According to Jah9, during the production process "we ended up spending a lot of time talking about this history [of dancehall] and [the album's track 'Avacado'] is somewhat of a tribute to the ’80s style and sound."[13] The title track, according to the Washington City Paper, includes spiritual references and "the island’s traditional loping rhythm."[8] The single met with a positive reception in Wordplay Magazine after its November 2012 debut, which wrote "the production is what we have been lacking recently; JA dub music, which is similar but different to the UK style as you can tell by the use of dancehall–esque effects and vocal samples."[10]

New Name was released in February 2013.[13] The official album launch took place in St. Andrew, Jamaica near the end of February,[3] and featured Jah9 performing with a 14-member band.[4] Jamaica Observer described it as "one of the largest crowds seen at a local album launch." Singers Chronixx and Protoje were guest vocalists during the show.[3] The album was soon charting at No. 3 on the iTunes chart in France and No. 7 in Switzerland, according to the Jamaica Observer.[3] By March 2, it was charting on iTunes in Germany as well, at No. 9.[4] A deluxe edition was released on CD and digital download in 2014, with an extended mix of the track "Intention" included.[5]

Release and reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Reggae Vibes[2]
United Reggae[positive][1]
Reggaeville[positive][14]

According to High Times on April 29, 2014, New Name was released "to warm acclaim in the reggae community,"[7] and the Washington City Paper wrote in 2015 that Jah9 "quickly developed a following among roots reggae fans with her 2013 debut album."[8] On July 8, 2013, the album was named to a midyear "88.1 KDHX DJ top 10 albums" list by KDHX.[6] Described by United Reggae as "quite simply, the superb sum of its parts: a straight cultural roots album," it was voted album of the year by AchisReggae.com.[15]

Reggae Vibes gave the album a score of 5/5 in four categories including vocals, backing, production, and sound quality, and 4/5 in the album sleeve category. Wrote the publication, New Name "has a very distinctive vibe as it expertly blends conscious reggae riddims with classic jazz grooves and dub overtones."[2] Justine Ketola of Reggaeville commented on the album's mixing of dub and jazz, writing that "combining vocals and spoken word with dub in this way, delivering lyrics with both uplifting and deep roots messages, and addressing poignant social issues from the female perspective in this present time exhibits tremendous courage."[14] Reggae Vibes also commented on the album's combination of genres, writing that Jah9 "has been credited as the creator of the 'Jazz on Dub' genre."[2]

Track listing

Tracks on New Name[5][16] (Deluxe Edition released 2014)[17][5]
No.TitleLength
1."New Name"  4:31
2."Intentions"  4:50
3."Preacher Man"  4:51
4."Interlude"  1:06
5."Gratitude"  4:06
6."Taken" (feat. Cedric Myton)4:16
7."Avocado"  3:45
8."Mr Right"  4:06
9."Imagine"  4:19
10."Jungle"  4:04
11."Legitimate" (feat. Protoje)4:17
12."Inner Voice"  4:30

Personnel

The following is an incomplete list of personnel involved with New Name:[5]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "New Name Album". Jah9.com. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Mr. T, Teacher (2016). "New Name". Reggae Vibes. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Walters, Basil (March 1, 2013). "Jah 9: New Name in roots-reggae". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 2016-02-27.
  4. 1 2 3 "Jah9 album launch signals growing popularity". Jamaica Gleaner. March 2, 2013. Retrieved 2016-02-27.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Jah9 – New Name". Discogs. 2013. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
  6. 1 2 Rhythms, Ital (July 8, 2013). "Midyear 2013: 88.1 KDHX DJ top 10 albums". KDHX. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
  7. 1 2 3 Six, Mary Ought (April 29, 2014). "New Flame: Jamaica's Jah9 Lights Up the Reggae World with Her Own Special Fire". High Times. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
  8. 1 2 3 Jones, Caroline (February 5, 2015). "ToDo ToDay: Jah9, House of Desires, and Viceroy". Washington City Paper. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
  9. 1 2 Jeffries, David. "Jah9 Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
  10. 1 2 Duffield, Jack (November 1, 2012). "Jah9: New Name". Wordplay Magazine. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
  11. 1 2 "Jazz on Dub is The Sound of Jah9". ZANJ / Zanj Radio. March 30, 2015. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
  12. ↑ Eyre, Banning (July 20, 2015). "Jah9 on Roots Reggae, Preaching and Rastafari". Afropop Worldwide. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
  13. 1 2 3 "Reggae Singer Jah9 Finds Inspiration at Breakfast in 'Avocado' (Exclusive Video)". Wall Street Journal. November 12, 2014. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
  14. 1 2 Amadori Ketola, Justine (February 26, 2013). "Album Review: Jah9 - New Name". Reggaeville. Retrieved 2016-02-27.
  15. ↑ "Biography". Jah9.com. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
  16. ↑ "New Name by Jah9". iTunes. Mar 26, 2013. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
  17. ↑ "New Name (Deluxe Edition) by Jah9". iTunes. Feb 26, 2013. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
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