Richie Culture, Birmingham’s [UK] rising star in contemporary reggae music will release the first single ‘Hail H.I.M’ from his new EP, “Hail H.I.M”. The title track will drop on July 23, 2024 coinciding with Emperor Haile Selassie I Earthstrong with the remainder of the EP tracks following over the course of 2024. This marks Richie Culture‘s second solo EP, following his debut ‘First Steps’ [2020] with a fresh perspective and a profound homage to the Rastafari faith.
Hail H.I.M is Richie Culture‘s heartfelt homage to the King of all Kings reflecting his journey as a Rasta yout’ and his lifelong inspiration drawn from Haile Selassie I. This four-track EP encapsulates the essence of Rastafari, representing the dread times we live in, the uplifting and bright attitude towards life, and the unity and togetherness of Rastafari. Musically, the EP is a diverse showcase of reggae styles including roots, rub-a-dub, nyabinghi drum, authentic roots, and contemporary reggae.
Richie Culture’s Hail H.I.M is a solo vocal effort, with no collaborations, allowing his unique voice and vision to shine through with no distraction. The EP features an array of talented musicians, including Robbie Melody, Bongo Damo, John Malan, Kibibi Campbell, Cate Shanks, Shadow Lion, Alose Dread, and J Zoob. Produced by Robbie Melody, the EP emphasizes the organic and rich sound that defines Richie Culture. The initial recordings took place at Arc Studio in Birmingham onto a pristine Atari 24 channel analogue tape machine, before moving to Robbie Melody’s Trench Rd Studios for overdubs, vocal tracking, and mixing. Blending traditional and modern recording techniques, Robbie Melody wanted to ‘capture the energy of the music in authenticity and then shape in it a way that best represents the sound we create’.
The title track ‘Hail H.I.M.’ enters with natural mystic, the ethereal Ethiopian flute over Nyabinghi drum, Incient sound of the solo Trombone [J Zoob] invoking sounds of bygone ages and imagery of royalty and majesty. The intro gives way to a heartbeat tempo one-drop riddim with pulsating bass line, trombone melody and lashings of spring reverb and tape echo before Richie’s chorus takes over in a style and pattern not yet heard from the Birmingham singer. Roots is the at the forefront of this title track as Robbie Melody and Richie Culture take their sound way back in time to reflect the mid 70s roots reggae sound in Jamaica.
Reflecting on the creation of Hail H.I.M, Richie Culture shares, “I’ve always wanted to create a body of work that honours the legacy of Haile Selassie I and the principles of Rastafari. This EP is a reflection of my way of life, the challenges we face, and the hope and unity that Rastafari brings to our lives.”
Hail H.I.M is a testament to Richie Culture’s deep affinity and connection to reggae music and the Rastafari faith. The EP not only showcases his musical versatility, but also his commitment to spreading the message of unity, love, and resilience through his art.
Richie Culture invites listeners to pre-order Hail H.I.M and join him on a musical journey that celebrates the rich cultural heritage of Rastafari and the timeless influence of Emperor Haile Selassie I.
The title track is out on 23.07.24 with the remaining tracks set for release over the course of 2024.
TRACKLIST: Richie Culture – Hail H.I.M.
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- Hail H.I.M
- King of Kings
- Each Day
- Behold
