While singles and the voicing of well-known riddims are a common way of releasing music in reggae, album releases are in the majority among the artistes of the reggae revival, which are also often distributed by their own labels.
By working with the same producers for one or more albums, the significance of these individuals for the musical output and thus for the Reggae Revival movement becomes apparent.
Producers shape(d) the sound of all generations of JPM. They are therefore also the „[…] architects of this current sound […]“ of the reggae revival (Majestic/Heartical I.D 2016: 00:50–00:51 min.)
While singles and the voicing of well-known riddims are a common way of releasing music in reggae, album releases are in the majority among the artistes of the reggae revival, which are also often distributed by their own labels.
By working with the same producers for one or more albums, the significance of these individuals for the musical output and thus for the Reggae Revival movement becomes apparent.
Due to the work of individuals – in this case producers – the Reggae Revival is also given a defining characteristic on the musical level.
Produced two studio albums for Protoje and the successful "Rootsman" riddim ("Here Comes Trouble"), which he released on his label Overstand Entertainment. Also worked with Chronixx, Sevana and Mortimer. As a musician, he was most recently keyboardist for Damian Marley, and before that for Tarrus Riley, Junior Kelly, Bushman, and others. Cites primarily dub and roots reggae as musical influences.
Born Donovan Bennett, he is a successful reggae and dancehall producer with his own label Don Corleon Records. Worked with Rihanna, Vybz Kartel, Sean Paul, Bounty Killer and Elephant Man. For his cousin Protoje, he produced his first two studio albums, having already formed together the sound system "Vendetta". In 2005 he produced the popular "Drop Leaf" riddim.
Romaine "Teflon" Arnett is one of the most important producers of contemporary JPM. Thus, he founded the label ZincFence Records together with Chronixx, produced mainly for the latter, but also Koffee's debut EP Rapture, which won a Grammy in 2020. In 2019 he released Dub Policy, a dub album on ZincFence Records.
Born in 1998, Iotosh Poyser has been one of the most demanded producers in Jamaica for the last 3 years at the latest. He has already produced for Protoje, Jah9, Lila Iké, Runkus, Royal Blu and others. With his productions, he shapes the current sound of Jamaican artistes, who not only uses dub, dancehall and reggae, but also ventures into other spheres.
The constant presence in social media, professional music videos, merchandise, a design concept and an awareness of the non-musical components of artistic creation.
– this is mainly the responsibility of visual artistes in the person of photographers, video producers, creative directors and designers, who work closely with the Reggae Revival artistes.
Again, institutions such as the Edna Manley College play a crucial role, as people are trained in these skills locally in Jamaica. Also, they study in the same place as many of the musicians, so they meet early on.
In this way, competencies are also bundled locally in this area and benefit the reggae revival. At the same time, the movement provides a platform and opportunities for these visual artistes.
A number of people besides producers and visual artistes paved the way for the Reggae Revival, accompanied it or helped it achieve global success because of their local work in Jamaica.
This includes promoters who created spaces for the Reggae Revival’s all-important live music, selectahs who helped spread the music and sound regionally and internationally, and supportive musicians and artistes of older generations and personal caregivers.
Overall, it is the cooperation and mutual support of local actors that is responsible for the emergence and success of the Reggae Revival.
Born Gavin Hutchinson, the inventor of the term "Reggae Revival" has been a defining figure of this movement since the beginning. Among other things, Bookman provides a platform for the music of the Reggae Revival as selectah and owner of the radio show "Bookman on the Airwaves". More important, however, is his person as the namesake, author and embodiment of the Reggae Revival as a social-artistic movement, in addition to the musical representation by the artistes.
Not only as a producer, but especially as a selectah, Rory Cha, known under the name "Yaadcore", is described as a central person for the Reggae Revival movement. Due to his activity as a selectah for Protoje at his solo performances without a band and thus close relationships to other artistes of the Reggae Revival, he is also part of the movement. Especially through his function as selectah on the radio and at sound system events, he plays an important role in the (local) distribution and promotion of the Reggae Revival movement.
The Reggae Revival can be described as a "[...] multi-generational movement championed by the youth with mentoring from the elders" (Watson 2013). For example, roots reggae artistes Billy Wilmot and Tony Rebel, with Jamnesia and the Rebel Salute Festival, are responsible for local institutions that enable venues for live music for the reggae revival. Moreover, artistes like Beres Hammond, Ibo Cooper (now a lecturer at EMC), Earl "Chinna" Smith (with "Inna de Yard") or Bob Andy (collaboration with Raging Fyah) are important for Reggae Revival. Caregivers such as Protoje's mother Lorna Bennett, who works in management for Protoje, or Chronixx's father Chronicle, who brought him into contact with popular musicians and artistes at an early age, should also be mentioned here.
