The Island Rhythm updates

🌴 Island Rhythm Newsletter - November 2025 🌊

Greetings, Island Rhythm Family!

As we sail into November, we’re excited to share all the vibrant happenings from the past two months! From community efforts to new products that capture the essence of island life, there’s so much to celebrate! Here’s what’s been happening:


🎉 Events Recap: Awaken on the River


In October, we had an unforgettable experience at Awaken on the River! This event brought together music lovers, artists, and community members for a day filled with live performances, workshops, and a celebration of culture. The energy was incredible, and it was wonderful to see everyone come together in the spirit of unity and love for music. Thank you to everyone who joined us and made it such a memorable day!


🌟 Community Spotlight: Sacred I - Reggae for a Reason


We want to highlight Sacred I, an initiative dedicated to supporting artists and communities in need. In response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, Sacred I has worked tirelessly to raise funds and provide assistance to those affected in Jamaica. Your contributions make a significant impact, and we encourage everyone to support this cause.

👉 Donate Here


🛍️ Featured Products: Island Rhythm Merchandise


We’re excited to announce that The Island Rhythm also provides a fantastic range of band merchandise! Enhance your experience with our specially curated Coffee, Mug, and T-shirt Bundle, perfect for any island vibe! Here are the highlights:

  1. Island Rhythm Coffee - Enjoy the rich flavors of our exclusive blend that brings the taste of the islands to your morning routine.

  2. Island Rhythm Mug - Sip your favorite beverage in our beautifully designed mug, perfect for any island vibe.

  3. Island Rhythm T-shirt - Wear your love for the islands with pride! Our soft and stylish t-shirt is a must-have for every fan.


Create your own bundle and celebrate island life! 👉 Shop Now at Island Rhythm


🎨 Artist Spotlight


Each month, we want to shine a light on the incredible talents within our community. This month, we are excited to feature Streetlevel Uprising, whose unique sound and soulful lyrics are capturing hearts everywhere. Heres a look behind the curtain of this amazing band and friend of The Island Rhythm!




Jay Canter is the creative force driving the strictly conscious, roots fusion reggae band Streetlevel Uprising. Currently releasing a single every month, Streetlevel’s recent output is rich with the social commentary, uplifting affirmations, lively melodies, and fiery grooves that have always defined this band.

On record or stage, you notice the horns and vocal harmonies instantly. “Coming off our first couple albums, horns really lifted us to a new level,” Jay says, “and Bill, Zate, and I just have this rare vocal chemistry.” Jay’s presence – dreads dragging the ground, urgent vocals, and his vibrant and emotive lyrics – lend him a passionate charm. His message, whether sharply critical or warmly compassionate, is one of togetherness, inviting everyone into his songs through his non-dogmatic approach to social change. “We offer a humanitarian message and support for the underdogs out there. Human rights, social equality, protection of the environment, and so on. It’s not about this party or that party. We’re a conscious band. We’re not a political band.”

After winning back-to-back titles as best original band in the musical hotbed of Lawrence, Kansas, Jay relocated to Southwest Florida and set up Studio Streetlevel, while bass player Bill set up his own home studio back in Lawrence. In the middle of their most creative burst yet, the songs are flowing with Streetlevel’s trademark blend of modern and vintage roots-based vibes. “It gives us two homebases to create, so we can still involve everyone in the process, and to make sure the work is always getting done,” Jay says.

“It also gives us two homebases for touring those regions. Our members are spread across the country, and due to family considerations, shows have become more of a rotating cast of characters,” he says with a laugh. “When I go back to the Midwest, I get to feel Nate’s drums behind me, and hear Joaquin’s keyboard and Greg’s sax. When Bill comes down to Florida, we get to vibe onstage with Cesar, who we’ve known since high school and played keys with us in a previous band.”

But doesn’t having a lineup in constant flux make everything harder? “Maybe, but the odds have always been against this band, so we’ll just have to beat them. And the alternative would be to not tour, and that’s not an option. We roll with whoever is able, in whatever configuration necessary. Because as much as we love creating, we’ve always lived for the shows.”

That enthusiasm is apparent, with “energy” being the word most often associated with their incendiary live performances. Jay dances and jumps around, massive web of locks flying. Bill roams his side of the stage, and The Bongo Bastard is a conga-pounding madman. Time and again, they prove that the message is only part of this band’s identity. “We do try to raise awareness of certain issues. But we love music, we love entertaining, and we love making people happy.”


Listen here:  



📚 Introducing: The Reggae Papers


We are proud to announce our new essay collection, The Reggae Papers! This compilation dives deep into the history, culture, and impact of reggae music. Perfect for both long-time fans and newcomers, it’s a treasure trove of insights and stories that celebrate the rich heritage of reggae.



chapter 1

The Constant Evolution of Reggae Music and Its Enduring Legacy

Reggae music was born in Jamaica in the late 1960s and has become one of the most influential and adaptable genres on the planet. Though it’s deeply rooted in Rastafarian spirituality, social justice, and African identity, reggae has never stopped evolving. Over the years, it’s absorbed elements of hip-hop, dancehall, Afrobeat, electronic, and pop music—proving that its message and rhythm are truly universal.


At its heart, reggae has always been more than just a sound. It’s a movement—a global vibration built on love, resistance, and unity. That’s what keeps it alive generation after generation.




From Innovation to Evolution

Reggae was born out of experimentation. It grew from ska and rocksteady, shifting to a slower, deeper groove with the one-drop drum beat that hits on the third count, giving reggae its signature laid-back feel. The bassline became the heartbeat, carrying the melody, while the lyrics often followed a call-and-response style drawn from African and gospel traditions.


That same spirit of innovation kept pushing the genre forward. In the late 1970s and ’80s, reggae gave rise to dancehall—a faster, more digital sound that reflected Jamaica’s changing energy. Artists like Yellowman and Shabba Ranks helped define it, while the concept of “riddims” (shared instrumental tracks used by multiple artists) transformed how reggae was produced.


By the 2000s, reggae was evolving again. With digital production taking over, artists like Sean Paul, Damian Marley, and Protoje began blending traditional roots with electronic beats. Producers such as Diplo and Major Lazer took reggae influences straight into EDM and pop, keeping the sound fresh and exciting.




Themes That Never Get Old

What really makes reggae timeless are the messages it carries. From the start, it’s been a voice for the people—a soundtrack for those fighting oppression and seeking equality. Songs like Bob Marley’s “Get Up, Stand Up” and Peter Tosh’s “Equal Rights” became global anthems for human rights movements. That legacy continues today through artists like Chronixx, Koffee, and Kabaka Pyramid, who use reggae to speak truth in a modern world.


But reggae isn’t only about protest. It’s also about love, peace, and unity. Tracks like “One Love” by Bob Marley or “Jah Bless” by Sizzla carry a universal message of togetherness that still resonates across cultures.


And beneath it all, there’s a strong spiritual current. Even when not explicitly Rastafarian, reggae often explores consciousness, meditation, and self-awareness—values that now connect easily with global wellness and mindfulness movements.




A Global Sound and Movement

Reggae may have started in Jamaica, but it didn’t stay there for long. Its influence has touched nearly every major genre. Hip-hop drew early inspiration from reggae’s rhythms and vocal phrasing, while reggaeton evolved directly from dancehall’s riddims. Afrobeat and modern Afrobeats artists—from Fela Kuti’s legacy to Burna Boy and Wizkid—have carried forward reggae’s rhythmic spirit.


Today, reggae thrives on every continent. Hawaiian “Jawaiian” artists put a Polynesian twist on the style. European acts like Gentleman (Germany) and Dub Inc (France) brought it into new languages and cultures. Across Africa, icons like Alpha Blondy and Tiken Jah Fakoly use reggae to confront corruption and celebrate freedom.


Reggae festivals such as Jamaica’s Reggae Sumfest, Spain’s Rototom Sunsplash, and the California Roots Festival in the U.S. prove just how global this community has become. Fans from all walks of life gather to celebrate a genre that bridges borders and speaks one universal language—vibration.




The Future of Reggae

The new generation is carrying the torch with pride. Artists like Koffee, Protoje, and Lila Iké are redefining reggae for younger audiences, blending it with R&B, trap, and soul while keeping the conscious message alive.


Streaming platforms and social media have also opened new doors, helping reggae artists reach massive audiences without needing big record labels. And with the growing legalization of cannabis around the world, reggae’s long-standing cultural and spiritual connection to the plant has found new relevance in health, lifestyle, and mindfulness spaces.




About the Author: Scotty Fraser


Meet Scotty Fraser, the vibrant host of the Hippie-Fari Reggae Radio and Podcast! With a passion for reggae music and culture, Scotty brings a unique blend of insights, interviews, and uplifting tunes to listeners around the globe. His dedication to promoting reggae artists and sharing their stories has made him a beloved figure in the community. Tune in to his podcast for an enriching experience filled with the rhythms and messages of love, unity, and resilience that reggae embodies!



A Mindful mment fron Divine Spark Medicine



Happy gratitude month from Divine Spark Medicine!


November is a wonderful time to reflect in gratitude on the past year and its blessings since we have an entire week focused on the thanksgiving holiday here in the US. It’s a time of year where we withdraw a bit from the outside world and focus on our friends, family, hearth and home. In eastern Medicine, the theory of five elements has the earth element figuring prominently in the late summer and fall. Fall is followed by winter, represented by water and becomes the most yin time of year where life contracts and goes underground to gestate for spring. Spring is represented by the wood element with its spring green new buds and growth, summer follows with the fire element and claims the title of most yang time of year. The fire element creates earth via volcanoes and ash, which brings us back to earth time here in the fall. And as we focus on the earth inside, we can appreciate the earth outside ourselves by shopping for organic, non GMO, local produce and foods that support our small family farms and communities.


Each element can be increased or decreased in the body in different ways to attain optimal, balanced health. For the nourishment  of the earth element, optimal foods include root vegetables, warm and savory soups, roasted meats, and avoidance of anything cold and damp. The traditional Thanksgiving meal here in the US qualifies as a great example of the foods in eastern medicine that are considered nourishing to our earth element.  The turkey is our roasted meat, gravy is a savory liquid, squash, pumpkin and potatoes are our root vegetables. Roasted seeds and nuts give us packed nutrients in a small but mighty bundle. The perfect nourishment of the earth element meal!


Now that we’ve explored nourishing our pancreas/spleen/stomach—the organs of the earth element—we can now be mindful of potential harmful situations that can cause weakness  of the earth elements.  These include overeating, eating at irregular times, and eating late at night. Think of the earth and how she likes routines and to stick to the plan…her sunrises and sunsets, her high and low tides, her nature parade through the seasons. The earth loves her daily/weekly/monthly planner along with her Farmers Almanac. So…in order to strengthen the earth element in our bodies, we need to stick to routines—same eating and sleeping times, same awakening time, bundling up when cold, less clothing during warmer temps, etc.  The endocrine system also likes these routines and is a result of a healthy or unhealthy earth element. Finally, the actual qi that’s in the food we eat makes an impact on our earth element and its organs. Too much damp or cold natured food like raw foods, ice creams and heavy cold dairy foods, high amounts of sugar or the sweet flavor, and very heavy greasy foods during colder temperatures can cause the earth element to exhaust itself.


Let’s also remember to nourish our earth inside and out with gratitude for the bounty of what the earth gives us. Let’s thank our bodies for accommodating our accomplishments, thank our friends and family for supporting us, our farmers for all they do for us and for the earth, and the earth for supplying us with all we need. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!


About the author here:  


Thank you for being part of our Island Rhythm community! We appreciate your support and can’t wait to share more exciting updates in the coming months.

Stay tuned, and keep the rhythm alive! 🎶

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