Big thanks and respek to South Florida Caribbean News for covering the new single from Phillipidon, Time With You. We’re honored to be featured on this website that is a staple of Florida’s Caribbean community.
You can listen below:
Big thanks to the folks over at Jamaicans.com for helping us promote Tom Robinson’s new single, Afrotheria.
Friday, May 6, 2022
For Immediate Release
Media Contact:
R.J. Johnson djrj@music4lifemedia.com
512 297 3575
PHILLIPIDON RELEASES A NEW REGGAE SINGLE, TIME WITH YOU
(AUSTIN, TEXAS – MAY 6, 2022; source: Music For Life) – Austin-based record label, Music For Life along with Phillipidon release a new “Lovers Rock” reggae single: Time With You.
In February of 2020, Philip came up to Austin to Music For Life and started working on this track with DJ RJ. It flowed out of Philip with no effort in one take and they went back and had to edit just a few things to finish it. From there they started to finish the rest of the track. Alan Moe Monsarrat from the Mau Mau Chaplains laid down a rock solid bassline—perfect for a Lovers Rock dance session. Jeremy Carlson from Lion Heights added some smooth keyboards to the track and a whole crew of vocalists on backgrounds, Kim Pollini, Jessica Sanchez, DJRJ and Marc Schaefgen. Guitars were covered by Marc Schaefgen and Steve Carter. DJ RJ added some harmonies on the DJ part at the end that came out real sweet and mixed it down for final delivery. This is a single from the forthcoming compilation album Perfect Friends coming later this year on the Music For Life label.
Phillipidon had this to say about the song:
“Time with You”, is a song that was created as a heartfelt plea from me to be with the woman that I love. I appeal to her to stay and to not walk away, although at this particular time we are going through some difficulties; having no doubts in my mind that the love that we share will only grow.
ABOUT PHILLIPIDON:
Philip White aka Phillipidon was born in Kingston, Jamaica. He is known for his gravelly-gruff voice, interlacing iconoclastic interjections, and weaving wanton mayhem amongst audiences with his impromptu outbursts during live performances. When he is not doing music, he is a college professor teaching anatomy, biology, and physiology at Houston Community College.
ABOUT MUSIC FOR LIFE:
Music For Life is run by producer/engineer and Austin radio DJ, @DJRJ. His bi-weekly radio program, Reggae Evolution, is on the air on KAZI 88.7 FM (2nd & 4th Tuesdays, from 9 to midnight), focusing on Roots & Culture from now back to the 50s. His passion for reggae music includes building Riddims, writing and mixing and helping people get their projects done.
TRACK LIST:
PRODUCTION CREDITS:
Philip White / Phillipidon: vocals and lyrics
R.J. Johnson: keyboards, drum programming, recording/mixing engineer
Alan Moe Monsarrat: bass guitar
Marc Schaefgen: electric guitar, background vocals
Steve Carter: electric guitar
Jeremy Carlson: keyboards, keyboard solo
Jessica Sanchez: background vocals
Kim Pollini: background vocals
Mario Vela: tambourine
Chris Fischer: mastering
Graphic Design: Fumi Sugawara
Distribution by Zojak Worldwide
Thank you for supporting our work!
###
MEDIA NOTE:
For general inquiries about this project, please contact RJ Johnson:
RJ Johnson
512 297 3575
This is going to be a great festival this year. Hope you can make it out.
More info on their website: http://www.austinreggaefest.com
March 25, 2022
For Immediate Release
Media Contact: R.J. Johnson djrj@music4lifemedia.com 512 297 3575
(AUSTIN, TEXAS – MARCH 25, 2022; source: Music For Life) – Saxophonist Tom Robinson releases reggae single with Austin-based record label, Music For Life: AFROTHERIA.
As musicians, we are always open and looking for ideas for new songs. An inspirational thought or hook can pop into our head when we least expect it. In August of 2019, DJ RJ was at the grocery store in Austin picking up a few items and heard a simple bassline in his head. He quickly sung it into the voice-memo app on his phone to get back to later. RJ developed the idea into a “Riddim” (rhythm track) and invited Tom to collaborate with him on the track as an instrumental. We created lead voicelines, and a melody for the chorus, using Tom’s arsenal of saxophones (alto, baritone, soprano and tenor). After listening to the initial recording, Tom said: “the track sounds like elephants parading across the landscape.”
Afrotheria (from Latin Afro- “of Africa” + theria “wild beast”) is a clade of mammals, the living members of which belong to groups that are either currently living in Africa or of African origin: golden moles, elephant shrews (also known as sengis), tenrecs, aardvarks, hyraxes, elephants, sea cows, and several extinct clades. (from Wikipedia)
Tom and his girlfriend recently adopted a baby elephant and rhino through the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust located in Nairobi, Kenya and Tom will donate part of the CD sales to them.
We are hopeful that this song will help raise awareness to the state of African wildlife and help efforts to protect their habitat and their continuing existence.
ABOUT TOM ROBINSON:
Texas native saxophonist, Tom Robinson, began playing trumpet at age 10 in the San Francisco Bay area. Upon returning to Corpus Christi, Texas, in 1970, at age 15, he discovered the saxophone. The move to Austin in 1981, at age 26, opened many musical doors to perform, record and travel. Today residing in Austin, the release of the single, Afrotheria marks his first solo effort.
RJ Johnson adds:
Tom and I started playing music together in 1989 in Root 1. We have shared many adventures together on the road doing gigs and recording. I’ve heard him blow many solos on saxophone over the years. This is our first collaboration together with him and I’m so pleased to present his first reggae single.
I’m a huge fan of instrumental music and I’m very excited to bring this one out to the people especially for all of the awareness that it will raise for this group of mammals. I believe it’s our responsibility to honor and protect Creation including our non-human brothers and sisters.
ABOUT MUSIC FOR LIFE:
is run by producer and Austin radio DJ, @DJRJ. His bi-weekly radio program, Reggae Evolution, has been on the air on KAZI 88.7 FM since 1989 on Tuesday nights and he has been performing in Austin’s reggae scene since 1987 with many different bands.
PRODUCTION CREDITS:
Tom Robinson: alto, baritone, tenor and soprano saxophones
R.J. Johnson: keyboards and drum programming, recording engineer
Gordon Mulrain: bass guitar
Marc Schaefgen: electric guitar
James Fenner: Percussion
Ras G.: PercussionFumi Sugawara: Graphic Design
Chris Fischer: Mastering
Steven Stanley: final mix, backing vocal
Distribution by Zojak Worldwide
TRACK LISTING:
1 – Afrotheria
2 – Afrotheria (Sax Dub)
3 – Afrotheria (Dub)
Thank you for supporting our work!
#
For Immediate Release – March 11th, 2022
AUSTIN-BASED SINGER, ALAN MOE MONSARRAT COLLABORATES WITH MUSIC FOR LIFE FOR A NEW SINGLE, “SCANDAL BAG.”
(AUSTIN, TEXAS – MARCH 11, 2022; source: Music4Life) – Austin-based record label Music For Life releases new reggae single, “Scandal Bag” from Alan Moe Monsarrat (Mau Mau Chaplains, The Lotions, I-Tex, Stop The Truck).
Alan Moe Monsarrat shared his thoughts on the concept of Scandal Bag:
“The whole idea intrigued me when I heard about it. In Jamaica, the shopping bags that you get at the market are all black and cannot be seen through and are commonly known as “scandal bags.” Everybody has things they don’t want everybody to know, but people will go to great lengths to find out what’s in your bag. As soon you say it to somebody, they get curious about what it could be. In my song, I’m using it as a metaphor for nosy people trying to get into your business.”
DJ RJ loved Moe’s idea for the song and a track Moe and I created called “Side Steppin’ Riddim” was the one we decided to use for this. Omid Aski Laridjani played Persian setar and added an exotic musical aspect that you don’t usually hear in reggae. This track is one of the singles from the forthcoming Music For Life various artists album release, Perfect Friends, coming later in March.
You can buy or listen here on your favorite platform:
TRACK LISTING:
ABOUT ALAN MOE MONSARRAT:
Alan Moe Monsarrat was born in the midst of mysterious and unbelievably bizarre circumstances in August of 1951. There were many babies such as Moe in Phenix City, Alabama, the town known at the time as “The Wickedest City in America,” babies were bought or stolen on a regular basis, then sold. Moe was raised as their own by his parents of record, George and Wilma Monsarrat. George was a distinguished military man and Wilma was a prominent local resident.
Moe grew up on military posts across the United States and in Japan. He
started down the path of public performance at a very early age, singing in the church choir. Having barely reached his teens, he was recruited by older members of a local band who heard him singing in the showers during gym class. Moe began playing Reggae in Hawaii in 1973 and later he co-founded the first reggae band in Texas, The Lotions. He now performs with The Mau Mau Chaplains and Music4Life in Austin. On April 20th, 2018 at Austin Reggae Festival, the Mau Mau Chaplains received a proclamation from the City of Austin declaring that day as “Mau Mau Chaplains Day” in Austin. They were recognized for doing more than 500 shows at their weekly residency on Wednesday nights at Flamingo Cantina for more than 10 years. During the COVID-19 lockdown, Moe continued to do his weekly residency with The Mau Mau Chaplains streaming through Facebook Live while all the clubs on Austin’s historic 6th Street Entertainment District we’re boarded up and closed. Moe’s fans spoke out recently when he was discussing his excitement about still playing on stage after so many years:
“Your excitement is contagious! Another reason we love you.”
~Victoria
ABOUT MUSIC FOR LIFE:
Music For Life is run by producer @DJRJ since 2014. RJ has been performing in Austin’s reggae scene since 1987 with many different bands. His bi-weekly radio program, Reggae Evolution, has been on the air on KAZI 88.7 FM every other Tuesday night from 7-10 PM since 1989.
PLAYERS OF INSTRUMENTS:
Alan Moe Monsarrat – bass, acoustic guitar, vocals, , keyboards
RJ Johnson – drums, keyboards, programming, engineering, mixing
Marc Schaefgen – guitar, keyboards
Omid Aski Laridjani – setar
Mario Vela – percussion
Chris Fischer: mastering
Distribution by Zojak Worldwide
Thank you for supporting our work!
###
MEDIA NOTE:
For general press inquiries about Scandal Bag or Music4Life, please contact RJ Johnson:
RJ Johnson
512 297 3575
February 4, 2022
For Immediate Release
Media Contact:
R.J. Johnson djrj@music4lifemedia.com
512 297 3575
PHILLIPIDON RELEASES A NEW DANCEHALL SINGLE.
(AUSTIN, TEXAS – FEBRUARY 4, 2022; source: Music For Life) – Austin-based record label, Music For Life along with Phillipidon release a new single: Unda Spell.
DJ RJ built this interesting two-part riddim in November of 2016 after he bought a new app on the Reason Store called, Republik Handheld Percussion. He loved the sound of the blocks in this app and began building the whole track on them using a 6/8 feel that he created. The rhythm track was originally named “Slide N Glide Riddim” and was created with two different sections each having a different rhythmic feel and drum pattern.
Philip sent the initial lyrics to RJ in February 2018 and they soon voiced it and began building out the rest of the track. Music4Life guitarist Marc Schaefgen put sweet soukous guitar grooves along with his usual skanking chops. Dane Foltin, of Austin’s reggae band Lion Heights, laid down the heavy bassline and Kim Pollini added lots of spookiness with her harmonies and vocal effects. Austin’s Sacred Cowgirls’ violinist Marguerite Elliott put some sweet Irish vibes in the middle of the track. RJ’s partner, Jessica Sanchez, helped out on flute and Austin’s keyboard legend, Claude9, also added some screaming leads and rhythmic synth parts too.
Phillipidon had this to say about the song:
“My inspiration for writing Unda Spell was driven directly from the instrumental created by DJ R.J. The intro and the first two lines came instantaneously after listening to the music. I wrote this song as a tribute and testament to the wonderful, beautiful and sultry appeal of a very sexy woman. She is angelically hypnotic in her powerful, seductive yet surreal nature, as she illuminates every arena she ventures into; although her magical effervescence is subtlety tinged with a touch of deliciously, spicy cunningness.”
RJ Johnson adds:
The song was mixed in Jamaica by Steven Stanley at Anchor Studios and we really appreciate him taking 3 trips to the studio to get this one balanced out and heavy. Chris Fischer handled the mastering from Critical 1 Studios in NY.
ABOUT PHILLIPIDON:
Philip White aka Phillipidon was born in Kingston, Jamaica. He is known for his gravelly-gruff voice, interlacing a few iconoclastic interjections, and weaving wanton mayhem amongst audiences with his impromptu outbursts during live performances. When he is not doing music, he is a college professor teaching anatomy, biology, and physiology at Houston Community College.
ABOUT MUSIC FOR LIFE:
is run by producer and Austin radio DJ, @DJRJ. His bi-weekly radio program, Reggae Evolution, has been on the air on KAZI 88.7 FM since 1989 and he has been performing in Austin’s reggae scene since 1987 with many different bands.
TRACK LIST:
PRODUCTION CREDITS:
Philip White / Phillipidon: vocals and lyrics
R.J. Johnson: keyboards, drum programming, acoustic guitar, recording engineer
Dane Foltin: bass guitar
Marc Schaefgen: electric guitar
Claude McCann: keyboards
Marguerite Elliott: violin
Jessica Sanchez: flute
Kim Pollini: background vocals
Steven Stanley: final mix
Chris Fischer: mastering
Graphic Design: Fumi Sugawara
Distribution by Zojak Worldwide
Thank you for supporting our work!
###
MEDIA NOTE:
For general inquiries about this project, please contact RJ Johnson:
RJ Johnson
512 297 3575
John Coupe is a bright light and super-talented multi-instrumentalist making music in Austin, Texas. Hope you enjoy our interview.
