Interview: Irie Ites

By Erik Magni on Friday, April 13, 2012 - Comment

Summary

French production team Irie Ites is certainly one of Europe’s best reggae production teams and they have several appreciated riddims on their list of qualifications. Since their inception in 1999 they’ve introduced several new talents and worked with stars such as John Holt and Sizzla.

Irie Ites started as a sound system in 1999, founded by Jericho and U Natty. After a few years, they also started a label and began in 2005 with distribution. Today, three people are employed full time.

U Natty recently became dad and is not particularly involved anymore. Continuing is Jericho who is in charge of the label, sound system and distribution, Jerome that handles marketing and administration, and Ant1, in charge of web and distribution.

- We started Irie Ites to spread the vibes, since reggae music is our passion. We have listened to this music for a long time and we love it, writes Jericho in an e-mail.

Produce more hip-hop

Irie Ites produce their riddims in their studio in the French city of Le Mans a few miles southwest of Paris. The riddims are however mainly voiced in Jamaica.

- We voice about 80 percent of our music in Jamaica. We would like to record more in France, but when the artists are here, they're usually on tour, and it is rarely the best time record, writes Jericho.

Irie Ites is about roots reggae. Jericho describes their works as "conscious one drop", and adds that they like to produce other genres as well.

- We would love to produce hip-hop. For example, our versions of Stop That Train or Strange Things. In a few weeks, we will also release the new rhythm Billie Jean Hip Hop with contributions from, among others, Sizzla, Lutan Fyah and Elephant Man, writes Jericho and adds that they would like to work with U.S. hip-hop artists.

Favourite riddims

Since they started the label Irie Ites has recorded numerous singles and several one riddim albums. When I ask Jericho to choose a favourite rhythm, he has a hard time deciding, so he chooses two instead.

- Roots & Culture since there are lots of instruments, a wicked combination and a sample from the original tune. But also Strange Things. It is our best live riddim. In addition, we made it even as a hip-hop version and have received very positive feedback.

Irie Ites have been incredibly good at having an ear to the ground. Over the years they have found several new artists, such as Ras Mac Bean and Lorenzo, both did their debut sets with Irie Ites.

- We met Lorenzo and Chezidek in 2001 in Prezident Brown's studio in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. We decided to tour with them in France the year after, writes Jericho and continues:

- We met Ras Mac Bean in 2002 when he toured with Zion Gate. We drove on the tour because we had a van and when Ras Mac Bean decided to move to Le Mans we linked up with him and produced his debut. We felt a tremendous potential in both Lorenzo and Ras Mac Bean when we discovered them and we love to help develop the career of artists who have talent.

Wants to work with Million Stylez

If Jericho has to choose who has been the best to work with the choice is Hungarian singer Sena, a singer he believes has a different mentality than the Jamaican. He writes that he would also like to work with Swedish Million Stylez, but that has not happened.

- Million Stylez is very talented. We tried to voice him about a year ago, but his manager charged too much money. We would love to voice one or two songs for our label, writes Jericho.

Although Irie Ites failed record Million Stylez, they have more interesting things going on. Recently they released an updated version of the classic Party Time riddim and their own Take a Lick riddim.

Currently they’re working on an old school project with a number of veteran artists. Jericho writes that they’re preparing an album with Trinity and also an album with singers such as The Tamlins, Cornell Campbell and Max Romeo.

Six fast ones to Jericho from Irie Ites

Favourite artist?
Yabby You, Barrington Levy, Sizzla, Bounty Killer (the list can be very long...)

Best record label?
Pressure Sounds, Blood & Fire, Sunshot, Vivian Jackson, Channel One, Maximum Sound, Massive B

Favourite song?
Run Come Rally with Yabby You, Oh Jah Can’t You See with Barrington Levy, Smoke the Marijuana by Sizzla

Favourite genre?
Rockers and rub a dub

Favourite producer?
Phil Pratt and Vivian Jackson

Favourite rhythm?
Strange Things

Online Reggae Magazine

Interview: Irie Ites

Interview: Irie Ites

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