‘Di Regulator’ rhythm brings quality back to reggae music

Producing songs for every emotion and scenario, Junavill Records is on a mission to create truly timeless music that can be played anywhere, at any time, even around children.

With various known heavy hitters on board as well as up-and-coming artistes, the ‘Di Regulator’ rhythm is creating a buzz on the music scene as several of the songs have gained traction globally, with the biggest being Chuck Fenda’s Wah Gwan Pon Di Rock. Created by producer Collin Junior Clarke, Di Regulator was inspired by the experiences of the everyday man.

“I wanted to create music with meaning. I didn’t want to have artistes voice on it without really thinking about what the music was saying. My idea was to create projects where the music could not only reach people emotionally, but also make them think.”

Di Regulator, he stated, is a conscious reggae rhythm that shares different messages throughout the compilation, including self-belief, spirituality, relationships, social issues, struggles and everyday life.

“Every artiste brought their own story, so you get different perspectives while everybody is working from the same musical foundation,” he said.

Deciding who can voice on the rhythm comes down to finding the right fit, which is basically the artiste’s voice, style, and what they bring to it.

“It works when they actually connect with the riddim and have something substantial to say. It isn’t just about putting a big name on the project. Chuck Fenda is definitely one of the more established artistes on the project. But what mattered to me wasn’t just the name; it was the song he brought. Wah Gwaan Pon Di Rock really connects with the climate in Jamaica and some of the realities people are faced with. But I also see the message going beyond Jamaica. People around the world are dealing with struggles and uncertainty, so there is something in that song that people internationally can relate to,” said Clarke.

Other artistes on the rhythm are Turbulence, Sativa D Black 1, Trish Indi, Lutan Fyah, Excel Black, Lutan Fyah, Teflon, Ginjah, Fatal, Ras Murdak and Imortal.

“Everybody brought something different, and that’s really what I wanted. For instance, with Trish Indi’s Self-Belief, I really liked the message of encouraging people, especially young people, to believe in themselves and not let anybody tell them they can’t accomplish something. I think that’s a message people need to hear. Sometimes you just need somebody to remind you that you can do something and that you shouldn’t give up on yourself,” Clarke said.

Junavill Records, he emphasised, is an entity founded on preserving Jamaican music.

“One of the things I like about reggae is that it can be rooted in Jamaica and still speak to somebody on the other side of the world,” Clarke said. Clarke, who has been in music for a while, said that he got seriously immersed in production two years ago. The first major compilation he developed was the ‘Genesis 2026’ rhythm.

“I actually look at Genesis 2026 and Di Regulator almost like twin-brother riddims. Genesis came first, and both projects have that foundation of meaningful lyrics that speak to the mind and soul, even though they each have their own identity. For me, being able to develop these projects in about two years is something I’m proud of. I’m still learning, but I’m also building, and I feel like I’m establishing my own identity through Junavill Records,” he said.