 April 21, 2007: Award-winning reggae artist
ZKing
of Hearts returns with a breathtaking new album,
Happiness (Is In Your Heart). The native to the
Caribbean island of Anguilla is taking his unique sound
to a new place, mixing his beloved reggae with hints of
dance and pop.
After two albums of roots-oriented reggae, ZKing has
attempted something unorthodox, outside his comfort zone
and has emerged triumphant.
Happiness was produced by one the hottest, most in-demand producers
around. Peter 'Peas' McEvilley's youthful approach was the
result of ZKing scouring the world for a suitable producer.
'Peas' turned out to be just the right foil for ZKing's
vision of taking reggae to a mass audience.
;
ZKing, aka Daddy Roots, has musical credentials to be
envious of. In November 2006 he won Best Reggae Vocalist
at the 16th Los Angeles Music Awards and had his song 'Magar
Goat' featured in the 2005 movie Broken Flowers,
starring Bill Murray and Sharon Stone. His vocals and
compositions have also been used on the ABC show Men In
Trees, the Canadian Lifetime TV movie Fugitive and as
part of TARGET retail store CD compilation "Club
London".
He has also found fans and friends around the world,
having toured all over America, including several major
festivals such as Kalamazoo, Europe, Asia and Africa,
where in 2005
he played at Ghana's Emancipation Day celebrations.
ZKing's is reggae to his core, but incorporates a
diverse range of influences into his interpretation of
the genre. These include BB King, Van Morrison and
Garnett Silk. And of course, Bob Marley looms large over
all his music.
ZKing grew up on Anguilla, and by 17 was working as a
beekeeper. Heard singing one day in his home, he was
asked by a local musician if he wanted to join a band,
and one thing soon led to another.
Of his upbringing he says: "As a kid growing up on a
small island, there was music everywhere you turn day
and night. Young and old, all have the heart for music."
Before long, he was gigging regularly at clubs and
festivals all over his homeland. He has recorded three
albums: Two Sides of Love: Chapter One (2001), Love and
Honor (2002) and All Here Now (2003).
Now, as he moves in a new musical direction, ZKing is
capable of taking the world by storm once more with the
blend of his native rhythms with modern, western styles.
Happiness is a groovy, sexy, bouncy and cheeky record,
yet has moments of sadness and contemplation too. The
positivism of 'Forever Mine', 'You Are So Beautiful' and
'Make Love Not War', is balanced by more reflective
numbers like 'Redemption Song' and 'Are You Willing'.
ZKing says of his own musical vision: "I see myself
moving away from the standard fare of old school reggae.
Instead, I am seeking a 'happier' vibration, in the form
of more pop and dance reggae. On Happiness, listeners
get to travel with me through my varied musical
emotions."
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