WHAT DOES BIOCHEMISTRY and dancehall music have in common? Arguably nothing. A Jamaican, born producer, however, has in a way linked the two disciplines.
Producer George Spanks, head of Stargate Records, says although he studied Biochemistry in the United States and served time in the U.S. Army he could not resist the overpowering call of dancehall music.
The result of the love affair is his unconventional entry into the dancehall business with an uncanny rhythm, the very name of which is a hair-raiser.
Breaks away
He has produced the 'Genocide' rhythm, a slow, menacing mixture of strings, horns and percussion instruments which breaks away from current dancehall trends. According to him, it breaks away from present trends in both structure and the tunes which were recorded on it.
"This rhythm is about seriousness," he explains. "Most of the songs are tunes which deal with serious issues. They deal with issues."
"One of the essence of reggae music is the messages it sends and many producers are not doing that with the music," he contends. "You will eventually have a few lighthearted tunes with this rhythm but the majority of them are serious."
Although unconventional, the track has attracted quite a list of notables in the business who have already recorded tunes. This includes fireburning Capleton, Tony Rebel, Junior Reid, Sizzla, and a few others.
Tightly governed
Capleton's tune was in a sense groundbreaking, as the accompanying video was shot in Bobo Hill, St Andrew, a tightly governed community where it is said no music videos haves ever been filmed.
Spanks grew up in Jamaica but migrated after leaving high school. He says even while studying at college and while in the army he would constantly make trips to Jamaica to stock up with music to take back. He adds that he started producing hip-hop influenced tracks in Atlanta, where his record company is based, and has worked with the likes of SILK, Timbaland, Bonecrusher among others.
He plans to release the Genocide album later this year and feels that it should do well.
contributed
George Spank
