The Skints sign with Easy Star Records and have a new album coming out in March
Music News | Jan 12th, 2015
UK reggae-dub-ska band The Skints have signed with Easy Star Records and plan on releasing a new album on March 10th in the US. Pre-sale for the albums begins on February 3rd. Maybe the band will fly over and play some shows in the US now?
Reggae-dub four-piece THE SKINTS, described by Clash Music as ‘the torchbearers for modern British reggae music’, are pleased to announce their signing to prestigious New York City-based reggae label Easy Star Records.
Easy Star has steadily built a scene that extends in many directions, bringing together young producers, up-and-coming bands, reggae stars, and even artists outside the genre who have been influenced by Jamaican music, like Citizen Cope and blues musicologist Corey Harris. The independent label has created an impressive body of work that includes best-selling in-house productions from musical collective Easy Star All-Stars, along with progressive recordings, reissues of classic reggae, and collaborations with international reggae stars like Matisyahu, Luciano, Horace Andy and Morgan Heritage. The international progressive reggae scene that Easy Star has built continues to grow, thanks to label bands such as Rebelution, The Black Seeds, John Brown’s Body, Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, The Green, and Cas Haley.
This year sees them make a proud addition to their roster in the form of The Skints, in a partnership that promises to further strengthen the reggae scene. The East London-based group, who mix Jamaican styles with pop hooks, grimy raps, filthy basslines and a punk-rock work ethic, released their first album, Live,Breathe,Build,Believe in 2010. Crossing the boundaries between the punk scene they grew up in and the reggae grooves they love, it proved to be a popular underground hit, and was followed in 2013 by their entirely crowdfunded sophomore LP Part and Parcel, produced by close friend and renowned producer Prince Fatty (Lily Allen, Dub Syndicate, Sugarhill Gang).
Having whetted our appetites with the interim Short Change EP in 2014, which was released through their own imprint Penny Drop Recordings, The Skints have since been in the studio recording their highly anticipated third full-length. Now, following their new alliance with Easy Star, they are preparing for its release on March 10, 2015 (presale begins February 3, 2015).
The album sees Prince Fatty back in the producer’s chair adding his signature take on the genre, and will feature a host of exciting guests including reggae legends Tippa Irie and Horseman, alongside grime MC Rival, with full details to be announced in the coming weeks.
Having finished 2014 in style, taking to the road on the Jägermeister Music Tour alongside Me First and The Gimme Gimmes and performing at London’s historic Brixton Academy in the process, 2015 promises to be another heavy year for the four-piece. With a number of UK tour dates already confirmed for April, along with European and stateside plans coming to fruition, including a performance set for this year’s California Roots Music Festival in Monterey, CA from May 22-24, the wheels are well and truly in motion – and The Skints show no signs of slowing down.
“The reggae collective have always allowed social consciousness to filter through their music, fusing a skanking beat with lyrics which speak clearly about everyday life in the UK.” Clash, 2014
The band will be playing some shows in the UK in April:
13th NORWICH EPIC STUDIOS
14th LEEDS STYLUS
16th EDINBURGH STUDIO 24
17th MANCHESTER GORILLA
18th BIRMINGHAM LIBRARY @ THE INSTITUTE
19th BRISTOL CITY OF BOOM
21st LONDON O2 SHEPHERD’S BUSH EMPIRE
