Aba Shanti-I Explained

Aba Shanti-I
Occupation:DJ, sound system operator
Birth Name:Joseph Smith
Alias:Jasmine Joe
Birth Place:Hackney, London, UK
Genre:Reggae, roots reggae, dub
Label:Falasha
Associated Acts:Blood Shanti, Shandi-I, Emmanuel Joseph, Shanti-Ites,

Aba Shanti-I (born Joseph Smith) is a sound system operator and dub producer from the UK. Aba and his sound system have been playing through UK and Europe for over 30 years. He has been a resident sound system at Notting Hill Carnival since 1993 and was voted the No. 1 DJ in the World by DJ Magazine in the same year.[1] [2]

Early life

Joseph Smith was born in Hackney, London, UK of Antiguan parents, who immigrated to the UK in the 1960s.[3] He was first introduced to roots reggae music by his father Alan Smith, who himself ran a sound system called Count Alan in the 1960s.[2] [3] [4]

Sound system career

While deejaying for the Jah Tubby's sound system, Aba Shanti-I was known as Jasmine Joe.[3] [5] In 1990, Aba took over the running of the Jah Tubby's sound system, debuting at the Leicester carnival.[4] Since then, Aba Shanti-I and his sound system play regularly in the UK, with residencies at the Notting Hill Carnival since 1993, Leicester Carnival and the University of Dub. The sound system has also played in Belgium, France, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Portugal and Spain.[2]

Recording career

Aba Shanti-I has produced and recorded with his brother and the band the Shanti-Ites, releasing records on their own Falasha imprint.[5] Their first record, Tear Down Babylon was released in 1993.[5] Aba Shanti-I currently has a studio on Morning Lane, Hackney.[2]

Singles

Albums

Style

Aba Shanti-I sound system plays music in the roots reggae and dub style. He cites, Dennis Brown, Bob Marley, Junior Delgado, Yabby You and Prince Lincoln as inspiration.[2] The original tracks are usually supplemented by reverb, delays and effects to generate his distinctive sound.

Notable residencies

Family

Aba Shanti-I's brother, Blood Shanti, is a drummer and vocalist, contributing to both Aba Shanti-I's recordings and live performances.[4] Aba Shanti-I also has a son who accompanies him to many of the shows. His son is a drummer in the band Six Soldiers.[2]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Cunningham. Katie. You won’t believe who’s on the 1993 DJ Mag Top 100. 30 October 2013. In the Mix Webzine, Australia. 7 March 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150402145514/http://inthemix.com/news/you-wont-believe-whos-on-the-1993-dj-mag-top-100/11611. 2 April 2015. dead. dmy-all.
  2. Web site: . Aba Shanti-I profile at the Red Bull Music Academy . 2010 . 23 December 2013 . 24 December 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131224114030/http://www.redbullmusicacademy.com/lectures/aba-shanti-i-power-of-the-tower . dead .
  3. Web site: . THIS MUCH I KNOW: Aba Shanti-I . 27 July 2013 . 23 December 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131224114313/http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/KNOW-Aba-Shanti/story-19576434-detail/story.html . 24 December 2013 . dead . dmy-all .
  4. Web site: Falasha Recordings . Who's Who page on Falasha Recordings website . 14 November 2004 . 23 December 2013.
  5. Web site: Falasha Recordings . Aba Shanti-I profile on Falasha Recordings website . 14 November 2004 . 23 December 2013.
  6. Web site: . Sounds Systems at the Notting Hill Carnival . 2013 . 23 December 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131026040521/http://www.thenottinghillcarnival.com/sound-systems.html . 26 October 2013 . dead . dmy-all .
  7. Web site: University of Dub . University of Dub Sound Systems . 2017 . 4 September 2017 . 4 September 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170904202648/http://www.universityofdub.com/sound-systems . dead .

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