| Reggae recording artist Taj Weekes is set to shake | | | | the familiar backbeats that reggae fans know and |
| up the musical landscape once again with his much | | | | love. Tracks like "Orphans Cry," with its lilting and |
| anticipated sophomore album, DEIDEM (All of Us), set | | | | classic reggae feel, depicts the suffering and isolation |
| for release through Weekes' independent label, Jatta | | | | of lost children, making it vivid and real, no longer an |
| Records this spring. Jatta Records will distribute the | | | | abstraction on the television set or newspaper. "Since |
| album nationally through the Independent Distributors | | | | Cain," with its Biblical reference to the first act of |
| Collective and Homegrown Music Network. Jatta has | | | | violence, laments the endless cycle of brutality while |
| also secured a licensing deal with Spectra Records to | | | | asking what it will take for it to end. The timely track, |
| release the album to major distribution chains | | | | "Dark Clouds" warns of the cost of the degradation of |
| throughout the U.S. and Canada. Overseas, Jatta will | | | | the environment. The music matches the lyrics in |
| release DEIDEM in the United Kingdom, Germany, | | | | intensity, painting an aural portrait of a world that is |
| Austria and Switzerland in conjunction with Afrikool | | | | burning. Finding truth among the lies that we are fed by |
| Culture Taxi Records. On the home front, DEIDEM will | | | | the media is the driving force behind the track, |
| be released in St. Lucia late summer. In addition to | | | | Propaganda War, and in the final track, Louisiana, Taj's |
| international distribution, DEIDEM will be available online | | | | haunting falsetto accompanied by a lamenting piano |
| through iTunes, eMusic and other online music | | | | encompasses the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina and its |
| distributors. | | | | equally tragic aftermath of neglect and complete |
| Following on the heels of their critically acclaimed debut | | | | indifference.raises the level of songwriting within the |
| release, Hope & Doubt, Taj Weekes and his band, | | | | idiom of reggae music. |
| Adowa introduce audiences to DEIDEM - a classic | | | | Weekes' commitment to humanitarian issues is further |
| roots reggae album filled with melodies that are | | | | demonstrated by his work as Goodwill Ambassador |
| deliberate and focused. Taj's songwriting is stellar and | | | | to the Caribbean and as founder of his charity, They |
| in the words of veteran reggae music journalist | | | | Often Cry Outreach (TOCO), which is dedicated to |
| Dermott Hussey of XM Satellite Radio, "raises the | | | | improving the lives of underprivileged, at-risk and |
| level of songwriting within the idiom of reggae music." | | | | orphaned children around the world. All of the |
| DEIDEM discusses global and humanitarian issues such | | | | proceeds from the song "Orphans Cry" will be |
| as global warming, the effects of Hurricane Katrina, | | | | donated to TOCO to bring awareness to the issues |
| and the crisis in Darfur. Though the topics are insightful | | | | that affect the Caribbean such as HIV/AIDS, global |
| and serious, the grooves, melodies and rhythms are | | | | warming and poverty. |