Roots reggae – St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
Since 1989, Midnite has been laying out a deep groove roots reggae sound reminiscent of the 70s classic Jamaican period. Hailing from the Caribbean’s St Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, this band has created a transformative Reggae entity – one that does not only grow out of Jamaica nor America, but is close enough to both coasts to have fully understood and then synthesized those influences, while evolving a totally original sound. Lead by singer Vaughn Benjamin’s captivating, calm-but-intense delivery, which at times seems an amalgamation of the many great voices in reggae-soulful chanting, this sound features a lyrical ‘chant and call’ style, focusing on the plight of the oppressed, the failures of the current political, economic and social settings on a global scale, and the redemption available to mankind through dedication to Jah. The music thus conveys a spiritually intense and an overtly Rastafari sensibility:: a deep, lucid trance state that penetrates straight to the heart. Along with Vaughn are his bassist / producer Ron Benjamin, Christian Molina (drums), Edmund Fieulleteau (guitar), Edwin Byron (guitar) and Ras L (keyboards). Their communion has achieved epic status and an enormous following in the Reggae roots community. “The time has come for the those who thought only authentic reggae comes from Jamaica, to bite their tongues. Time is not counted from daylight, but from Midnite.