New Kingston (band)

Not to be confused with Kingston, Jamaica, which is also dubbed "New Kingston"
New Kingston
Origin Brooklyn, New York, United States
Genres Reggae
Years active 2006 (2006)–present
Labels Easy Star Records
Associated acts J Boog, Tribal Seeds, Sister Carol, The Wailing Souls, Sugar Minott
Website NewKingstonMusic.com
Members Tahir Panton, Stephen Suckarie, Courtney M. Panton Jr.

New Kingston is an American reggae band from Brooklyn, New York. Formed in 2006 by three brothers, the band's first album In the Streets was released in 2010, and fuses reggae with genres such as R&B and dancehall.[1] After releasing their second album Kingston University and touring as the supporting act for Rebelution, The Green, SOJA, Matisyahu, Beres Hammond and Collie Buddz,[1] in 2014 the band signed to Easy Star Records.[2] Their third album Kingston City was released on January 27, 2015,[1] and peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Reggae Albums chart.[3] The band started their Kingston City Tour[4] of the United States in early 2015, with announced performances at festivals such as Summer Meltdown in California.[4]

History

Formation and early years (2006-2008)

The reggae band New Kingston was first formed in 2006 in Brooklyn, New York. The three primary members are brothers, and include Tahir Panton on keys, Courtney Jr. Panton on drums, and Stephen Panton on guitar, with all three contributing vocals.[1] Their father Courtney Panton Sr, a first-generation American-Jamaican, initially contributed bass.[1] Courtney Sr had also previously played in the New York reggae scene along with artists such as Michael Goldwasser,[2] and had introduced the Panton brothers to reggae music when they were young.[5] New Kingston at first covered songs by artists such as Bob Marley, Earth Wind and Fire, Dennis Brown, and The Whispers.[1] After a time performing in basements and small backyard parties in Brooklyn, the group began to work on original music.[1]

First albums and touring (2009-2014)

External video
New Kingston - "LIFE" (Official Video) - Feb 4, 2013

New Kingston's first album, In the Streets, was self-released in 2010, and fused reggae with genres such as hip hop.[1] The band began touring as a supporting act for bands such as Rebelution, The Green, SOJA, Matisyahu, Beres Hammond and Collie Buddz.[1] Touring with Buddz they played some of their first overseas shows, and would perform at festivals such as the Reggae on the River, Summer Jam in Germany, and Uppsala Reggae Festival in Sweden.[1] Their music video "Can't Give Up" in 2012 was produced and directed by Raised Fist Propaganda.[6]

Their second album, Kingston University, was released in 2013,[1] with guest artists such as J Boog. After the release the band continued their heavy touring schedule with acts such as Beres Hammond.[2] In November 2014, New Kingston signed to Easy Star Records to release their upcoming album Kingston City,[7] becoming the first New York City-based act on the reggae label since Ticklah and Easy Star All-Stars.[2]

Kingston City and touring (2015)

Main article: Kingston City (album)

Kingston City is the third studio album by the band. Released on January 27, 2015 on Easy Star Records,[1] the album features guest artists such as Tribal Seeds,[2] Sister Carol, The Wailing Souls, Sugar Minott,[1] and Hawaiian artist Kimie Miner.[2] It was mostly recorded at the band's Kingston Studio, while some instrumentation was recorded at E.N. Young's Imperial Sounds. The band produced the majority of the twelve tracks, though Dub Incorporation from France produced two, and Sydney Mills of Steel Pulse produced one as well. Fabian Cooke of Ziggy Marley's work mixed the album.[7]

It reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top Reggae Albums chart the week of February 14, 2015.[3] As of March 29, 2015, the album was still at No. 1.[8] The Pier Magazine gave Kingston City four of five stars, and wrote that the album is "a mix of roots, dancehall, R&B and hip hop influences."[9] In February 2015, the band performed its first headlining show in Brooklyn.[10] The next month New Kingston started their Kingston City Tour[4] of the United States, performing in the Pacific Northwest at the end of March and announcing appearances in the Midwest. The band is also scheduled to appear at Austin Reggae Festival in Texas, Summer Meltdown in California, and Reggae on the Block in Florida.[1] Supporting acts include Kimie Miner and Arise Roots.[4]

Style and influences

New Kingston's music is primarily reggae,[4] though genres such as R&B, roots, dancehall, and hip hop[9] are influential on their sound as well.[4]

Members

Members as of 2015[1]
Rotating members

Discography

Albums

Albums by New Kingston
Year Album title Release details Charts
US
Reggae[8]
2010 In The Streets
  • Released: Nov 2010
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: CD, digital
—
2013 Kingston University
  • Released: Feb 5, 2013
  • Label: Ineffable Records
  • Format: CD, digital
 —
2015 Kingston City 1
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

EPs

Albums by New Kingston
Year Album title Release details
2011 The Kingston E.P.
  • Released: July 2011
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: CD, digital
2016 Kingston Fyah
  • Released: July 29, 2016
  • Format: CD, digital

Music videos

Yr Song title Filmmaker Video date
2008 "Empress Love" New Kingston LLC Apr 5, 2008
2009 "In the Streets" New Kingston LLC May 6, 2009
2011 "Love So" New Kingston LLC Mar 15, 2011
2012 "Can't Give Up" Raised Fist Propaganda Mar 5, 2012
2013 "Life" Edwin Escobar Films Feb 4, 2013
2013 "La La La" Edwin Escobar Films July 9, 2013
2015 "Mystery Babylon" feat. Maad T Ray & E.N Young Damian Mancia Feb 11, 2015
2015 "Today" Dameon Gayle Mar 30, 2015
2015 "Protect Me" Edwin Escobar Films Sep 8, 2015
2015 "Honorable" IFE Dec 10, 2015
2016 "Kingston Fyah" Rob Driscal July 26, 2016
2016 "Coming Right Away" Rob Driscal Aug 22, 2016

Further reading

Interviews and articles
Discographies

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 "Bio". NewKingstonMusic.com. Retrieved 2014-03-28.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "NYC Reggae Band New Kingston to Release KINGSTON CITY Album, 1/27". Broadway World. November 19, 2014. Retrieved 2014-03-28.
  3. 1 2 "Kingston City debuted No. 1 on Billboard's Reggae Chart!". newkingstonmusic.com. February 8, 2015. Retrieved 2014-03-28.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Hatmaker, Lori (March 21, 2015). "New Kingston Interview and Tour info!". Surfroots.com. Retrieved 2014-03-28.
  5. ↑ "New Kingston Interview". The Musical Melting Pot. February 15, 2015. Retrieved 2014-03-28.
  6. ↑ "Can't Give Up" music video by Raised Fist Propaganda (Mar 5, 2012)
  7. 1 2 Patti, Mike (November 20, 2014). "New Kingston signs to Easy Star Records". The Pier Magazine. Retrieved 2014-12-20.
  8. 1 2 "New Kingston". Billboard. Retrieved 2014-03-28.
  9. 1 2 Dubs, Tommy (January 27, 2015). "Review: New Kingston – Kingston City". The Pier Magazine. Retrieved 2014-03-28.
  10. ↑ Smotherman, Joshua (February 12, 2015). "Interview with New Kingston – Kingston City Now Available". Middle Tennessee Music. Retrieved 2014-03-28.
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