Mighty Mystic

Irie Magazine | Mighty Mystic
Irie Magazine

Cali Green

“Think of God as a great ocean …
though we all might take different streams and rivers to get to him,
we’re all essentially going to the same place.”

MIGHTY MYSTIC

Considered one of the new leaders in the US Reggae scene, reggae artist Mighty Mystic’s fresh sound and musical diversity have proven to be a magnet for music lovers in search of that next level of sound that has been missing in the reggae genre. It has attracted listeners of all ages and from all walks of life. A charismatic man on a mission, Mighty Mystic has gone from being a fan of reggae music to being a contributor to the art. He came onto the scene in 2006 after scoring his first international hit with the song ‘Riding on the Clouds.’ However, it wasn’t until the release of his first album ‘Wake Up The World’ in 2010 that he became a household name. ‘Wake Up The World’ boasted several stand outs, such as ‘Revolution’, ‘Better Times’, ‘Original Love’ and ‘Slipped Away’, with appearances from reggae icon Shaggy and roots rocker Lutan Fyah. Mystic continues to wake up the world with his high energy, message-driven brand of reggae music which he emphatically calls ‘HARD ROOTS.’ It is this unique spin on classic reggae, blended with Hip Hop & Rock, that has catapulted him to the forefront of today’s Reggae Revival.

Mighty Mystic was born Kevin Mark Holness in the farming community of Goshen, St. Elizabeth, Jamaica to parents Morris & Sonia Holness. As a child, Kevin showed early interest in his native island’s music. It was common to hear him singing the latest tunes while imitating the actions of popular reggae artists. In 1989, the family relocated to Boston, MA in search of a new life. Though oceans apart, Kevin never lost the passion for his beloved reggae music. In the mid 1990’s he began tagging alongside his older brother Stephen, who had made a name for himself in the local Hip Hop scene. Kevin saw this as an opportunity and began showcasing his reggae vibes at every chance he was given. It was almost instantaneous, but young Kevin had been bitten by the music bug. The name ‘Mystic’ was, coincidentally, the nickname given to his father as a child and also, the area in Boston where Kevin grew up, so it was only fitting that he would become Mystic.

By the end of his teenage years, young Mystic had already developed a core following and began to take the steps necessary to build for the future. Over the next few years he would have several successful regional releases, as well as features on VP Records ‘Riddim Driven’ compilations which brought added attention to the budding Mystic. In 2005, Mystic and Producer Mike Cip of Split2nd Entertainment hit the studio to develop a more authentic and true sound. The duo would return with perhaps the biggest reggae record of 2006 with the song ‘Riding on the Clouds.’ This was the beginning of the ‘Mighty Mystic.’ Mystic has turned himself into one of the more sought after US-based Reggae artists on today’s scene. His brand of ‘HARD ROOTS’ has proven to be a magnet to young music lovers all over and continues to grow. He has managed to hold firm to his Jamaican roots while adding elements of Hip Hop and Rock, giving Mystic a more unique sound. Mystic has toured and shared the stage with some of Reggae’s biggest names such as Steel Pulse, Damian Marley, Toots and the Maytals, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, Barrington Levy, Buju Banton, The Wailers, Shaggy, Collie Buddz, Sean Paul, Badfish, Dirty Heads, SOJA, John Brown’s Body, Luciano, and Capleton, to name a few. His message of peace, love, struggle and perseverance isn’t something new under the sun. However, it is the passion and flare delivered by Mystic that has the people saying “yes!” On January 28, 2014 Mighty Mystic’s sophomore album ‘Concrete World’ was released via VP Records Music Group to an overwhelming response. The album landed at #3 on the iTunes Reggae Chart and #6 overall on the Billboard Reggae Charts.

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The following is a quote by Valentin Zill of the highly respected Reggaeville:

“Almost all recent reggae success stories involve an artist that doesn’t shy away from stretching ‘boundaries’ of the reggae genre. ‘Concrete World’ is an eclectic album of cutting-edge quality that manages to keep a distinct reggae feel to a surprising extent. It is a blueprint for contemporary modern roots, one that could define 2014.”

And so it did; ‘Concrete World’ stood at the top of hundreds for charts, playlist, sales list and, more importantly, favorites list and is recognized by reggae lovers as a ‘must have’ album.

Mighty Mystic continues to tour, bringing his edgy performance to audiences all over the world!

Look out for a late summer, early spring release of his third, as yet untitled, album coming to a store near you!


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