Respect | Soulcraft

Irie Magazine | Respect | Soulcraft

Soulcraft

Serbia

Serbian roots rock reggae band Soulcraft, formed in 2013, is consisted of experienced reggae musicians who are present on the Belgrade music scene more than two decades and have been significantly contributing in maintaining and promoting of reggae sound. Soulcraft is a band inspired by the roots reggae sound of the seventies and the eighties of the last century, as well as by the music and messages of reggae performers such as Burning Spear, Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Steel Pulse, Misty in Roots, and others.

Since its formation, Soulcraft has been collaborating with a renowned reggae trombonist and singer from Serbia, Hornsman Coyote. They recorded two albums together: ‘Hornsman Coyote and Soulcraft’, released in February 2014 by ‘Ammonite Records’ and ‘Safe Planet’, released in March 2016 as a joint release by ‘Ammonite Records’ from Serbia and ‘PDV’ from Croatia.

With two albums released in two years, Soulcraft became one of the most productive reggae bands in former Yugoslavia region. The album ‘Safe Planet’ was met with excellent reviews by music critics in Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Regional musical portals have declared it as one of the best reggae albums published across former Yugoslavia region, emphasizing the international quality that Soulcraft possesses. European reggae scene has also recognized the quality of the ‘Safe Planet’ album, granting it significant space in various reviews in Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands and Romania.

During the following two years, good reviews of both albums have led to numerous performances on festivals throughout the region and across Europe, such as Eurosonic (The Netherlands), Exit (Serbia), Sziget (Hungary), Seasplash (Croatia), Irie Vibes Roots Festival (Belgium), Sea Dance (Montenegro).

By the end of 2016 festival season, Soulcraft ends the collaboration with Hornsman Coyote.

In May 2017, Ras Mc Bean has accepted the invitation to collaborate on a new album with Soulcraft. Ras Mc Bean is a reggae singer born in Georgetown, Guyana, and is currently living and working in Paris. His album from 2004, ‘Pack Up and Leave’, got the recognition as one of the best European reggae releases of the year. The majority of the music on ‘Pack Up and Leave’ was written by Jamaicans Mafia & Fluxy, and it was produced by Irie Ities Records. On a compilation album ‘Kingston Love’, Ras Mc Bean appeared alongside big reggae stars such as Sizzla, Turbulence, Dennis Brown, Luciano. He has collaborated with famous English producers such as Disciples, Bush Chemists, Jonah Dan. During 2005, he continued to collaborate with Irie Ites Records and, together with big reggae stars Morgan Heritage, he recorded a single titled ‘Lion is King’, which was very successful all around the world. After a longer break, in 2014 he released his second album ‘Inlightment’, recorded with Austrian reggae production ‘Fireman Crew’, announced by the single ‘Rise Up and Fight’.

In December 2017, Ras Mc Bean and Soulcraft started working together on a new studio album. The collaboration on the album saw Ras Mc Bean as an equal member of Soulcraft. The album, ‘Reggae on a Mission’, officially released on May 21, 2018, through independent record label Ammonite Records. The album features over 70 minutes of pure roots reggae music.