>> Friday, September 20, 2013
NATURAL
BLACK BIOGRAPHY
Conscious reggae artist Natural Black carved his niche in the genre over a decade ago, with
profound music and prolific lyrics that uplift fans far and wide. His
resilience has been tested and demonstrated over the years, and he maintains
his extraordinary ability to capture the attention of a massive and diverse
array of music lovers, worldwide.
Born Mortimer Softley in Georgetown, Guyana, Natural
Black migrated to Jamaica in 1995, in hopes of realizing his dream of becoming
a reggae singer. “Coming to Jamaica was natural,” he reveals, for he epitomizes
the inherent culture of reggae. “Like life, reggae music inspires and gives the
artist an opportunity to express oneself fully, regardless of the issues highlighted.”
Possessing a distinctively smooth, mellow voice, Natural
Black reaffirms his solid stance on the forefront of the roots and culture
movement. His socially-conscious messages and passionate pleas, for wrongs to
be made right and justice for the poor and oppressed, are trademarked in his
songs, and indeed, remain relevant today.
Propelling to international fame with his breakout hit
“Far From Reality” in 2006, he has amassed 13 full-length albums to date and is
back in the studio working on a slew of new hits for his 14th album.
He cultivates his soulful sounds working alongside the top hitmakers in reggae
music, including Donovan “Don Corleon” Bennett (who produced his smash “Far
From Reality” on the Seasons Riddim),
King Jammys, Organic, 5th Element, Rootsdown, In The Streetz, Lustre Kings,
Harmony House, Digital B, Lion Paw, Big Yard and No Doubt, among others.
Natural Black’s artistic flair and melodious style have garnered
him a global fanbase and keep him very much in demand for shows, at home and
internationally. He has performed on stages across Europe, the United States
and the Caribbean, and has toured extensively, spreading the sweet sounds
reggae to sold-out audiences, from his homeland in Guyana to Switzerland,
Austria, France and Italy. He has headlined the prestigious Brooklyn Music Festival and Irie Jamboree concerts in New York, and
has also performed on all the major reggae festivals in Jamaica, such as Sting, Reggae Sumfest, Rebel Salute
and East Fest, to name a few.
Natural Black charges into 2013 with four new singles -
“I’m On My Way,” “Natural Chronic,” “Who Cares For Me” and “Party Truck” - all conscious
reggae anthems that bring the gifted artist full circle back to his original roots,
following a brief stint as a dancehall deejay from 2011 to 2012; he was
dissatisfied with his lifestyle and did not feel he was adequately living as a Rastafarian
should. So, like he preaches through his music, he has cleaned up his act and
now returns to what is true to him, much to the delight of his fans, and
indeed, reggae lovers everywhere.
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