Local Rasta man Ed Ru is back to deliver Sweet & Irie’s sophomore album Irie Inspiration released on October 12th.
Shaping out his organically grown style, Ed show’s the influence of Uncle Bob on the beautiful song ‘Psalms Of Bob Marley,‘ which is an excellent choice for an opening track. It is very retro with rustic undertones that sound like you would be listening to it on an LP back in the day. The next few tracks, ‘The Love That Comes From You’ and ‘Sunshine Reggae’ have that classic signature reggae sound we love and expect from Sweet & Irie.
The fourth track harks back to a special time and has been crafted over the last three years with Sweet & Irie’s lead singer taking time to go ‘Back To The Islands’ (the 1st single & Video filmed in Rarotonga) and reconnect with the local music community. The whole album is uniquely crafted under the Pacific Sun with a healthy dose of one-drop rhythm and innovatively incorporating Ukelele and traditional melodies. With Ed taking the drivers seat he takes the listeners on a journey to his music foundations working along side Rarotongan music royalty Brother Love on the ‘Feels Like Magic’ Raro Remix and ‘Aotearoa’, a transition to the place he calls home now. This is a must have album for summer!
Are you curious about that timeless Rastafarian sound coming from your radio speakers? Have you wondered where this group from behind the shadows has been hiding all these years, well it’s never to late to discover the distinctive reggae hit making sound of Sweet & Irie.
Sweet & Irie is the creation of singer/songwriter Edward Ru the vibrant front man that is leading a new wave of reggae music from the South Pacific.
Born in South Auckland and raised in Otara, before moving back to his home land of the Cook Islands as a teenager, the young musician was witness to a tough upbringing that in later years would be the inspiration that fuelled his authentic song writing abilities.