nickii kane 42 WWW.CARIBBEAN-BEAT.COM
Chronixx (a.k.a. Jamar McNaughton) Reggae artist • Jamaica Born 1992 2013 was the year a twenty-one-year-old Chronixx blazed across Jamaica’s reggae skyline, emerging as one of the frontrunners in the movement which became known as the reggae revival. A crop of younger musicians tapped into roots reggae, presenting a return to the “roots and culture” ethos which marked the music in the 1970s. Chronixx rocketed to the top of local charts with first one single then another that would become future anthems. At first, it appeared as though Chronixx had burst upon the scene from nowhere. In fact, although his EP Hooked on Chronixx only started finding favour with mainstream audiences in 2013, it had been simmering on the underground since 2011, when it was first released. And that apparently meteoric rise was the result of a life marinated in music <strong>—</strong> in his home, school, and church. Jamar McNaughton emerged from a musical family, with his stage name coming from his father, the singer Chronicle <strong>—</strong> before Jamar became Chronixx, he was known as Little Chronicle. Though his father introduced him to many in the reggae and dancehall industry, Chronixx spent much of his early life singing in church. A key part of his musical immersion came at his high school, St Catherine High in Spanish Town. Although it isn’t officially a performance art high school, it is one of the schools in Jamaica that most privileges the arts, where others focus on cricket, football, and track and field. Although Chronixx performed regularly at church, even going on a tour of the island, it wasn’t until he was in the eleventh grade, the year he would graduate from high school, that he felt brave enough to face the stage at St Catherine. But even before that, starting at age fourteen, Chronixx had followed the path of the music producer. He produced riddims for artists such as Konshens and Popcaan, until his friend and fellow producer Teflon convince him to produce his own music. Chronixx is a clear successor of Bob Marley, and even more so of Peter Tosh <strong>—</strong> though he admits to influences from a variety of genres. Tosh’s influence has marked his fashion style also, including his penchant for berets and fatigues, uniforms of the revolutionary. His 2014 release The Dread and Terrible Project echoed Tosh’s 1981 album, Wanted Dread and Alive. Dread and Terrible quickly topped the US Billboard reggae charts, and the iTunes reggae charts in the UK and Japan. Since his first tour in 2013, Chronixx has performed in New York, London, Australia, Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, and of course at key reggae festivals in his own homeland, such as Reggae Sumfest. His first fulllength album, Chronology, was released in March <strong>2017</strong>, and Chronixx is the face of Adidas’ new <strong>2017</strong> “Spring Spezial” collection. But despite his increasing fame, Chronixx is wary of stardom and its trappings, even while holding firmly to the importance of music as a tool to inspire and create change. This isn’t surprising from the young man who came to public acclaim with the song “Odd Rass”, which eschewed a willingness to follow preset paths. He is a man bent on following his own rules, while keenly aware that the industry he is in has laid down a set which he may follow or not. “The industry set hurdles and you can jump dem until you don’t mind jumping dem, but me don’t like hurdles,” he says. “I have the opportunity to decide what is a challenge and what is not.” Chronixx’s vision is simple: music is a revolutionary act, as bourne out in songs like “Behind Curtain”, “Here Comes Trouble”, “Ain’t No Giving In”, and “Warrior”. He views himself as a warrior for change. “Is works you a do. Everything fi have a message,” he says. Yet, despite his militaristic viewpoint, he is gifted with a wide, beautiful smile and easy, unaffected charm. He is ready for battle and willing to stand his ground, but he isn’t combative. “I trust the magic within music, and I trust the perfection of inspiration,” Chronixx says. Tanya Batson-Savage WWW.CARIBBEAN-AIRLINES.COM 43