01Profile
A The Far East Photo
The Far East
Singer — Brooklyn, New York
03Interview
What is your name? Where are you from?
Maddie. From New Orleans, LA, residing in Brooklyn, NY.
What do you do?
I'm the lead singer and guitarist of a reggae band called The Far East.
Describe your style in three words?
Criss. Dangerous. Femme.
How should your music be listened to?
On 45 rpm on the biggest sound system you can find. Preferably with sub woofers.
What do you miss about home when you’re on tour?
My cat Milkjug, tacos from El Sol De Cholula.
What British music icons inspire your sound today?
The Specials, The Slits, The Clash, Wire, Mikey Dread (although Jamaican born, I see him as a British reggae icon as well) Linton.
Drawing on reggae and punk influences, The Far East will be supporting The Specials on the US leg of their 2016 tour.
02Playlist
04Playlist Notes
What was the first song you played on repeat?
“Willow Tree” – Alton Ellis A friend in high school bought an Alton Ellis cd. We were listening to punk rock almost exclusively until he put it on in my car. After school (or during school) we used to drive way out into the country listening to this song over and over again.
A song from your favourite album?
“Look Girl” – Barrington Levy from his album “Englishman“
Song you wish you had written?
“Take My Hand” – a tune performed by many different artists, my favourite version is Johnny Clarke’s
A lyric that has inspired you?
“Look my brother, look what you see is going on. How many youths have been killed in tribal war?”
The song Far East by Barry Brown inspired our band’s name. This song is so crucial and timeless in so many ways. It discusses war in all aspects. War between police and youth culture, war between youths, race war. It talks about the way people are spreading out from Jamaica to escape warfare on all levels. I think about climate change and the way that is dispersing people now. This tune is so powerful in its simplicity. Barry Brown says“Its much more that we are lasting”.
Four songs from new bands you are listening to now, and why?
Never Answer - The Frightnrs
Its rare to meet people who understand you in a way most other people don’t. When I met the Frightnrs, that’s how I felt. I still feel that way although both of our bands have grown and changed so much since we started them respectively, in parallel. This year the Frightnrs’ lead singer Dan Klein passed away and we’ve been gutted by his absence. The Frightnrs have a new album being released by Daptone and its unreal. We are so proud to know them. It’s a bitter sweet experience to hear our friend’s voice when we miss him so much.
Wonderful Thing - Top Shotta Band
Two words: SCREECHY DAN. Screechy is a New York dancehall legend and lead singer for Top Shotta Band. We see him as a musical teacher for us. I swoon hard for this particular love song. So beautiful and honest. Top Shotta Band’s leader (and trumpet player) is another figure of New York’s Reggae scene named Mush One. He operates Al Paragus Sound and is a selecter on NYU’s radio program Tunnel One.
Crashing Waves - Extra Classic
We love this band from San Francisco. They are on Burger records and have a real nice vibe. They are one of those bands you wish you lived closer to so you could see them live.
Void'- Dead Tenants
Dead Tenants are from New York and they play post punk. We like them because they make punk driven by bass and drums not by lead guitar. The lyrics are dystopic and the rhythm is powerful. They sound like Wire.
03Interview
What is your name? Where are you from?
Maddie. From New Orleans, LA, residing in Brooklyn, NY.
What do you do?
I'm the lead singer and guitarist of a reggae band called The Far East.
Describe your style in three words?
Criss. Dangerous. Femme.
How should your music be listened to?
On 45 rpm on the biggest sound system you can find. Preferably with sub woofers.
What do you miss about home when you’re on tour?
My cat Milkjug, tacos from El Sol De Cholula.
What British music icons inspire your sound today?
The Specials, The Slits, The Clash, Wire, Mikey Dread (although Jamaican born, I see him as a British reggae icon as well) Linton.
Drawing on reggae and punk influences, The Far East will be supporting The Specials on the US leg of their 2016 tour.
04Playlist Notes
What was the first song you played on repeat?
“Willow Tree” – Alton Ellis A friend in high school bought an Alton Ellis cd. We were listening to punk rock almost exclusively until he put it on in my car. After school (or during school) we used to drive way out into the country listening to this song over and over again.
A song from your favourite album?
“Look Girl” – Barrington Levy from his album “Englishman“
Song you wish you had written?
“Take My Hand” – a tune performed by many different artists, my favourite version is Johnny Clarke’s
A lyric that has inspired you?
“Look my brother, look what you see is going on. How many youths have been killed in tribal war?”
The song Far East by Barry Brown inspired our band’s name. This song is so crucial and timeless in so many ways. It discusses war in all aspects. War between police and youth culture, war between youths, race war. It talks about the way people are spreading out from Jamaica to escape warfare on all levels. I think about climate change and the way that is dispersing people now. This tune is so powerful in its simplicity. Barry Brown says“Its much more that we are lasting”.
Four songs from new bands you are listening to now, and why?
Never Answer - The Frightnrs
Its rare to meet people who understand you in a way most other people don’t. When I met the Frightnrs, that’s how I felt. I still feel that way although both of our bands have grown and changed so much since we started them respectively, in parallel. This year the Frightnrs’ lead singer Dan Klein passed away and we’ve been gutted by his absence. The Frightnrs have a new album being released by Daptone and its unreal. We are so proud to know them. It’s a bitter sweet experience to hear our friend’s voice when we miss him so much.
Wonderful Thing - Top Shotta Band
Two words: SCREECHY DAN. Screechy is a New York dancehall legend and lead singer for Top Shotta Band. We see him as a musical teacher for us. I swoon hard for this particular love song. So beautiful and honest. Top Shotta Band’s leader (and trumpet player) is another figure of New York’s Reggae scene named Mush One. He operates Al Paragus Sound and is a selecter on NYU’s radio program Tunnel One.
Crashing Waves - Extra Classic
We love this band from San Francisco. They are on Burger records and have a real nice vibe. They are one of those bands you wish you lived closer to so you could see them live.
Void'- Dead Tenants
Dead Tenants are from New York and they play post punk. We like them because they make punk driven by bass and drums not by lead guitar. The lyrics are dystopic and the rhythm is powerful. They sound like Wire.