Austin-based record label, Music For Life along with Phillipidon release new single: Unda Spell.
DJ RJ built this interesting two-part riddim in November of 2016 after he bought a new app on the Reason Store called, Republik Handheld Percussion. He loved the sound of the blocks in this app and began building the whole track on them using a 6/8 feel that he created. The rhythm track was originally named “Slide N Glide Riddim” and was created with two different sections each having a different rhythmic feel and drum pattern.
Philip sent the initial lyrics to RJ in February 2018 and they soon voiced it and began building out the rest of the track. Music4Life guitarist Marc Schaefgen put sweet soukous guitar grooves along with his usual skanking chops. Dane Foltin, of Austin’s reggae band Lion Heights laid down the heavy bassline and Kim Pollini added lots of spookiness with her harmonies and vocal effects. Austin’s Sacred Cowgirls’ violinist
Marguerite Elliott put some sweet Irish vibes in the middle of the track. RJ’s partner, Jessica Sanchez, helped out on flute and Austin’s keyboard legend, Claude9, also added some screaming leads and rhythmic synth parts too.
Phillipidon had this to say about the song:
“My inspiration for writing Unda Spell was driven directly from the instrumental created by DJ R.J. The intro and the first two lines came instantaneously after listening to the music. I wrote this song as a tribute and testament to the wonderful, beautiful and sultry appeal of a very sexy woman. She is angelically hypnotic in her powerful, seductive yet surreal nature, as she illuminates every arena
Phillipidon
she ventures into; although her magical effervescence is subtlety tinged with a touch of deliciously, spicy cunningness.”
RJ Johnson adds:
The song was mixed in Jamaica by Steven Stanley at Anchor Studios and we really
RJ Johnson
appreciate him taking 3 trips to the studio to get this one balanced out and heavy.
Chris Fischer handled the mastering from Critical 1 Studios in NY.
Track List
- Unda Spell
- Unda Spell (Straight Mix)
- Unda Spell (Vocal Dub)
- Unda Spell (Dubstrumental)
Production Credits
Philip White / Phillipidon: vocals and lyrics
R.J. Johnson: keyboards, drum programming, acoustic guitar, recording engineer
Dane Foltin: bass guitar
Marc Schaefgen: electric guitar
Claude McCann: keyboards
Marguerite Elliott: violin
Jessica Sanchez: flute
Kim Pollini: background vocals
Steven Stanley: final mix
Chris Fischer: mastering
Distribution by Zojak Worldwide
ABOUT PHILLIPIDON:
Philip White aka Phillipidon was born in Kingston, Jamaica. He is known for his gravelly-gruff voice, interlacing a few iconoclastic interjections, and weaving wanton mayhem amongst audiences with his impromptu outbursts during live performances. When he is not doing music, he is a college professor teaching anatomy, biology, and physiology at Houston Community College.
Link with PHILLIPIDON
ABOUT MUSIC4LIFE:
RJ has been recognized for his 35+ years on the air at Austin Community Radio, KAZI 88.7 FM, where he has been responsible for writing and producing 100s of radio spots and interviewing many Artistes on his programs from Damian Marley and Dennis Brown, to Sparrow to Lakeside and more. RJ’s trip to Reggae Sunsplash in 1989 really changed his life. That trip inspired him to switch genres on the radio and led to the creation of his bi-weekly program, Reggae Evolution, which has been on the air continuously since then.
