Since their birth as a roots duo in 2009 it hasn’t taken too long for Melbourne’s Centre & The South to become an eight piece reggae roots powerhouse incorporating elements of world, funk, soul and rock.
Following on from a release of much loved singles including ‘Feel That Flow’ (2014), ‘Inner City Paradise’ (2014) ‘Lay Low’ (2012) and their debut EP release Something New Something True today sees the guys unveil their impressive debut album Yadah.
In support of the release of their new LP, the crew will be hitting the road, bringing their electric sound to the East Coast of Australia, but ahead of that check out an early stream of the record below along with a track by track run down penned by the band, and if you like what you’re hearing pop by the Centre & The South Facebook page for more info on the upcoming tour.
YADAH
This song signifies a new sound and a new groove for the band; it was one of the first songs we used elements of dub and modern reggae feels in whilst also managing to make it inherently a very CaTS song. Lyrically, it’s a reflection on the journeys we take in life and how we act along the way.. And how that effects the way we learn and grow.
The horn line at the start is the kicker!
TAKE IT AS IT COMES
the second single taken from the album.. It’s probably the most pop infused of them all too.
To be honest this song started as a fool around jam song.. And after ages sitting on the shelf unfinished we returned to it and haven’t stopped playing it since. It’s all about the simple things that make you happy. It’s a love song with no false promises and no pining.. Just the promise of some good lovin’
FEEL THAT FLOW
Good vibes and tons of energy.. Thats what it’s all about. I’m never tired of hearing the song and I feel its captured perfectly on record. The lyrics preach an honest take on the natural flow of life and what we decide to accept and share with others. Make it positive and make it worth it!
Oh… And it’s a banger live!
SWEET SPIRIT
What a joy this was to record.. It was the very first reggae flavoured song that we wrote as a band and I’m so stoked that it managed to strut it’s way onto the album! It’s a duet and a love song. Lisa Edwards makes a guest appearance and I was truly blessed to be able to sing with her and have her dulcet tones grace the album!
RIOT
This one’s all about groove and feel. Oh and a shredding guitar solo! Ha. We’re all rockers as well so when we can we don’t mind dialling it up a notch! We are the masses and we are powerful. But only when our focus and direction is for the good of yourself and others too. So often do we see terrible things happen in the world. It’s important to try and minimise and keep away from them if we can!
YOU CAN BE THE ONE
I remember recording this well as its the only real time I got to sit back, not have to play guitar and watch the rest of the band lay something down for me to then drop my vocals on.
It’s a song with a message that we can all be powerful and we can all do great things. It’s also got mad party vibes!
WORLD
Noir/pink panther is the feel I always got.. Haha you’ll understand what u mean when you hear it! Haha. This one is probably the most emotion driven track on the album.. Every element is slightly heightened and made more intense over the length of the track and I feel it really builds into something special! We all have relationships and we all have to deal with ourselves when they don’t work out.
IS THERE MORE?
The question we all ask so often in life.. But what we mean is, is there more to life than just the way we are now? Is there more that we don’t know and can’t yet understand?
Jimmy takes lead vocals on this one and wrote most of the lyrics.
RIDE THE STORM
The last finished.. This one was a bitch to lay down. It was a super fresh song for us as we went in to record it and it took some time to nut out. In fact jimmy and I scrapped every lyric and every melody and re-wrote new ones over the top of the music we’d layed down. Michael Cristiano was a big influence on this song, particularly in the way it’s structured.
SLAVES PT. I & PT. II
There’s not a heap I want to say about this track.. It’s a raw and rather experimental effort from us. Personally, I fucking froth the journey this song takes you on! Don’t let the man make you a slave!
SEE THROUGH TIME
To me, this song is amazing.. We tried a few ways to record this, it was important to nail the feel for this. Less was definitely more. It’s honest and it’s real. And such a great song to have on the album.
ZION DREAM
This one’s an epic.. There’s no doubting that, and it’s a hell of a song to play live!
It’s the perfect way to end the album too.. It’s a call to all who wish join us and the good vibes we offer.. Something different, and away from the grind of daily life!
Come with us, into the UNIVERSE!
