Straight outta the Caribbean, but with musical roots still branching back to his homeland of South Africa, JonnyGuy’s latest album, Transition, is a neo-reggae, indie-folk commentary on navigating life in all its weirdness.
The album, penned over several years in the wake of several cold, hard life lessons, takes a remarkably open-ended approach in addressing topics which are as personal as they are universal. Channeling a polished reggae-meets-acoustic-folk vein, infectious melody spills across the entirety of the album, backed up by genre segways here and there.
He gets real on growing up in post-Apartheid South Africa and his ensuing travels across the world in opener “Transition”, he takes his life into his own hands in his ode to eschewing the sheep mentality in “Shepherd”, and takes a hard look at bad habits and the power in changing your own path in “Walking Down the Road”.
Stripped acoustics meet bulbous, psych-infused synth, and the sort of infectious reggae rhythms which seep into your bones. “Loving You” is a full-bodied, anthemic love letter to the people of St. Maarten in the aftermath of the devastating 2017 Hurricane Irma, “My Roots” was penned during lockdown as a way to restore faith in humanity – while “Time Well Spent” keeps things real with a reminder to use the time you have wisely.
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And JonnyGuy’s latest packs a punch with some well considered reflections, paying tribute to all of his homes, near and far.
Feature pic supplied by artist
