Machaco is a Japanese reggae singer I blogged about many years ago. I went on to meet her in person and she even welcomed me into her home and accompanied me to Nara and Kyoto during my trip to Japan last year. Machaco is an excellent singer not because she is my friend but because she really is talented...

My occasional foray into Japanese popular music or J-pop unearths some real gems from time to time and I think I have found another, a self titled dance, trance, electronic musical album called World Order presented by Genki Sudo a retired Japanese mixed martial artist and a kickboxer famous for his...

I recently discovered and have been listening to a catchy song called Japanese Woman living in my Closet by the indie rock band Miniature Tigers a lot lately so  I thought I’d share the audio addiction so you all can consider adding it to your playlist. While searching for the lyrics for this...

Talent shows are all the rage now from singing to dancing to drumming. North American shows like American Idol and Dancing with with the Stars are well known but many countries have produced local versions and Jamaica is no different with shows like Rising Stars, Kings and Queens of Dancehall and the...

Japan is the second largest music market in the world with a vibrant local music scene and deep connection to the global music industry. Jamaican music is big in Japan with many local entertainers releasing Japan-only albums and touring Japan regularly. MTV Japan like it’s north American parent...

Queen Ifrica is a reggae songstress that has been blazing a trail on the local music scene for a few years now but has recently started to get international recognition. Songs like ‘Far Away’, ‘Daddy’ and ‘Below the Waist’ have been anthems with Jamaicans and lovers...

It has been less that a month since a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti and devastating the capital city of  Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas. An estimated 200,000 people were killed in the main tremor and dozens of powerful aftershocks. The Presidential palace, Parliament and many other important...

The most popular export and one of the main reasons Jamaica is more than just a dot on the map is music. Jamaica’s dynamic, influential and ever evolving music scene is like no other and the economic contribution of music and all related industries alone is very important to Jamaica. Jamaica also...

The local music scene in Jamaica is a very vibrant one. The history of Jamaican music is a very interesting one an it is always fascinating to read books, watch TV programs or listen to veterans of the industry explaining how the local music scene has evolved from the 1950′s to what it is today....

I music track that I have been listening to over and over lately is  “Love Letter to Japan” by The Bird and The Bee, a really cool song just from the title alone you can tell it’s awesome. Check out the video below. Awesome lyrics and a catchy tune the has me singing along while...