The Stone House Presents : Zion Collective Ft. Simrit

107 Sacramento Street,Nevada City CA 95959

19 November, 2022

Description

ZION COLLECTIVE BIO: Zion Collective is a unique, fresh sound, melding Roots Reggae, World, and R&B influences. It’s four core members are Simrit Kaur(lead vocals), Kenyatta Itola(bass), Ryan ‘Ishence’ Willard(guitar) and Sajid Ammor(keys). The band is based in the neighboring northern California mountain towns of Grass Valley and Nevada City, and they are known for their deep pocket groove. Born in inner city Washington DC, Kenyatta’s cultural perspective was influenced by the African Diaspora through Caribbean and African American liberation movements. Musically his influences were deeply steeped in DC’s thriving music scene. His first band was ‘Pure Light Seed’ playing R&B and Funk music. In 1993 in New York he met Tippy and co-founded IGrade Records and soon after met Vaughn Benjamin from the Midnite/Akae Beka band. These relationships would lead to the release of countless timeless classics that would go on to influence a whole generation of striving Rasta people and Reggae music fans. Kenyatta’s bass playing lives in the pocket right behind the hi hat. Its a pulse, rhythm and melody. Born and raised in the mystic mountains of California’s Eastern Sierra, Ishence was deeply influenced by Rastafari music and culture. Singing, playing and producing music from his teenage years…Ishence has gone on to record and perform with many Virgin Island Reggae artists and has built a strong catalog showcasing these works. To date, he has released 15 albums on his label ‘Higher Bound Productions’, including four with Vaughn Benjamin aka Akae Beka/Midnite, including ‘Hail The King’ which was an iTunes top seller and reached #6 on the Billboard charts in 2019. Ishence continues to build and create, with many big albums and singles on the horizon. His subtle and steady guitar and vocals add a powerful cohesion and pulse to the Zion Collective recordings and performances. Simrit Kaur grew up in the mystical music and dance traditions of her Greek(island of Crete) and Northern Egyptian lineages. She was born in Athens, Greece and was orphaned at birth until she was adopted by Greek-American parents into South Carolina at the age of one and half. During her formative years, her naturally evocative voice was cultivated by singing ancient hymns in the Orthodox church. Over the past decade she has toured internationally and released many albums with the SIMRIT band, playing their own style of hypnotic world music, which created a palpable movement attracting devout fans across the globe. Many of the SIMRIT albums reached and remained at #1 on iTunes World music chart for multiple weeks at a time. Some of these same albums also reached top 5 on Billboard charts. Born and raised in Morocco, Sajid’s musical influence was grounded in the ancient tribal, northern African culture. Moving to California at the age of 17, his cultural influences expanded with the influences of the thriving African, Latin American and Caribbean musical scenes. A virtuoso playing many instruments, Sajid has been blessed to perform with Ras Michael & The Sons of Negus, Cheer Khaled, Big Youth, The Scientist, Imperial Sound Army, Ras Attitude and many more. He has also done sound for Youssou Ndour. Studio wise, he has released many albums and singles under his West Coast studios and SajMoor Dub imprints. Look out for upcoming releases with Trevy Felix, Arkaingelle, Fikir Amlak, Michael Bogle and Noble Culture. Playing keys for the Zion Collective, Saj brings a steady percussive feel along with a deep mystical and melodic brilliance to the music.