Last month, before the world went awry, roots reggae singer Chronixx made his second appearance on the Tiny Desk Concerts, this time as a special guest of US group, The Free Nationals. The session was officially released on Monday, to great reviews.
During this Tiny Desk performance, Chronixx immediately makes reference to his first concert two and a half years ago. It is in the midst of the group announcing their surprise guest that Chronixx saunters on stage with a huge smile, “Big respek to all massive and crew” is his dancehall-flavoured hail. “It’s nice to be here again. It’s so packed. So many people. Last time I was here, it was like five people,” he says, looking so surprised. He then does what he is there to do, sing Eternal Light live, and from the audience reaction, it was a winner.
In promoting this latest appearance on social media, Chronixx told fans, “On my last trip to the US we got the chance to perform one of my favourite songs with some of my favourite people for Tiny Desk NPR, The Free Nationals Anderson .Paak.”
The group, who are best known as Anderson .Paak’s touring live band, are set to drop their self-titled debut album soon, and their collaboration with Chronixx, Eternal Light, is one of the songs on the set.
Released on October 10, the song also has an audio on YouTube, which has garnered over four million views. Eternal Light, a smooth, sensuous offering, which showcases the ‘lover boy’ side of the Rastafarian artiste with “melodies that touch the soul”, could easily have been titled ‘Good Vibrations’ because that is the theme. Chronixx even name checks reggae artistes Alton Ellis, Gregory Isaacs, Dennis Brown, singers who are known for their lover’s rock virtuosity.
Baby girl just text me seh she coming over
And when she reach she wan me fi turn off the phone
Turn the lights down low, turn up the stereo, yeah
Alton Ellis, Gregory Isaacs, Dennis Brown
Have you ever, have you ever been in love?
No bad vibes cyaan’ stop this good vibration, yeah
That’s the positive vibes we keep creating, yeah
Sounds that make you feel right
We keep it blazing, yeah
Members of The Free Nationals have spoken about their pleasure at having worked with Chronixx and being blown away by his unique creativity.
“It was a pleasure to work with Chronixx on Eternal Light. The melody ideas he comes up with are unlike anyone else. They are totally different from the usual R&B pop writers we work with,” the band is quoted as saying.
One fan commented: “This song makes me want to light a spliff and I don’t even smoke. So soothing.”
Chronixx’s first Tiny Desk Concerts moment came in September 2017 when he and his Zincfence Redemption Band performed three songs from his sophomore album, Chronology.
Tiny Desk Concerts is a video series of live concerts hosted by NPR Music at the desk of ‘All Songs Considered’ host, Bob Boilen, in Washington, DC.