Arizona reggae band Tropic Vibration is releasing their first full length studio album Wednesday Oct 19. More than 4 years in the making, the album features songs written, produced and recorded by one man, Jeff Wittmeier, with the exception of one song, Aranjuez, produced by well known reggae producer Gary Larason AKA BigG (Iya Terra, Josh Heinrichs)
“I’ve always been fascinated with the recording process, I was 16 years old I got my first 4 track recorder and started recording my own songs” says Jeff, now in his late 40's. Upon the start of this project over 4 years ago, he took a deep dive into the production styles of cali reggae bands like Stick Figure, The Movement, and Iya Terra. Thousands of hours went into the making of Future Roots, with 7 originals, and 3 (rather unlikely) covers. As the title track implies, the recurring theme is combining old with new, the roots reggae of the past with the futuristic sounds of EDM, and everything in between. “I think Ready, Aim, Fire is really the song that best articulates the Tropic Vibration sound. It’s a cover of a old roots roots classic by reggae legend Pablo Moses, one of the artists to first really embrace synthesizers in reggae music." Jeff takes it a step further, adding bluesy Stevie Ray Vaughan style licks alongside alien sounding Serum wubs. Yet it all still works somehow. "Future Roots is the kind of reggae I want to hear, dense mixes, attention to the smallest details, and very unlikely instrumentation. It's reggae from outer space!"
The live band is a youthful 5 piece, talented beyond their years. Jacob and Jasper (keys and bass respectively) are brothers and the founders of another well known Phoenix reggae band Mellow Psychedelic Culture. For years they have played on some of the biggest reggae tickets throughout Phoenix, long before they were of legal drinking age, including the AZ Roots festival. On drums is Jake, who Jeff discovered on the Stick Figure Family facebook page after Jake posted a video of a cover of a Stick Figure classic “Breathe”. Ricardo is on second guitar and vocals. Jeff and Ricardo were friends prior, Jeff asked him to join after jamming a few times at Jeff's reggae house parties in Fountain Hills, AZ.
The live show is a trip. You might thing you are at an EDM show, with the synchronized lights and lasers of an EDM festival. It's a psychedelic experience unlike what you would typically find in the "sketchy little joints" that they love to play. Come on out and catch a vibe at their Album Release party on Nov 19, 2022 at Last Exit Live in Phoenix, AZ.