Currentzicks releases dancehall mento mix with ‘Hill And Gully’ single

Jamaican artist Currentzicks is stirring up the dancehall scene with his latest release, 'Hill And Gully,' a track that embraces the nostalgic sounds of mento, a folk genre popular in the 1940s.

Produced by Most Wanted Records of Spanish Town, 'Hill And Gully' gives the traditional mento a distinct dancehall edge. Currentzicks explained his intention was to fuse old-school dancehall with contemporary sounds, thereby preserving cultural expression in a unique way. While he aims to cater to diverse musical tastes, his immediate focus is on captivating the dedicated dancehall audience.

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It was always an idea I had to remix some of the old school dancehall music with a fusion of the new school sound, preserving a cultural expression in my own way. I am here to cater for different genres, but for now I am aiming for the ‘die-hearted’ dancehall souls.

The single arrives amidst a noticeable revival of mento music in Jamaica. The 'riddim' for 'Hill And Gully,' produced by Stephen 'Di Genius' McGregor, has contributed to this renewed interest, tapping into a segment of the music scene that retains a strong connection to local cultural roots.

Currentzicks, originally from Manchester, shared that his inspiration for incorporating mento stems from childhood memories of watching the long-running Television Jamaica program, 'Hill And Gully Ride.' This show, which explored remote Jamaican communities and their traditional customs, featured a mento standard as its theme song, embedding the genre in his upbringing. With over a decade as a recording artist, Currentzicks has previously released tracks like 'Bull ina Pen' and 'Top Johncrow.'

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I grew up watching the Hill And Gully Ride programme, so it (mento) was embedded in my childhood.