It Was Written

A couple of weeks ago, Zack and I were fortunate enough to attend the Red Stripe/FADER-sponsored “It Was Written” party, a night dedicated to celebrating Jamaican music, at DC’s G Fine Art.  Far from being any sort of authority on reggae, let alone anything Jamaican, I went in simply looking to have a good time (read: free Red Stripe) and perhaps learn something new about reggae that went beyond Bob Marley.  Suffice it to say, this blogger’s expectations were pretty off when it came to what actually went down.  The night centered around a performance by Terry Lynn with backing by Radioclit‘s Johan Hugo.  What Zack and I saw was anything but a typical reggae performance.  Instead, we witnessed an interesting amalgam of reggae, dance, and electro, a polyamorous marriage I now gladly know can flourish.  Did I expect to dance?  No.  But it happened, and that’s always a good thing.

One other thing I loved was Miss Lynn’s stage presence.  Her commandeering of the mic was reminiscent of M.I.A.’s performance at the Virgin Festival two years ago.  She was powerful, animated, and I wanted to marry her by the end of the set.  The fact that Terry was able to accomplish this in a small art gallery was impressive and worth commending.

It seems that Terry will be in Europe for the remainder of July, so all of our transatlantic readers should take note of when and where she’s playing.  As for the rest of you, check out her music.  Even if you’re not familiar with this kind of thing, it’s definitely worth giving a listen.  Follow the link below to download a copy of the EP FADER and Red Stripe released for the event.

DOWNLOAD: It Was Written EP

Unfortunately, Zack and I weren’t able to snag any good pictures.  The guys over at Brightest Young Things, however, were.  For some snapshots of the night, go here.

Love,
Adrian