Solo Banton Brings Conscious Roots Reggae To Australia And New Zealand

Raised in England’s heavyweight sound system scene and deeply influenced by Jamaican and British roots reggae music, London-based reggae singer, songwriter and MC Solo Banton brings Caribbean heat to audiences the world over. Solo is poised to bring his conscious lyrical flow and charismatic stage-presence to Australia and New Zealand for the first time in February 2025. A prolific artist with four albums and over fifty releases to his name, Solo talks music and culture with DancehallMag.

Solo, you were born in London and your family has roots in St Kitts and Nevis in the Caribbean. What are the first things that come to mind when you think of growing up as a black Briton?

“The first things are, the struggle to overcome institutionalised racism and the unity that came with it. The ground-breaking steps we made in finding ourselves and our style as we were the first of a kind. We had fun!”

Solo’s balance of charisma, depth and humour define his character. Yet despite his commanding stage presence with a microphone in his hand, off-stage he has a quiet manner. He first grabbed a microphone at eleven years of age and cut his teeth on the sound system scene. He remembers those times fondly for their many lessons and joyful experiences. Writing conscious lyrics followed, as Solo took inspiration from the work of the seminal British-Caribbean dub poet, Linton Kwesi Johnson and his musical collaborations with Dennis Bovell.

“I had heard Bob (Marley) before obviously, but didn’t understand the lyrics at the time… hearing LKJ really opened my eyes… that songs could be about current affairs and struggles.”

The fire of LKJ’s social commentary of the Black British migrant experience can clearly be heard in Solo’s lyrical work, which he and his contemporary Macka B playfully refer to in their track together as “edutainment”. Conscious lyrics are the mainstay of his musical messaging. His first three albums dropped on the Reality Shock label: Walk Like Rasta (2010), Higher Levels (2012) and Old Raggamuffin (2019). His most recent album In This Time followed in 2024 on the French label, Irie Ites. His next release on Reality Shock is just over the horizon.

Solo has a very open-minded approach to working with artists across other music genres, from dub, roots and hip hop at the downtempo end of the spectrum to drum ‘n’ bass and jungle at the uptempo. His growing list of collaborators includes artists like Jahtari, Roots Manuva, Macka B, Fantan Mojah, Mungo’s Hi-Fi, Errol Dunkley, Tippa Irie, Soom T, Dubkasm, Radikal Guru, Maffi, George Palmer, Benny Page, Kris Kemist and Manudigital.

Solo was never a raver, but as an in-demand festival compare and MC, he’s had plenty of opportunity to mix with producers across the spectrum. For a mature artist like Solo, applying his skill on crossover projects was a cinch.

“These genres (dancehall, drum ‘n’ bass and jungle) all came from reggae so the transition to sing on these genres is very easy. The song I done with Benny Page D angerous & H ot G irls both have reggae samples running through the tracks. I enjoy collaborating with different people and music, I am a music addict.”

Speaking of that addiction, Solo has a hard time containing his respect for fellow Caribbean and diaspora artists. Among them he lists Jamaican pioneers like Dennis Brown, Freddie McGregor and Burning Spear, heavyweights of the 1990s like Shabba Ranks, Capleton and Daddy Freddy, and fellow Britons of the sound system scene like Tenor Fly and Tippa Irie. He also lists contemporaries in the UK hip hop and grime scene like Ghetts, Bashy and Kano. A proponent of urban street culture too, Solo was a graffiti artist before taking on the stage name Solo Banton and committing his life to reggae.

In 2009, his single Talk to Me was released on 7” with a version on the flip and became Solo Banton’s breakthrough track. But the crucial collab with Jahtari that ignited Solo’s career almost never happened.

“I had made a video with Deadly Hunta, Marga Dread and Mikey Murca at Reality Shock Studio. We were singing and freestyling on some beats, Jahtari saw the video and contacted Kemist (Reality Shock) about recording me. I was very reluctant at first because I always saw myself as a producer/writer not an artist. After some convincing, I recorded it and the rest is history, as they say!”

Since T alk to M e, Solo Banton’s musical output has been prolific, and he has been invited to rock parties and travel the world from Africa to Japan.

“The fact that my music has touched anybody is a gift that I’m truly grateful for. When I travel outside of the UK, like Eastern Europe for example, South America and non-English speaking countries, it’s just amazing. I’ve done shows where ninety percent of the crowd do not speak a word of English but love and music translate into all languages.”

This is your first time visiting Australia and New Zealand. What do you know about the reggae scene downunder? And what do you have to share with audiences there?

“I know a few artists who have visited and played, also met a few people in the UK from New Zealand and Australia so I know there is a scene and I’m really excited to experience it. I’m bringing the same energy, love and laughter I always do, ready to take the vibe to the highest heights possible.”

Solo Banton will perform at the following events in New Zealand and Australia:

5 February – Lyttelton, New Zealand (Roots Fire Sound) – Cosmic Ticketing
6 February – Queenstown, New Zealand (Tahuna Dub) – Ticketfairy
7 February – Nelson, New Zealand (Tahunanui Hi Fi) –
8 February – Auckland, New Zealand (Jafa Sound)
14 February – Adelaide, Australia (Adelaide Reggae) – Humanitix
15 February – Melbourne, Australia (Afro-Caribbean Carnival)
16 February – Sydney, Australia (Stick Mareebo Productions)

Solo Banton’s music is available on streaming platforms and to purchase via Bandcamp from Reality Shock, Irie Ites and Jahtari.