DJ / Producer / Remixer / Label Manager

Based in Melbourne, Australia

Bookings/ Remixes Contact: djmaars@hotmail.com

Record Labels (Released on & Forthcoming): Booty Fruit / Ghettofunk / Easy Now Recordings / Boom Sound / Irish Moss / Dirty Dubsters Digital / MustBeat / Bulabeats / Relative Dimensions / Tru:Funk / Breakbeat Paradise / Fort Knox Five / SoulBeats / Gritz N Gravy / Groove Penguin / Break Koast / NuFunk / Raider Records

Label boss at Easy Now Recordings, focused on quality reggae hip hop 7" vinyl releases:(https://soundcloud.com/easynowrecordings)
https://easynowrecordings.bandcamp.com/

Due to the recent Soundcloud takedowns, I have moved many of my bootlegs, remixes and releases to other pages:
https://soundcloud.com/dj-maars-bootlegs
https://soundcloud.com/dj-maars-releases
https://soundcloud.com/dj-maars-mixes

Drop me an inbox if anyone is up for collaborating or has any tunes need remixing, always on the lookout for fresh stuff!

Damian Robert Nesta Marley, also known around the world as “Junior Gong” and more recently as “Gongzilla” was born in 1978 to parents Bob Marley and Cindy Breakspeare, Miss World 1976.  As a young adult, he developed a passion and a gift to speak for those who cannot always speak for themselves. A self-proclaimed ‘Spiritual Revolutionary’, Damian has worked assiduously to carve his own niche in music history and to add a new perspective to the Marley legacy for the 21st century. 

At the age of 13, Damian began performing in a group called “The Shepherds” which comprised of Shiah Coore (son of Third World guitarist Cat Coore) and currently a member of his band, and Yashema Beth McGreggor, daughter of reggae singers Freddie Mcgreggor and Judy Mowatt and then began touring with his brothers, Stephen, Ky-mani, Julian and Ziggy. 

By 1996, Damian had already made his stamp as a different kind of Marley when he released his first solo album “Mr. Marley”, a heavily dancehall-influenced album produced by his brother Stephen Marley.  His second album “Halfway Tree” was released in 2001 by a major record label and showcased Damian’s unique gift for blending dancehall, reggae and hip-hop styles.  This album won Damian much recognition and remained on the Billboard Top Reggae Album Charts for 158 weeks and earned him his first Grammy for Best Reggae Album in 2002. 
While honored by this recognition by the global music fraternity, Damian continued to work in the studio, laying the groundwork for the tracks that would become his highly anticipated album, “Welcome To Jamrock”. The lyrics in this album presented Marley as a true spiritual revolutionary, as he used his talent to evoke a spiritual change while trying to enforce a better way of thinking.  He is described as “rhyming with the conviction of a street preacher with the intellect of a university economist”.  

Damian’s hit single “Welcome to Jamrock” was listed as one of the Top 100 Songs of the Decade by Rolling Stone, and at the 2006 Grammy Awards, he won Best Reggae Album and Best Urban/Alternative Performance for Welcome to Jamrock. Damian is the only Jamaican reggae artist in history to win two Grammy Awards on the same night. He is also the only reggae artist to win in the Best Urban/Alternative Performance category at the Grammy Awards. The New York Times called Welcome to Jamrock the “best reggae song of the decade.” 
Welcome to Jamrock led the pathway to Damian’s critically acclaimed collaboration with Nas for 2010’s much lauded album “Distant Relatives” – a project which explored the relationships between reggae, hip-hop and Africa. The album title refers not only to the bond between the artists, but the connection to their African ancestry, which inspired the album both musically and lyrically. USA Today referred to the album as a “potent and often provocative collaboration” and by Rolling Stone as “an Afrocentric winner.” The album debuted at Number 5 on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart and Number 1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, Rap Albums and Reggae Albums charts, with Billboard heralding the album as “a dynamic hybrid.”    

The Distant Relatives Tour kicked off in 2011 and saw Damian traveling and performing for thousands of fans all over the world, including South America, Europe, The United Kingdom, The Caribbean and North America.  

Damian continued to cross musical boundaries in 2012, as he went on to partner with Skrillex for their groundbreaking track “Make It Bun Dem”, which Rolling Stone called “a monster mash up of dubstep and dancehall” and has led to several remixes of the original version.  Damian recently released two other singles; “Set Up Shop” and  “Affairs of the Heart” which both received widespread airplay. 

Damian continues to tour with his band all over the world as a way of entertaining and healing as he continues to spread the message for those whose voices cannot be heard. He is working with his brothers Stephen and Julian under their Ghetto Youths International Label, to discover, develop and sign gifted artistes by applying their musical talent and vast experience to create new and different styles of music.  

Damian is currently in the studio working on his upcoming solo album.

From “Heads High” (1998) to the newest “My Jam” (2015), Mr. Vegas has assembled an unshakable string of international classic reggae and dancehall releases including Billboard hits highlighting his career progression for the last two decades.

Born Clifford Smith in Jamaica’s capital city, Kingston. Mr. Vegas developed a passion for music at an early age. It was customary for aspiring high school age singers to gather during lunch break to test new lyrics and share their talents with classmates. Smith’s passion developed during these sessions when he noted female classmates would regularly attend without demonstrating any interest in lunch.
 
His first hit, “Nike Air” (1997), only came about because Mr. Vegas successfully demanded that doctors removed the wiring in his jaw after a serious injury. Despite nursing the injured jaw, ” Nike Air” raced to the top of the charts. Mr. Vegas follow up smash hit on the Filthy Riddim, “Heads High”, took the world by storm. Led by its undeniable hook over the creeping bass line, “Heads High” reached #1 on the reggae charts in five continents and #69 on the US R&B Chart. The same year, Mr. Vegas won a distinguished MOBO (Music Of Black Origin) Award in the UK.

Throughout the years, Mr. Vegas has proved adept at catchy hooks, knowing just the right beats that will hit at the right time coupled with signature song writing. ‘Tek Wey Yuhself’, ‘Hot Wuk’ and ‘Nuh Friend From Dem’, from his 2007 album Hot It Up, are a case in point. All were chart toppers in Jamaica and dominated the major American, Japanese and European charts. In 2010 Mr. Vegas was nominated for Soul Train ‘Reggae Artist of the Year‘ and performed at the Soulfusion Soul Train Awards in early 2011. “I want to be around in twenty years,” says Vegas, “and ‘Sweet Jamaica’ is the best way I can think of to put my stamp on the future, one in which real foundation reggae and dancehall both play a part, just like real life”.
 
By year-end 2012, Sweet Jamaica and Mr. Vegas made great strides including a MOBO 2012 Award nomination in the UK. Sweet Jamaica was named by Google Music as ‘Top 50 albums of 2012‘, endorsed by Complex Magazine in the ‘Top 100 Albums of 2012‘ as well as on the ‘Best of 2012‘ in the reggae section of iTunes. Leading the way into 2013 with solid rotations on mainstream radio throughout the US and a remix package penetrating the dance market. The versatile and accomplished Mr. Vegas added yet another achievement to his portfolio with multiple nominations at the 32nd IRAWMA awards on May 6, 2013. On that day he copped the title Song of the Year with “Sweet Jamaica” and Video of the Year with “Bruk it Down“. Standing on the Sun with Beyoncé was release on Beyoncé’s Platinum Edition Album in December 2013.
 
In addition to his many collaborations, during his journey as an artiste Mr. Vegas has opened for Deborah Cox, Foxy Brown, and Black Eyed Peas. He has also shared the stage with Brandy, Method Man Redman, T-Pain, Future, Trey Songz, Nicki Minaj, Pitbull and has done production work with industry producer Major Lazer. Mr. Vegas has appeared on all of the industry’s major shows, in Jamaica and abroad, including Guinness Sting, Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest, Reggae Sunsplash, Tobago Jazz Festival, Best of the Best in Miami, Uppsala Reggae Fest, Summerjam Germany, Rototom Sunsplash, Amsterdam Reggae Festival, SXSW and more. Mr. Vegas continues to tour extensively throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, the Caribbean Islands and North and South America.

Jamar Rolando McNaughton, using the moniker Chronixx, has ignited a torch in people's hearts the world over and is confidently lighting the path for an entire generation of youths to rediscover roots and culture.

Born October 10, 1992, Chronixx was musically nurtured from an early age by his father, the artist Chronicle, and grew up surrounded by the likes of Burro Banton, Norris Man and Gregory Isaacs. This was before 'Little Chronicle' benefited from the mentorship of Danny Browne with whom he recorded his first tune in 2003. His remarkable ascension in the music industry was in full effect when he began harmonizing for artists such as Lutan Fyah and providing production assistance for tracks sung by Konshens, Munga Honorable, Popcaan and others.

Today, Chronixx is a respected artist in his own right after his career was stimulated by the unfortunate passing of both his blood brother in 2007 and his brother-in-arms, Lil' J.O.E., in 2010. He decided during that period of grief to bypass the difficulties of a young producer seeking external talent by, instead, channeling his energy wholeheartedly as a vocalist. Thankfully, early and unwavering support was received from Zincfence Records producer Romaine 'Teflon' Arnett, who was the first to urge Chronixx to sing the lyrics he was writing for others.

The first EP, Hooked on Chronixx, was released in 2010 and immediately put the budding artist on the radar of music lovers and industry heads alike. Among its 7 tracks, 'Start A Fyah,' 'Capitalist' (featuring Infinite) and 'Behind Curtain' stood out as a fan favorites, reaching far beyond Jamaican shores. Meanwhile, 'Warrior' became Chronixx's first official video and served to alert many more to his arrival.

Chronixx toured for the first time in 2013 when he went to Europe with his own band. Soon afterward, he bestowed a name upon this carefully assembled musical crew: Zincfence Redemption. Altogether, their fascinating stage presence has elevated the Chronixx experience to new and ever increasing heights.

Also in 2013, he and his team were Jamaica's only representation in Nairobi, where he performed as a Peace Ambassador ahead of Kenya's general elections. The next year, he found himself in New York City where he participated in a reggae and jazz series together with living legends Ernest Ranglin and Monty Alexander. By this time, Chronixx had established new and renewed working connections with Sly & Robbie, King Jammy, Leroy Sibbles and, again, Danny Browne.

The Dread & Terrible Project was released in April 2014 with seven tracks plus three dub versions, immediately topping both the Billboard and iTunes reggae charts. Neither an album nor an EP, the Project also includes a short film based on one of its tracks, 'Rastaman Wheel Out.' The film was directed by "The Guru" Ras Kassa and has received high critical acclaim. The hit single, 'Here Comes Trouble' can also be found on The Dread & Terrible Project.

With so much accomplished in so short a time, the world is bracing for greater wonders from this young man who walks with an old soul. For Chronixx himself, music is a mission and history is being made everyday still.

"Prepare your minds and hearts for this revolution."


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