“Who I am is a fighter/Battling ardent for truth and right…Too much poverty and hunger and oppression all it still going on/Nah cool down on di fire mek it blaze like a raging storm” chants reggae artist I-MILITANCE in lyrics that read like a musical mission statement. With a name that defines as “vigor and aggression in support or advancement of a cause”, this dynamic singjay intends to advance any and all causes of upful livity and righteousness by word, sound and power.
I-Militance’s journey in music began early, learning to play the saxophone from age 7, singing in the church youth choir from age 9, and writing songs from age 11. A heritage son of Antigua & Barbuda, he was drawn to the conscious music of early hip-hop and roots reggae music. In the early 2000s, he released a number of culture reggae mix CDs under the name “MILITANCE SOUND”. He also started working on his own music, developing vocals to bring life to his writings with the tireless help of producer Tony “Mad Architect” Brown (who made his mark with a number of productions in the soca music industry). Recording then under the name “Jelani Kamau”, he began performing in New York, opening for the likes of Sizzla, Anthony B., Half Pint, Frankie Paul, and Everton Blender.
He travelled to Antigua to perform on various festivals ahead of artists like Bunny Wailer, Culture and Glen Washington, and released a number of singles on the island, notably “WADADLI WHY” (“about…the increase in crimes and violence”, Caribarena, 2009) and “HEART CRY” (“getting quite a bit of airplay…transcends gender and his lyrics are being paid attention to”, Caribarena.com, 2009). He scored a leading single “HAIL” on Mad Architect’s “MAJOR” riddim that made the airwaves from NY to Florida to Trinidad.
I-Militance then made his way to Jamaica to work with noted musicians such as Dean Frasier, Kirk Bennett, and Cliff Bond (Bunny Wailer’s longtime touring drummer) and his Dubble-07 band. Out of these collaborations came “BEHOLDEN” (2011) and “SEARCHING FOR ROYALTY” (2012), the videos for which stayed in rotation on CVM-TV, Hype-TV, TVJ and RE-TV in Jamaica and throughout the Caribbean for many months. He soon after released his first compilation, “THE SOJOURN” EP, which included the award-winning “WHO FIGHTS FOR THE POOR” (selected in 2012 as a 1st runner-up in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest) and “SPIRITUAL WAR” which received radio spins from NY to the UK to the Caribbean.
Taking time to reflect and create, he would soon feel a push to grow, to evolve, and that led to a fuller embrace of the MILITANCE moniker he’d continued to use as a production name. “I-MILITANCE describes my mission, my music, clearer than any other title or name could. Adopting it represents a firmer meditation and embrace of self.” That decision would end up being the last move discussed with his friend and mentor Mad Architect, who died in a tragic accident. “He was always the strongest believer in my ability. I honour him by pushing forward.”
Ever forward I-Militance continues, currently promoting new singles “CONSCIOUS ARISING” and “VAMPIRES”, the latter of which takes on the growing epidemic of bleaching. “I took the approach of performing these tunes out a road a number of times before getting in studio…the reception has been great every time.” Confident in his message, strong in his voice and melody, I-MILITANCE now looks to take conscious music to ever-higher levels.