Laid Blak ADD
Laid Blak was brought together after producer DJ Bunjy joined forces with MC Joe Peng to conquer the 90’s jungle and rave scenes.
The duo’s musical direction took a course that has led them to seek out some of Bristol’s finest : Lui the bass player, Stacy on drums, Scotty the guitarist, Sam on keys and Tita vocalist. What started as a studio project evolved into this acclaimed live act - Laid Blak. Their first 12” record “Scream and Shout” went bouncing up the playlists on BBC 1 Xtra, Kiss FM and Choice FM. Chasing Shadows remix of ‘Red’, has had over 2 million! YouTube views, proved to be an obvious favourite when performed live! Laid Blak was signed to Brown Punk Records, a new record label set up by Tricky and Chris Blackwell (who founded Island Records and introduced the world to Bob Marley).
The band then released their album Red & Blak with one of Bristol’s hottest labels: Reel Me Records. Already legends in their hometown, New York’s Village Voice, DJ and Touch magazine have zoned in on the band, giving them excellent reviews. Laid Blak have won an army of local and international support. They gained a coveted Rototom award for Best Northern European Reggae Band and have played alongside big guns such as Aswad, The Wailers, Nitin Sawhney, Toots and Maytals, Desmond Dekker, Lee Scratch Perry, Reef, John Legend, Luciano, Easy Allstars, McFly, Julian Marley and Ed Sheeran. What do they sound like? Laid Blak’s music has been described as ‘street soul’.
“When Laid Blak serve up reggae, it’s a dish featuring a diverse mix of flavours. Dancehall and roots nestles up to ska with a smattering of hip-hop, bhangra and soul.” The live set has roots in urban reggae and drum & bass, touches on jazz, funk & dubstep. The ‘good vibes’ shine through in all their songs; they always steal the show at festivals with one review from ‘Brighton Noise’ noting them as "THE ULTIMATE FESTIVAL ACT"
Brighton noise The impeccably tight guitar partnership of Lui and Scotty provides the backdrop to a skill fully structured sound. Bunjy’s dj’ing is dynamic, mixing all flavours with the uplifting reggae style vocals of Joe Peng and backed up by Tita's clean sweet vocal's, Sam on key`s and Stacy on drums brings together the formidable talents who together form Laid Blak. Together they have formed a diverse and eclectic sound that everybody can relate to, Laid Blak has the ability to get just about anybody on the dance floor! “Whether you are white or black, slim or fat, don’t worry bout that. Just make your body rock non stop” MC Joe Peng.
"These guys love performing live, and their infectious enthusiasm is plain to see. The band is tight, polished, musically diverse and completely at home playing any genre. They appeal to a vast audience range. This was particularly evident at their Unplugged gig at St George’s Bristol" The Urban Reggae Heavyweights were “quite a culture clash for a venue synonymous with restrain and serenity” however “the universal appeal of their music was clear to see in the carefree smiles of all ages and backgrounds, completely lost in the moment.” Bristol Live Magazine Laid Blak “Superseeded the reverence of the imposing venue, which is an impressive feat to accomplish.
The journey so far… Laid Blak have rocked immense crowds at countless festivals including: Glastonbury, Shambala, Jamstand, Boomtown, One Love, Bristol Harbourside, Oxjam, Ashton Court and Extreme Sports Festival to name a few. The band have been involved in many charity events, as well as putting together their own fundraisers for the likes of Kampala (African Charity), Cancer Research UK, Oxfam, Green Peace an appeal to raise funds for the Haiti Relief Aid Appeal and a hometown charity Bristols Childrens Hospital Wallace & Gromits Grand Appeal.
The first album RED&BLAK is available on iTunes, Amazon and our online store. The album also features special guest reggae legend Tippa Irie.
