Nikki Burt ADD

Review

Album Review: Kaya Black - Country Covered In Reggae

06/21/2024

by Steve Topple

One of this writer’s pet musical dislikes is sadly country music. However, once he heard that Kaya Black had taken eight tracks from the genre and turned them reggae, his mind changed. Country Covered In Reggae, released via Kaya Black Music, sees Black take on a host of modern country tracks – with some classic thrown in. Fittingly, he recorded most of the tracks in Nashville itself – and it shows, as the album is exceptionally well produced and finished.

The Kind Of Love We Make (originally performed by Luke Combs) and now featuring Riddim Up Kahi (who also produced) sees Black take this country track and up the BPM somewhat, while keeping the major melodic features like the rasping guitar line – and the breaks that marry perfectly.

Heaven, the Kane Brown classic, is here produced by Calvin Canha and sees Black work lower down his vocal register as per Brown’s original. Of course, the reggae overtones are obvious but they enhance the RnB-led track and bring it further to life. I Love You This Big by Scotty McCreery is the ballad end of the country genre, and Black brings that to life perfectly with a highly pleasing vocal and some starker arrangement than the original.

Would It Kill You, a relatively unknown track originally performed by Kyle Cook from Matchbox Twenty, has production from Canha and sees Black take the meandering, soft rock original and turn it into something spectacular with its electric organ lilting across the top of a slowly burning reggae backdrop. What If I Never Get Over You featuring Mesia Deshawn was originally performed by Lady Antebellum as a brisk country-pop cut. The choice is inspired, as here, production from Tyler Cain sees the track lend itself perfectly to reggae – with great vocals from Black and Deshawn too.

If I Told You (originally performed by Darius Rucker), produced by Cain, is gloriously enhanced by some sparkling horns while the lilting keys are partially kept, and a rasping guitar is brought in. Vocally, it’s a difficult line but Black handles it with aplomb.

The Willie Nelson and Lee Ann Wommack sombre duet Mendocino County Line is now featuring Nikki Burt and produced by Cain. It feels lighter and less foreboding with the reggae credentials – however, Black and Burt play well off against each other and the track pleases.

The album concludes with Michael Ray’s modern country ballad Get To You. Produced by Canha, the original arrangement lends itself to a reggae reimagining – with the bubble rhythm and drums bringing urgency but the guitar keeping it grounded in Nashville. Black is brilliant again and it closes the album perfectly.

Overall, Country Covered In Reggae does what it says on the tin and more. Black is a stylish and accomplished vocalist and the excellent arrangements and engineering have produced a polished finish product. However, the genius is in the song selections – all of which cross to reggae brilliant. A surprisingly appealing project.

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