Get to know escalating reggae band Rise Up

Roots reggae and rock blend Rise Up is one band that lives up to their name — they are rising up! Heralding from Salinas, California, founding members Chris Alcantara (vocals/rhythm guitar) and Alex Cortez (drums) gained recognition up and down the coast of California before linking up with locally-renowned players Leland Smith (lead guitar) and […]

Meet rising indie rock star Michigander

Fusing indie rock and pop into his own unique sound, Michigander is quickly becoming a name you want to know. Born Jason Singer, this Michigan native possesses the passion and prowess to take over the radio charts, a motive boosted ever-higher by his third EP release, Everything Will Be OK Eventually. If you haven’t checked […]

A talk with DJ Kilmore of Incubus

Chris Kilmore, better known as DJ Kilmore, has been a fixture to California-based rock band Incubus as their turn-tablist for more than 20 years. I had the chance to virtually chat with Kilmore about his earlier life deejaying, starting out with Incubus and the social justice work Incubus has done throughout the course of the […]

Katchafire’s Jordan Bell talks new tunes & tours

Drummers, with the exception of a few backline frontmen, rarely get enough love. Katchafire’s Jordan Bell likes to live a little differently. His family band, originally started by father Grenville Bell and alongside brother Logan Bell, has since grown to be a staple of New Zealand and roots reggae music altogether. Jordan Bell goes centerstage, […]

Get to know reggae rock band Brothers Within

I don’t know about you guys, but this pandemic thing has been rough on me. I’ve gone through highs and lows, but one thing I can tell you is that if I throw on some good reggae music, I am instantly transformed and ready to dance and sing. I know that when I am finally […]

Among Criminals talks new album & creating in the COVID era

Among Criminals, an eclectic genre-hopping Philly band, knows all about reinvention. It was in the midst of making their latest album, Darker Sweetness, when COVID-19 crashed down, grinding everything as we know it to a halt for months to come. ‘Darker Sweetness’ is a new horizon for the band in sound and subject matter, yet […]

Operation Culture talks debut album, ‘Real Thoughts Only’

Brothers Daniel and Javier Rodriguez have just brought about their debut album under the moniker Operation Culture — in the midst of a pandemic year, no less! After premiering their single “Go Far” with us back in April of this year, this reggae-loving duo out of Wilmington, North Carolina has finally unleashed their full-length, Real […]

ZeeCeeKeely talks forthcoming debut album

Tucson band ZeeCeeKeely has come up in the reggae rock genre of late, announcing new work off their forthcoming debut album, Fightahs & Unitahs. Although its release date is to be determined later this year, ZCK has launched a sneak peak with their single “Beautiful Creation” with more in tow. But, who are the boys […]

Top Shelf Music gets to know The Vibe

All three members of San Diego alt-funk band The Vibe sit down with Top Shelf Music journalist Kristy Rose! With COVID-19 restrictions for musicians, The Vibe talks about what they had to do to adapt during the forced quarantine, how this downtime has been a blessing and what’s ahead on the horizon. After recently changing […]

RootfireTV currently raising funds for quarantined artists

Hysteria has swept the globe, forcing citizens around the world indoors in fear of contracting COVID-19, the rapidly growing Coronavirus plaguing humanity in the shortest amount of time. Most are scrambling to stay sane and provide for their immediate loved ones, stocking up on rations for — as of now — an indefinite amount of […]

Roots of Mine chats at One Love Cali Reggae Fest 2020

The amazing SoCal natives band, Roots of Mine, made their One Love Cali Reggae Fest debut this year on the Tiki Stage on Saturday, February 8th. On the heels of their new single (and subsequent video) “Anna” and a sick cover of Bad Religion’s “I Want To Conquer The World”, Roots of Mine had earned […]

Tomorrows Bad Seeds comments on new single, “Surf Trip”

Reggae-rock-meets-hip-hop band Tomorrows Bad Seeds have had quite a career since their formation nearly two decades ago and they aren’t anywhere near done yet! Following a year of touring, TBS celebrates by premiering their latest jam “Surf Trip” on all digital outlets and ending the year in style. We wanted to chat about such a […]

An interview with Scrap Yard Aces

Scrap Yard Aces, a rock-reggae dub band from Huntington Beach, shares their success story with Top Shelf Music journalist Renee Simpson on their recently released album, Sense in This Time. Check out this intimate interview with the band! Can you tell us about the creative process for the new album? We wrote most of the […]

A chat with Katastro

Back in 2007 in Tempe, Arizona, four very different, yet similar friends got together to play some music and created the musical ear candy that is now Katastro. After working the music scene in Arizona to the point the band opened for renowned alt -hip hop band, Dirty Heads, Katastro picked up a fantastic opportunity […]