Ronnie Richards

Jamaican born Ronnie Richards grew up in South London and has been involved in playing and making music since his youth and is a prolific songwriter. As the title suggests, the songs on “Experience” are based on the life and loves of Ronnie himself. Rather than use his songwriters platform to vent his anger and frustrations, Ronnie uses it to soothe the soul.

Ronnie himself describes his music as E.L.C.R “that’s Easy Listening Classic Reggae”. From this description it’s easy to see that Ronnie is more influenced by Dennis Brown and Gregory Isaacs than Beenie Man or Bounty Killer. That said, as the version of “Too Busy Thinking” attests “Experience” owes just as much to the sweet soul music of Marvin Gaye and Smokey Robinson as it does to those Reggae greats.

This is not a Basement Jaxx album, or a collection of Ragga-House tunes a la “Jump and Shout”. “Experience” is first and foremost about Ronnie’s songs and has been produced to bring his melodies and lyrics to the fore.

Ronnie first met Basement Jaxx coincidentally through a shared rehearsal/studio space in Camberwell. Felix and Simon had a reggae tune playing and Ronnie stuck his head round the door and the three got talking. Ronnies talent and huge enthusiasm immediately struck a chord with the pair and they recruited him to supply backing vocals on a track from their Urban Haze EP. Some live appearances and Ronnie’s “Missing You” and “Jammin” EP’s followed and the trio went to work on an album.

The resulting LP is a heartfelt, touching, laidback, soulful, summer treat. The messages in the songs are always clear. From the humanitarian messages of “Be Strong” and “Free” to the melancholic lovers rock of “I Can’t Wait” and “Missing You” Ronnie has laid himself bare . “I’m hiding nothing with this album….except my age”.