Aba Shanti-I

Aba Shanti-I is a sound system operator and dub producer from the UK. Aba and his sound system have been playing through UK and Europe for over 30 years. He has been a resident sound system at Notting Hill Carnival since 1993 and was voted the No. 1 DJ in the World by DJ Magazine in the same year.

Early life

Joseph Smith was born in Hackney, London, UK of Antiguan parents, who immigrated to the UK in the 1960s. He was first introduced to roots reggae music by his father Alan Smith, who himself ran a sound system called Count Alan in the 1960s.

Sound system career

While deejaying for the Jah Tubby's sound system, Aba Shanti-I was known as Jasmine Joe. In 1990, Aba took over the running of the Jah Tubby's sound system, debuting at the Leicester carnival. Since then, Aba Shanti-I and his sound system play regularly in the UK, with residencies at the Notting Hill Carnival since 1993, Leicester Carnival and the University of Dub. The sound system has also played in Belgium, France, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Portugal and Spain. From 1991 to 1993 Aba Shanti-I hosted the legendary Aba Shanti-I Sound System sessions at The House of Roots in Vauxhall, London. The weekly sessions were documented by photographer Mark Aleksy who attended the sessions. Aleksy is currently working on publishing a photobook featuring images from this time, "Bassland. A Roots Reggae Sound System Visual Odyssey".

Recording career

Aba Shanti-I has produced and recorded with his brother and the band the Shanti-Ites, releasing records on their own Falasha imprint. Their first record, Tear Down Babylon was released in 1993. Aba Shanti-I currently has a studio on Morning Lane, Hackney.

Singles

Tear Down Babylon
The Zulu Warrior
Positive Vibration
Children of the Most High
The Position Vibration
Jah Liveth
Love in the Ghetto
What A Gwan
Father Give Life
Behold
Inna Sanctuary
Every Day
Revelation Time
Digital Children
Youth Man
Rastaman
Our Father
Babylon Falling

Albums

Wrath of Jah Verse I
Pure Spirit
Jah Lightning and Thunder
Rasta Soul-Jah
Jericho Walls
Undiluted
Psalms From The Heart
Inna Sanctuary
The Whole of Me – Testament I & II

Style

Aba Shanti-I sound system plays music in the roots reggae and dub style. He cites, Dennis Brown, Bob Marley, Junior Delgado, Yabby You and Prince Lincoln as inspiration. The original tracks are usually supplemented by reverb, delays and effects to generate his distinctive sound.

Notable residencies

Notting Hill Carnival The sound system has been resident at the Carnival since 1993. It was originally situated on Powys Road, moving to Springbrook Road, then Southern Row; the system is currently situated on the corner between Southern and East Row.University of Dub Aba Shanti-I was a founder sound system of the University of Dub in the late 1990s and has been a regular ever since.

Family

Aba Shanti-I's brother, Blood Shanti, is a drummer and vocalist, contributing to both Aba Shanti-I's recordings and live performances. Aba Shanti-I also has a son who accompanies him to many of the shows. His son is a drummer in the band Six Soldiers.