Tales of Reality represents a master class in reggae traditionalism. Kumar brings classically-trained vocals, honed through his tenure with GRAMMY®-nominated band Raging Fyah, while The 18th Parallel—seasoned musicians who’ve collaborated with reggae legends for years—demonstrate their deep reverence for Jamaican music throughout every arrangement. The album’s showcase format, pairing each vocal track with its dub version, honors reggae’s foundational structure while allowing both Kumar’s vocal prowess and the band’s instrumental mastery to shine independently. Recorded between Kingston and Geneva, then mixed by the legendary Tippy-I & Jah David of Zion I Kings production team, this isn’t nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake—it’s studied craftsmanship from musicians who understand that respecting tradition requires both technical excellence and genuine devotion to the art form that is Reggae Music. Shared to the world via Easy Star Records & Fruits Records.
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION – BEST REGGAE ALBUM: KUMAR MEETS THE 18TH PARALLEL – TALES OF REALITY
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION
BEST REGGAE ALBUM:
KUMAR MEETS THE 18TH PARALLEL
TALES OF REALITY
- Kumar was GRAMMY®-nominated as lead singer for Raging Fyah
- Tales of Reality topped the BILLBOARD Reggae Weekly Chart multiple times since release
- Joint venture between Switzerland’s 18th Parallel / Fruits Records along with Easy Star Records (USA) and Kumar (Jamaica)
- Mixed by Tippy and JAH David of Zion I Kings
Tales of Reality represents a master class in reggae traditionalism. Kumar brings classically-trained vocals, honed through his tenure with GRAMMY®-nominated band Raging Fyah, while The 18th Parallel—seasoned musicians who’ve collaborated with reggae legends for years—demonstrate their deep reverence for Jamaican music throughout every arrangement. The album’s showcase format, pairing each vocal track with its dub version, honors reggae’s foundational structure while allowing both Kumar’s vocal prowess and the band’s instrumental mastery to shine independently. Recorded between Kingston and Geneva, then mixed by the legendary Tippy-I & Jah David of Zion I Kings production team, this isn’t nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake—it’s studied craftsmanship from musicians who understand that respecting tradition requires both technical excellence and genuine devotion to the art form that is Reggae Music. Shared to the world via Easy Star Records & Fruits Records.
- Kumar was GRAMMY-nominated as lead singer for Raging Fyah
- Tales of Reality topped the BILLBOARD Reggae Weekly Chart multiple times since release
- Joint venture between Switzerland’s 18th Parallel / Fruits Records along with Easy Star Records (USA) and Kumar (Jamaica)
- Mixed by Tippy and JAH David of Zion I Kings
PRESS QUOTES
“Tales of Reality is roots rock reggae at its finest, a tribute to the golden age of Jamaican roots music done in a modern way.”
– Reggaeville
“A remarkable album that deserves attention from dedicated reggae enthusiasts.”
– Reggae Vibes
“In an era when a great deal of reggae music is trending toward party tracks (maybe a song, here and there, about a distraught lover), without much focus on the spiritual and social traditions of the genre, Tales of Reality showcases the power of dub and roots, packaged as a single, powerful voice against the world’s struggles. The outcome is a sound that is both familiar and fresh, with creativity leaning on the strength of mature footings that birthed the various forms of reggae we know today.”
– Rootfire.com
“Tales of Reality is more than just an album—it’s a testament to the power of music to bridge cultures, with the album taking shape over four years, from Kingston’s buzzing streets to the peaceful mountains of Geneva. Every track on the album is infused with Kumar’s soulful lyrics, effortlessly combined with the masterful arrangements of The 18th Parallel, a Swiss band that has worked with some of reggae’s greatest legends.”
- Clinton Lindsay
“Tales of Reality has all the attributes you’d expect to find on a first-class reggae album that adheres to time-honoured values yet sounds refreshingly modern. It has songs with meaningful lyrics and rhythms – including a handful of wicked steppers – played on “live” instruments.”
- John Masouri, ECHOES
“Tales of Reality is roots rock reggae at its finest, a tribute to the golden age of Jamaican roots music done in a modern way.”
– Reggaeville
“A remarkable album that deserves attention from dedicated reggae enthusiasts.”
– Reggae Vibes
“In an era when a great deal of reggae music is trending toward party tracks (maybe a song, here and there, about a distraught lover), without much focus on the spiritual and social traditions of the genre, Tales of Reality showcases the power of dub and roots, packaged as a single, powerful voice against the world’s struggles. The outcome is a sound that is both familiar and fresh, with creativity leaning on the strength of mature footings that birthed the various forms of reggae we know today.”
– Rootfire.com
“Tales of Reality is more than just an album—it’s a testament to the power of music to bridge cultures, with the album taking shape over four years, from Kingston’s buzzing streets to the peaceful mountains of Geneva. Every track on the album is infused with Kumar’s soulful lyrics, effortlessly combined with the masterful arrangements of The 18th Parallel, a Swiss band that has worked with some of reggae’s greatest legends.”
- Clinton Lindsay
“Tales of Reality has all the attributes you’d expect to find on a first-class reggae album that adheres to time-honoured values yet sounds refreshingly modern. It has songs with meaningful lyrics and rhythms – including a handful of wicked steppers – played on “live” instruments.”
- John Masouri, ECHOES
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