ABJA, the Original Red I Soul-Jah, is a multi-talented singer, song writer, and producer hailing from St. Croix, USVI. As an artist Abja holds himself acountable to the message that he sends out to the universe. If words are a combination of units of language that function as the principal carrier of meaning, then song is what is created when Abja lends his spiritual and intelectual strength to his lyrics, and music is what is emited when Abja lends his physical abilities to bring words into audible frequency.
Empowered by his anscestral history, Abja began his musical trek in the 1990’s as a vocalist, engineer, and producer with the Survival Soundz crew out of Brooklyn, NY. Emotionally attached to his African Diasporic community, Abja took the necessary time to hone his skills as an educator-artist-performer so that he could effectively deliver uplifting word-sound-power through the medium of music to all people; hence came the release of his first solo album in 2003 titled Inna Red I Hour. Following the release of Inna Red I Hour, Abja’s first national tour, with fellow I Grade recording artists, touched down in 15 cities across the country strengthening the buzz in the reggae arena that there was a Cruzian revolution taking over the genre. In 2006 I Grade Records released Abja’s second album Mahogany Road, a holistic album which showcases the many facets of Abja’s strengths as a producer, singer, songwriter and story teller. The release of Mahogany Road was followed by a 25 city, six week national tour that touched audiences from Vermont to Maui, including a performance at the North West Reggae Festival. On the international level that year, Abja was a featured artist on TEMPO, the Caribbean equivalent of MTV, and he further strengthened his credibility as a socialy conscious artists with his performance at the World Social Forum in Caracas, Venezuela. In 2007 Abja performed with his label mates in the I Grade Showcase at the world renowned Sierra Nevada World Music Festival, which was followed by another 25 city national tour. In 2008 Abja branched out further internationally with his first AFRICAN tour, which included a performance at the Kafountine Carnaval in Senegal, an emotionally charged performance on Goree Island, and club dates throughout the Sene-Gambia region of West Africa.
Abja continues to redefine the meaning of Rebel Music and erase the boundaries placed on true reggae. Abja creates music that lifts the spirit and the mind. His voice possesses the qualities necessary to convey emotions ranging from love to revolution. Abja is a powerful performer whose spirit and energy transmits to everyone around him. He sings with a strength of purpose, with a dynamic and confident, yet humble, stage presence. Abja’s highly anticipated third album is set to be released before the end of 2008, and it will be followed by both national and international tour dates.
"I sing songs of rebel harmony to balance me and help me break these mental and societal chains. With love everything is possible. With love, life isn't an obstacle. The art form of music is a communication device, which can send good, or bad, frequencies through the air waves. Therefore, it is important for us to create original, positive music to shine or reflect onto a suffering nation. Rhythm: balance in life, natural progression that correlates with equality. Through the guidance of the Most High, Jah Rastafari, my spirit is as free as a song roaming around as it echoes in your head, an ever rising crescent."
- Abja
