On 8th November 2024 , ‘soul-reggae crossover sensation‘ Natty releases a new album, The Divine Trinity. The album release also coincides with a run of instores across the UK. 

The new album is packed with tranquil and therapeutic intention. Initially recorded live with his band in the same room, to “capture the magical synergy of people creating in the same place at the same time,”  Natty then completed the post-production on the tracks alone and sequenced the record to align with the varying elements of life’s spiritual trinities. Split into three suites of three compositions each, The Divine Trinity moves from honouring children, women and men, to evoking the heart, mind and soul, before closing on the power of earth, air and water – mirroring a route from the base chakras in the body to the heart, mind and soul

For Natty, music isn’t just pleasure, it is also a healing power. The London-raised singer-songwriter has been on a remarkable journey of creative and personal discovery in recent years, moving his partner and children to rural Jamaica to live off-grid and off the land, while delving deep into studies on music’s mental and physiological properties and the capacity to move us both emotionally and physically. “I’m living a whole new life, taking things slower and making more space for the inspiration to flow,”  he says. “That’s all worked its way into the music, which I’m making with a new purpose of healing through sound”.

Ahead of the new album release, Natty joins us for a Why I Love on roots reggae band Midnite.

a prophet

There is no question in my mind that Vaughn Benjamin is a prophet. A generous teacher, filling his verses with knowledge, wisdom and a spirit that was incomparable not only in reggae but in all music. When he passed away in November 2019, I was shocked at how the little he was known and celebrated. To me he was the greatest Roots Reggae singer since Bob Marley himself. The lead singer of Midnite, a band from St Croix formed by him and his brother Ron. They made Roots Reggae music like no other band before or since.

Midnite is a whole frequency in itself, it’s one of those cult-following type of band’s that when you find someone else who likes them you both feel deeply connected and part of a special club, receiving special information, literally and spiritually, through the deep roots music and awe-inspiring lyrical genius delivered by Vaughan’s uniquely haunting vocals. Their songs and live experiences tap into an ancient frequency that transcends race, creed and class like no other artist I have seen that sings in English.

mind-boggling, reality-shifting experience

I saw them perform for the first time about 10 years ago when we both performed at Garance Festival and this was the most mind-boggling, reality-shifting experience of my entire musical existence.  I had been listening to Midnite for a couple of years and was looking forward to seeing them live, so I stayed back late at the festival as they were doing a special performance after the headline act, when most of the festival had gone back to their tents or wherever, but what I witnessed was nothing short of incredible…

I saw grown men crying, leaping in ecstasy, holding their heads in disbelief and much more. The sound of Vaughn’s voice was in itself a myriad of frequencies, his presence was sincere, angelic and without any hint of pomp or performance, complimented by his joyful and charismatic brother on bass. When I say the band was rockin… I mean deep, steady and just rockin’!!! Every song was at least 10-15 minutes long, meditative and left most of the audience in a transcendental state, again… something I had never experienced before. 

meet your heroes

I did see them a few more times after that, I was always grateful to be booked on the same bill as them at various Reggae festivals around the world. One day I did get to meet Vaughan in a hotel in Germany, he invited me into his room and we spoke for around 20 minutes. This was a lesson in righteousness and humility that I shall never forget. He was a great man and inspired me to be a better human as all the great ones do.

They say don’t meet your heroes… Lies!!! Just choose better heroes. Throughout periods of my life no other music was played on my stereo, sometimes for weeks at a time. Midnite was my soundtrack, and with them in the background all things were balanced. That was then, but even now when I feel like listening to Reggae, with all the amazing artists from the UK and Jamaica, this little band from St Croix is still my number 1 go-to selection.

a happy accident

My first introduction to them was by accident,  I was looking for a Garnett Silk song and typed in Mama Afrika on youtube and stumbled on a song by Midnite with the same title. I played this song at least 8 times in a row before checking out more. Unpolished, which is the name of the album that this song is taken from, is probably my all time number 1 roots reggae album of all time. Amazing songwriting, humble recordings and real album in every sense of the word. This album alongside Ainshant maps were probably my 2 most played albums over the past decade or so, alongside Miles Davis’ Kind Of Blue and Paul Simon’s Graceland.

There are scores of albums that they recorded, a lot of them Vaughan would collaborate with producers, but still use the Midnite name. Some of these projects are difficult to appreciate for the uninitiated containing biblical scripture, political science, metaphysical thoughts, esoteric teachings and much more. With Midnite it’s like listening to great music and going to the University of Life all in a press of a play button. However the further back you go their earlier albums have more traditional song structures which is a good start for those wanting to get into this under-appreciated super-power of Roots Reggae, albums like Unpolished, Ras Mek Peace, Ainshant Maps, Jubilees of Zion are a good place to begin your journey to Midnite.

be thankful

Thankful to be on the planet at the same time this music was put out and even more thankful to have seen them live, what a band, what a singer, A true griot from the ancient of days, a modern day prophet. In the words of the great man himself… Love the Life you Live, Live the Life you Love.

Here’s Move like Water – “born out of late-night, esoteric meditations. The power of your thoughts governs your reality, and the more we start to remember who we truly are, the clearer things become.”

Natty online: Facebook / Instagram / Youtube

You can read more from our extensive archive of Why I Love pieces from a wide array of artists on an even wider array of subjects, here.

Keep up with At The Barrier: Facebook / X (formerly Twitter) / Instagram / Spotify / YouTube