Today, groundbreaking reggae group Easy Star All-Stars shared “Moonage Daydream,” the newest single from their upcoming album Ziggy Stardub – a reggae reimagining of David Bowie’s The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders from Mars – out April 21 via Easy Star Records. First premiered via Consequence, the hypnotic track is a sultry rendition of the classic version. Featuring vocals by Naomi Cowan, the track closes with a fittingly cosmic guitar solo by Alex Lifeson of Rush. The result is a hazy, dub-leaning homage – while also making nods to David Bowie’s signature baroque glam, with a full string section and a flute solo from Jenny Hill replacing Bowie’s recorder from the original track. Michael Goldwasser, producer, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist of the band says, “This has been my favorite tune on the Bowie album since I first started listening as a teenager. In light of that, it’s interesting that it’s the song that I changed most radically by simplifying the chord progression and pedaling on one bass line for the entire track, which gives it somewhat of a hypnotic effect and roots it in reggae tradition.”
Easy Star All-Stars will also be playing an album release show to celebrate Ziggy Stardub on Thursday, April 20 at Sony Hall in New York City. The 420 show (an annual tradition for the All-Stars in their hometown) will also feature special guests Sister Carol and Cannabis Cup Band, with more to be announced. Tickets are available here. The band will also be performing at the Sea.Hear.Now music festival in New Jersey later this year.
Listen / Share: “Moonage Daydream” ft. Naomi Cowan
Ziggy Stardub features guest performances by Macy Gray, Steel Pulse, Maxi Priest, Fishbone, Vernon Reid (Living Colour), The Skints, Mortimer, The Expanders, Samory I, and many others. Pre-order packages of the album are available here, including royal blue colored vinyl along with CD and exclusive t-shirt offerings.
Blending musical versatility, instrumental prowess, beautiful vocal harmonies, and a premier rhythm section, Easy Star All-Stars have established themselves as one of the top international reggae acts on the scene for over two decades. During this time, they’ve toured in over 30 countries on 6 continents, bringing together fans of reggae, classic rock, dub, and indie rock into one big family. Previous releases of the band’s long standing collection of tribute albums include Dub Side of the Moon (2003), a critically-acclaimed reggae re-working of Radiohead’s OK Computer, Radiodread (2006), Easy Star’s Lonely Hearts Dub Band (2009), and Easy Star’s Thrillah (2012), as well as the remix album Dubber Side of the Moon (2010). The All-Stars have also released two original collections, Until That Day EP (2008) and First Light (2011).
About Naomi Cowan:
Singer and songwriter Naomi Cowan is no stranger to the world of music and entertainment. Raised under the mentorship of her parents, impresario Tommy Cowan (producer, songwriter, and former road manager for Bob Marley) and internationally revered reggae vocalist Carlene Davis. Touted as one of the top rising female artists in Caribbean music, Cowan was recognized as the Breakthrough Reggae Artist at the 2019 Jamaica Reggae Industry Awards. Her hit single “Paradise Plum” has topped several reggae charts and has become a staple in the new wave of reggae music.
About Alex Lifeson:
Canadian guitarist Alex Lifeson is best known for his 40+ years as a member of the acclaimed and beloved rock band Rush. A member of the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame, and included on Rolling Stone’s list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time,” there are few living guitarists more acclaimed and influential. In 1996, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada, and in 2012 he received the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award, Canada’s highest artistic honor.
