Since bursting onto Jamaica’s live music landscape in 2015, Tower Band has steadily built a reputation as a must-see act, cutting their teeth backing some of the biggest names in reggae and dancehall over the past eight years. Now, the ensemble, celebrated for its high-octane stage presence, dynamic showmanship, and one-of-a-kind take on reimagining dancehall through a full live-band setup, is gearing up to unveil its highly anticipated new project, *Dancehall Future*, at the popular Supa Heavy Wednesdays event series on June 3. The launch will take place at Jangas Soundbar and Grill, located in the heart of New Kingston.
In an exclusive interview with Observer Online earlier this week, bandleader and drummer Andre “Kryss Ras” Barnes promised attendees an unforgettable evening of entertainment. “You can expect a night of nonstop energy, live performances, and pure fun,” he said. “It’s going to be a night packed with incredible music, thoughtful lyrics, and guest appearances from some amazing artists. We’re going to bring the house down.”
The 16-track mixtape will see its full official release right on the night of the launch event, and features a stacked lineup of collaborative tracks with some of dancehall’s most prominent current names, including Charly Black, Rytikal, 10Tik and Yaksta. The project is co-produced by Rayon “Prof” Smith and Barnes, with mixing work completed by DJ West of Jamaica’s leading Zip FM radio station.
Smith shared that the tracklist spans a wide range of lyrical themes to resonate with diverse listeners. “The songs on the mixtape cover everything from romantic matters of the heart to uplifting anthems and motivational, inspirational messages that we hope connect with people across generations,” he explained.
*Dancehall Future* is backed by two local Jamaican partners: Winchester Xavier Associates Jamaica Limited and Stage Sound Solution, and will be distributed via Tower Band’s own in-house imprint, Tower Music Group.
For Barnes, what sets Tower Band apart from other contemporary musical acts in the region is its unwavering focus on elevating live dancehall performance, a niche he says the group has carved out uniquely for itself among current generation ensembles. “We are first and foremost a dancehall performing band,” he emphasized. “We’re the only band of our generation that centers dancehall music as our core identity, and our goal is to grow into an undeniable, formidable force that leaves a lasting impact on this generation of fans. We take our craft seriously, and our top priority is making sure every song we create and perform connects deeply with audiences. That’s what we’re all about.”