EPK

The group was formed in 2012 by members Jah Rebel on Bass and Vocals, DMC on guitar, and K-Bids on drums. The group began by covering the music of Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Sublime, The Police, Slightly Stoopid, Rebelution, Half Pint, Barrington Levy, Dennis Brown, Don Carlos, Steel Pulse, 311, UB40 and many more. 

 

In early 2016, the band started writing and recording their own music, with the intention of releasing a debut CD.  Using a 24 track recorder, combined with Logic Pro X software, the band recorded many long improvisation sessions, which were later worked and edited into complete songs.  After much trial and error, which included a fire in the band's recording studio, Island Time was finally completed in the Spring of 2021. 

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Many of the songs on Island Time reflect the band's experiences of living on the Outer Banks and in an ocean community.  The title track, Island Time, is a very playful kind of Toots and Maytals inspired diddy, showcasing the band's love for living near the water and for their favorite 80's Pop icons.  Island Style is a similar ocean lifestyle anthem, expressing the joys of surfing and watching sunrises.  Once Around (Time is Like a Mystery), the album closer, takes on a very reflective and somber tone, that is a departure from what the band usually does.  Soul R3bel also has a darker and edgier side, with songs like Leaving This Town, Down 2 Buxton and Attitude Problem, looking at the struggle and underside of a community with its own unique challenges.