From the back of a truck to the airwaves

Hasani Walters, Gleaner Writer

There may be hundreds of recording studios in Jamaica. They range from small, amateur home studios to the state-of-the-art, spacious, high-tech studios of some of Jamaica's top producers.

You may think you have seen them all, but that's not quite true until you have seen the studio of Truck Back Records.

Yes, as the name suggests, the studio is actually in a container on the back of a truck.

From this 'truck back', a group of three has managed to create some of dancehall's hottest rhythms, and they seem poised for success again with their latest release.

The Truck Back Records production crew consists of brothers Steve, Andrew and Adrian Locke. The trio has produced several dancehall rhythm-driven albums, as well as a handful of popular singles over the past six years.

Among their most memorable projects, they said, are the Steel Frog rhythm (in tribute to Steelie) which featured Capleton, Elephant Man, Beenie Man, and Tony Curtis, among other artistes; and the Gear Box rhythm, which is best known for Erup's smash hit, Click Mi Finger.

Popular singles

Other singles done by them include Lose A Friend by I- Octane, Free Up The General by Anthony B (Buju's freedom song), and Sunday Morning by LUST.

Adrian Locke spoke of how the idea for building the truck-back studio came about.

"I guess the idea for building the studio in the back of a truck was something we picked up touring. Being on the road as musicians and founders of Kaushan Band, we've seen and experienced several levels of production. I think it was in Orlando that we saw the back line stage-monitoring system being controlled from side stage in a truck," he said.

He continued, "At that time, our father owned several trucks that we used in his stage and lighting business."

"We always were in entertainment and always had our little home production studio in Steve's room but during hurricane Ivan, the roof over that room was destroyed, and in one swift rush, we stored the equipment in one of dad's trucks and I guess we just never got around to moving them."

"Give thanks, Daddy Locke, for not putting us out yet!" he joked.

Since then, the studio has remained at the family home, which gives a family and homely feeling to the artistes, songwriters, musicians, and even the different producers they have worked with.

"We believe it's important to keep it that way so that the unity can be kept. Run wi little boat dem from we little farm inna the yard from time to time, share all one plate and lounge under wi meditation spot under a ackee tree and write songs, sometime until 5:00 in the morning," said Andrew.

Live beats

"We tend to make our beats and songs in such a way that it can be performed live by both musicians and artistes. Maybe it's because we're from an era where the music was about the stage shows with backing bands. We pay attention to the little details to make it sound and feel that way."

Steve gave the example of a drummer not being able to roll a drum set and keep a steady hi-hat going in a rum pattern.

"So, it's really little things like that," he said.

The group is currently promoting its recently released Christmas banger, the 'Tun Up' rhythm, which has songs from DJ Sunshine, ZJ Liquid, Trinidadian soca king Bunji Garlin, Tony Matterhorn and Truck Back's young artistes, Faada Fresh and Deh Deh.

The rhythm has been getting good rotation on radio stations in the island, as well as at the various parties.

They are also in the process of completing work with Elephant Man on his new singles, Shake It, and B.M.F.S. (Bad Man From Start), which they said is a remix to Rick Ross' B.M.F. DJ Sunshine's techno song Touch Me is also almost complete.