from: Caribbean
website: www.mishka.com
myspace: www.myspace.com/4mishka
Once I sorted out which Mishka was actually playing at this year's festival (there are more than a few on the internet and on MySpace), I was pleasantly greeted by the reggae-pop singer's album player, which streams his debut, One Tree, in its entirety on his website. Smooth and soothing, the music I'm listening to now is providing a lovely soundtrack to this late morning, and it's nice to be sitting with the windows wide open throughout the house, enjoying a coolish breeze that I can close my eyes and imagine is floating over blue water and white sand. There's something about reggae that can just transport you.
Mishka is actually the younger brother of Heather Nova, and the siblings grew up at sea, traveling with their Canadian parents on a sailboat in the West Indies. After their parents moved back to Canada, Mishka returned to the Caribbean, where he became a professional windsurfer and began to write songs. In 1999, he released his self-titled debut on Sony/Creation, and it wasn't until six years later that the follow-up that I'm currently listening to, One Tree, was released. An excellent blend of reggae, pop, soul and classic singer/songwriter fare, the album is filled with relaxed beats and carefully preserved rays of Caribbean sunshine.
"No Need to Worry" (from One Tree)
"Bring a Man Down" (from Mishka)
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