Born on the streets of Kingston, Jamaica, Naya Records has assembled a core of gifted roots greats like Earl ‘Chinna’ Smith, Robbie Lyn , Winston “Bo Pee” Bowen and Ozou’ne whose soulful, heavyweight riddims create a captivating groove for superstar foundation Jamaican roots and R&B vocalists like Ken Boothe, Kiddus I and Bob Andy. Naya Records is also carefully constructing a crucial link to the future of roots music in which the gritty, sufferah’s sound of reggae is interlaced with pop, jazz, rock and soul. Naya recording artists Jahmali (Jamaica), Sabrina (Italy) and Cameron (USA) are bringing forward brand new sounds for a new generation of roots music fans.

Our approach to making music incorporates recording flexibility drawn from the latest audio engineering technology, and the real authentic sound that comes only from the creative environment. Both are essential, particularly in Jamaican music today where knowledge and skill, as well as simply being in the right place at the right time, are critical. Chinna’s yard, for example, at Halfway Tree in Kingston, is a public gathering place, a studio, a performance space as well as Chinna’s yard at the same time. Here, Naya Records captures the immediate and spontaneous vibes as well as the natural surroundings, filling in the digital gaps and providing shape and texture to productions. Mixing by Will Holland (Fall Out Boy, SeePeoples) and mastering by Eric Welsh (Pixies, Billy Idol, Kenny Loggins, Soulive, Jefferson Starship) at Chill House Studios reflects the commitment to only the highest quality and adheres to our grassroots, guiding principles of recording all basics to tape. So whether in an air-conditioned studio or ‘inna di yard’, Naya Records releases reduce the distance between music-maker and listener on each release, maximizing the overall experience.

Naya Records is the creation of producer, engineer and drummer, Nathan Sabanayagam whose search for the roots of the music has included residencies in Ethiopia, Jamaica, Europe and the United States. Live sessions in Addis, studio work in Kingston and Zurich combined with formal training and touring in the United States have all contributed to Nathan’s vision, one that is wide ranging, innovative and disciplined. Sabayanagam is constantly searching out new sounds to build on or weave together. Naya Records, which is linking the ‘foundation with the future of roots music’, is the outcome of this vision.