The Alchemystics

Artist Information

Biography

“In a world where musicians seem content to follow established formulas it’s encouraging to find a band that can defy boundaries with skill & grace” — Lisa McIntyre, Performer Magazine

Fueled by their passion to explore beyond the edges of traditional musical boundaries and their diverse ethnic and musical backgrounds, the Alchemystics blend reggae, politically infused hip-hop, gritty soul, hard-driving rock, and pulsing Jamaican, Cuban and Trinidadian rhythms into an utterly unique and distinctively original new sound. The result is modern-day roots music with global appeal – an alchemy of ancient musical traditions; intricate, intelligent wordplay; elementally raw soul; irresistible hooks; deep, driving rhythms; and old-school vocal harmonies - fired by the Alchemystic’s unique blend of intensity, passion, and sheer artistic chemistry into a powerful, contemporary, and unmistakable sound.

Formed by producers, and rhythmic earth shakers Demse Zullo (drums & percussion) & Garrett Sawyer (bass) in early 2003, the Alchemystics under their musical direction have grown into an eclectic lineup of talented musicians combining the inspired, masterful vocals of Ras Jahn and Ian-I, the smooth and socially conscious lyricism of Force, the Afro-Caribbean infused percussion of Matthew King, and the cosmic keyboards of Jay Metcalf. Together, The Alchemystics have catalyzed into an original, unstoppable musical force. Their high-energy, fiercely danceable live shows, have gained the band a passionately loyal multi-cultural, multi-generational following throughout New England, and beyond.

The Alchemystics have shared stages with a global array of music luminaries such as Stephen Marley, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Clipse, Damian Marley, The Abyssinians, Sister Carol, The Coup, Inner circle, Busta Rhymes, Yellow Man, Burning Spear, Gil Scott Heron, Culture, Steel Pulse, Angelique Kidjo, Mighty Sparrow, The Brazilian Girls, Israel Vibrations, The English Beat, Midnite, King Sunny Ade and Taj Mahal among many others.

The Alchemystics firmly embrace the philosophy that music and art are tools for propelling social change in our communities, and that the future of music and the planet necessitates bringing people of diverse backgrounds together to create conscious community. Individually and collectively, the members of the Alchemystics prioritize giving back to their local community, working closely with local youth groups and lending their musical talents when called upon. Individually and as a group, Alchemystics members regularly guest lecture, teach, and perform at schools and colleges throughout the Northeast.

In May 2011 The Alchemystics released their fourth album, a 17-track studio album that follows up their E.P
and a full length live recording in 2008.


www.thealchemystics.com
thealchemystics@gmail.com

Instrumentation

Garrick "MC Force" Perry - Vocals
Ras Jahn Bullock - Vocals & Tambourine
Ian Cooper-Pettys - vocals & guitar
Jay Metcalf - keyboards
Demse Zullo - Drums & Percussion
Garrett Sawyer - Bass
Matthew King - Percussion & Backing Vocals

Discography

Spring 2011 "Spread Hope" full-length CD

Fall 2008 self released LIVE at the Iron Horse

Fall 2007: self-titled EP release
Featuring the popular track �Shine Eye Girl�

Spring 2007: "Bangers & Mash " featured on the "Western New England Hip Hop Compilation" (released by Mystika Music)

2006: Self-titled full-length CD (out of print; not with current lineup)

Spring 2006 CD Single �Homecoming� / �Fire�

Winter 2004 CD Single �Real Punisher� / �Ghetto Red Hot�

Links

• Facebook
• MySpace
• Twitter
• Last.fm
• Reverb Nation

Audio

• Type A Prayer
  Listen   Download
• Dance Upon The Corner feat. Preecha + Prowla
  Listen   Download
• What We Need (Spread Hope) feat. Denroy Morgan + Catalyst
  Listen   Download
• Don't Leave
  Listen   Download
• Let Them Dub
  Listen   Download

Lyrics

• Type A Prayer
• Dance Upon The Corner
• What We Need (Spread Hope)
• Don't Leave

Video

Elements.mp4

Photo Gallery

Press

• The Alchemystics: Spread Hope [+ Show ]
  

  As the title suggests, The Alchemystics’ Spread Hope is an upbeat, optimistic and infectious slab ...
  As the title suggests, The Alchemystics’ Spread Hope is an upbeat, optimistic and infectious slab of tunes that defies categorization. This CD was four years in the making, but it was sooooo worth the wait. It’s an eclectic array of songs, built on a reggae foundation but blending styles well beyond genres and ethnicities. The 17 tracks mix reggae and Caribbean music, spirituals, hip-hop, dub and ska, rock, funk and soul (often within each song), into an amalgamation of music that will appeal to a wide range of listeners. Technically, the band is a six-piece, consisting of; (reggae music legend) Ras Jahn Bullock – Vocals, Percussion / Force – Vocals / Ian-I – Guitar, Vocals / Jay Metcalf - Keyboards / Garrett Sawyer - Bass / Demse Zullo – Drums, Percussion. In concert however, the band occasionally adds a three-piece horn section, exemplifying the members’ diverse and eclectic backgrounds.
  
  Opener “Type Of Prayer” is a reggae styled spiritual, with bouncy and rhythmic piano melodies laid down by Sawyer and multiple choruses and verses sung by Ian-I, Ras Jahn and emcee Force, who trade verses and choruses throughout the CD. The song’s verses outline the band’s long held vision of bringing a positive musical vibe to people everywhere:
  
  Ras Jahn
  “Always stay where the peace will abide
  The most positive thing I ever could have tried
  Helps us to stay real inside
  We’ve got nothing to hide”
  
  ?Ian I
  “Coming with a new type a prayer?
  coming with a brand new thing to do?
  coming with a new vibe to bring?
  and we’re bringing this thing to you”
  
  The Alchemystics fully embrace reggae music’s philanthropy of social, cultural and political change. “Let Them know” is a call to arms to the people of Babylon to come together, rise up and fight for change. And later, “Leaving Babylon” isn’t so much an appeal to leave the mystical city, as it is a quest to find one’s own inspiration for greatness. Both are musically grounded in reggae, with swirling keyboard rhythms and a soulful, swaying horn section. And calypso king Kurt Allen adds a guest lead vocal on the upbeat Caribbean flavored “Be The Change” which advocates that change starts with ones’ self.
  
  Force is an emcee to be reckoned with, rapping with a smooth yet vigorous lyrical flow, he’s atypical of what we hear in modern, popular rap today, rapping with a socially conscious bent. Take the fast paced dub track “Mosh Up” for instance, on which he lays out a mission statement amongst blaring wah wah horn flares and rapid-fire percussion:
  
  “Mosh up catch up this one’s for the masses establish a name?
  Can’t think of an adjective apt to describe?
  So why try just vibe out don’t doubt now
  endowed with a power?to transform crowds
  till the chant so loud they damn near bounce out their trousers?
  If I’m allowed to be frank let’s just say?
  Ain’t nothin better betta get this straight.”
  
  And “Shine I” is a moving and inspirational love song to a girl who got away back in the day, yet now he’s found her face in the crowd and he’s making his move.
  
  “No illusions I’m done with the ruse
  and you remember in school I was way into you
  And you dated some dudes who were majorly cruel
  And I hated to swoon or be played like a fool
  I was takin it cool to the day you were through
  And this right here’s like deja vu
  Who’d a knew that we’d meet twice
  And I’m still surprised cause I fantasized
  So many times bout you and I
  Can’t deny this here’s a sign.”
  
  Yet on the aching but lovely heartbreaker, “Don’t Leave”, the protagonist begs a lover (the same woman?) not to leave. Yet as Ian-I makes clear in the final verse, the hurt between the lovers is too much to bare. Musically, it’s the most melodic song on the recording, with plaintive piano and shimmering guitar and a heartfelt and emotional chorus plea by Ras Jahn. “Summer Life” is every bit as breezy and warm as its title suggests, with a funky bass groove, soulful harmonies and Caribbean dance hall styled keyboards.
  
  Perhaps everything can be summarized by the inspirational title track,” What We Need (Spread Hope)”. Against a cadent, percussive back beat, the band mixes all elements; hip hop, soulful reggae and sweet vocal harmonizing, verses traded back and fourth between Ras Jahn, Ian-I, Force, and guests including reggae legend Denroy Morgan, and Catalyst (Force’s brother). Ras Jahn soulfully pleads in a sinuous lilt on the chorus for “…a new vibe, inspiration, sweet sensation”. And then Force offers tribute to the masters:
  
  “No defense for this intensive inventiveness from my squad?
  A positive message indebted to Bob Marl?
  Wit a lil bit of Marvin, Jay Biggie and Nas.”
  
  And continues:
  
  “But let’s take a pause remember
  when rap was?all about change and Flavor Flav was sane?
  No half steppin with Kane and now ya reppin that caine?
  Y’all Mr. Glass rappers are actually quite lame.”
  
  Ras Jahn and Ian-I bring the reggae back around on inspirationally moving verses, and then Catalyst grabs the mic to preach for peace in the communities:
  
  “Yea I know times get drastic
  Last thing we need is rappers putting guys in caskets
  Should be evolution instead of the guns you shooting
  Start a revolution instead we all losing.”
  
  On Spread Hope, The Alchemystics blend several styles of music and an eclectic mix of influences, creating the ultimate elixir of life, and delivering an upbeat and optimistic message of peace and positive vibes. The music is infectious, funky, soulful and spiritual, and one can’t but help be moved by this groove.
  
  by Bill Clifford
  
  Bill is a New England based freelance critic whose writing has been published in Paste Magazine, Relix Magazine, Performing Songwriter Magazine, The Hartford Advocate and Hartford Courant, Jambase.com, Yahoo Music, among others.
  

• Musician Ras Jahn Bullock spreads the word about reggae [+ Show ]
  

  Beneath a red, yellow and green tam that covers 11-foot-long dreadlocks - he hasn't cut his hair ...
  Beneath a red, yellow and green tam that covers 11-foot-long dreadlocks - he hasn't cut his hair in 42 years - Ras Jahn Bullock's bespectacled eyes light up at the memory of sitting in the back of a smoke-filled bus in Jamaica one day many years ago.
  
  That day, Bullock says, he listened to some wise words spoken to him by reggae legend Bob Marley: "Until the color of a man's skin is of no more significance than the color of his eyes, you will always have war."
  
  It was 1978, and Bullock, who lives in Montague, had traveled to Jamaica to attend the Bob Marley & The Wailers' One Love Festival, and to personally ask Marley a question. Bullock wanted to know what Marley thought about white people playing reggae.
  
  The question was a crucial one for Bullock. Around that time, he had joined the Valley reggae band Loose Caboose as a vocalist and keyboardist. His presence as "the only black Rasta" (a member of the Rastafari movement that started in Jamaica in the 1930s), had sparked a conflict.
  
  "Their [Loose Caboose] fans wanted to know why they were following a black Rasta; my previous fans wanted to know why I was singing in front of a white band," Bullock explained in a recent interview. Rather than come up with an answer himself, Bullock says, he decided to "go to the source of reggae music and see what Marley had to say about it."
  
  The answer, Bullock says, came in the form of lyrics from Marley's song "War."
  
  "Until there are no longer first class/ And second class citizens of any nation/ until the color of a man's skin/ is of no more significance than the color of his eyes/ me say war."
  
  That day, Marley also told Bullock that a reggae musician's race didn't matter, as long as he or she remains "true to the roots" of reggae.
  
  Since hearing Marley's words of wisdom 33 years ago, that's what Bullock says he's been doing - staying true to reggae's roots and spreading his love for the musical genre. To that end, Bullock founded the Charlemont Reggae Fest in 1985 and, later, his own recording studio, Caboose2Zion, in South Deerfield.
  
  This year's festival will be held Saturday at the Charlemont Fairgrounds, and will include performances by The Alchemystics, of which Bullock is now a member, as well as 16 other international reggae groups and individual artists.
  
  Paying it forward, in 1978, Marley and Bullock stayed in touch. It was thanks to Marley, Bullock says, that he and Loose Caboose were eventually invited to record with Dynamic Sounds Studio in Jamaica, where they spent three whirlwind weeks recording their first album, performing on Jamaican TV, and meeting their reggae heroes, including Jimmy Cliff and Pablo Moses.
  
  "It was an amazing time to be in Jamaica," Bullock recalls. "The music was really flowing ... everybody was recording there."
  
  Bullock says he will never forget how Marley reached out to him as a young musician. That's why I'm here today, I feel like I'm part of that legacy that lives on." After Bullock's return from Jamaica, he opened his recording studio to offer others similar opportunities. He records some for free, he says, if they cannot afford to pay.
  
  "I decided to do the same thing for other musicians that Bob did for me. ... It was sort of like giving back."
  
  Ten years ago, The Alchemystics was a band in need of a place to rehearse and record its first CD. Bullock offered them a spot and then, four years later, joined the group as its lead singer and hook writer (Hooks are "the catchy phrases in the music, that get your attention," Bullock explained).
  
  The other band members are Ian-I, (guitar, vocals); Jay Metcalf (keyboards); Garrett Sawyer (bass); Demse Zullo (drums, percussion); and Force (rapping, vocals), blending their various backgrounds of hip-hop, rhythm & blues, rock, gospel, soul and reggae.
  
  Because of the group's multifaceted background, Bullock says, "We can go in and we can play for a hip-hop crowd, a rap crowd, or we can play for a reggae crowd - a Rasta crowd, and just shine."
  
  The Reggae Fest is just one stop for The Alchemystics on its cross-country summer tour in support of its new CD, "Spread Hope" that features tracks like "What we need (spread hope)," "Be the Change" and "We Can Overcome."
  
  "This music is about spreading hope, and that's something that we were inspired by when Barack Obama was elected president," Bullock says. "It's part of his message, and it's something we reiterated and we take seriously. There's a lot of dismay in the world, and there's not a whole lot of attention paid to the hope side."
  
  The Charlemont Reggae Fest
  
  While The Alchemystics will be performing for the sixth time in the Reggae Fest, this is Bullock's 26th year. When he started the festival in 1985, Bullock says, there were no venues for reggae in the Valley - something, he adds, that has changed since then.
  
  "We were basically trying to reggae as ambassadors, because back then, when we started playing, people didn't know a lot about reggae, didn't know a lot about Jamaican culture. They also hadn't seen dreadlocks; didn't know about Rastafari."
  
  The goal of the festival remains the same, Bullock says: "To create a venue for exposure to the new reggae movements that are being born right here in the Valley # the festival is basically set up to showcase the new reggae talent and also to inspire the new reggae talent."
  
  Over the years, Bullock says, the festival has grown, in large part because of support from the town. Every year, Bullock says he is contacted by hundreds of reggae bands asking to play at the festival.
  
  "We've really made Charlemont a place that is now part of the overall reggae scene," Bullock said. "I get emails from all over America, from Jamaica, all of Bob's kids have asked me if they could play."
  
  This year's festival will feature music by The Alchemystics, Denroy Morgan, Laza Morgan, Kurt Allen, Ricky Emmanuel Brown, Loose Caboose (with Impress V), DJ/Sir Walford Sibbles, DJ/Zion High Power, Gaia Roots, I Idren, Rhythm Inc., Fenibo, The Equalites, Artie "Cuban" Wallace, 1 Band International (featuring Addis), Rebelle and The Berklee Bob Marley Ensemble.
  
  True to the roots
  
  Even after all these years Bullock says he still wonders sometimes at his luck in meeting the man who inspired him so much.
  
  "After Bob died [in 1981] one day I started thinking about my relationship with him, and I used to question, 'Why me?' " Bullock said. The fact that he managed not only to get onto Marley's bus, but also to ask Marley the question that was the purpose of his journey, surprised everyone, Bullock says - except him. "Everyone told me, 'You'll never see Bob,' 'Bob's a superstar,' 'You'll never get to him.' I don't know if it was my naïveté, or my belief in something stronger than me - but I just felt that it was something that I was meant to do."
  
  On Saturday, gates open at 11 a.m. for the Charlemont Reggae Fest, located at the Charlemont Fairgrounds. Advance tickets are $17; tickets the day of show are $20. Children under 12 are free. In addition to food and drinks, cultural arts and crafts will be for sale. For information, visit: www.charlemontreggaefest.com.
  
  For information about The Alchemystics, visit www.thealchemystics.com. Their website offers four free downloadable songs from their latest album. As the website says, "Go ahead and download 'em, burn 'em, e-mail 'em, share 'em, and enjoy 'em."
  
  
  By LUCY CASALE
  Gazette Contributing Writer

• Alchemystics to make Plattsburgh debut [+ Show ]
  

  GARRET K. WOODWARD Press-Republican The fundamental nature of hip-hop and reggae is self-awarene...GARRET K. WOODWARD
  Press-Republican
  
  The fundamental nature of hip-hop and reggae is self-awareness, pride and an undying ambition to bridge beauty from the darkest of societal corners.
  
  And with their latest release, "Spread Hope," The Alchemystics have combined these two fiercely independent genres into a sound all their own, filled with the uplifting message and positive outlook embraced and projected from those who came before them.
  
  Emerging from the Berkshire Mountains of Western Massachusetts, the sextet is spilling across the Northeast music scene with a live experience that fuses the jaw-dropping lyrical bombshell styling of Outkast with the timeless, poetic splendor of Bob Marley.
  
  The group will make their debut Plattsburgh performance at The Green Room at 10 p.m. Saturday during Mayor's Cup.
  
  Preparing to embark on a vast summer tour, Demse Zullo (drums/percussion) and Force (singer/lyricist) discuss the band and why their musical message is one eager to be heard from anyone willing to listen, learn and spread the hope created onstage night after night.
  
  GKW: How would you describe the sound?
  
  DZ: Reggae, hip-hop, dub, soul, roots. Good music is good music. Hopefully we'll fall under that category. A fan recently sent us a quote from her preschool class who had just heard our track "Type A Prayer." They described our music as "unicorns, snuggling, loving, colorful, smiling like a rainbow." I guess we're doing something right.
  
  GKW: What are your thoughts on the current music industry?
  
  Force: Popular music, in particular, is plagued with a number of cookie-cutter acts and not a lot of originality.
  
  Over the last year, I've noticed a few great movements bubbling in the underground that have definitely renewed my faith in the industry. Now is a very interesting time to be a musician. With all of the social media and ways to develop and nurture a fan base at an artist's fingertips now, there are so many ways to reach the masses, which is both exciting and daunting at the same time.
  
  GKW: How do you want to be different, or contribute to the evolution?
  
  Force: I don't think it's a matter of wanting to be different, we just simply are.
  
  We take all of these seemingly disparate elements and personalities and mold them into something unique, yet familiar at the same time.
  
  Everyone has a voice and should not be afraid to express themselves and their individuality. Be yourself and shine.
  
  GKW: How has your stage presence or confidence evolved onstage?
  
  DZ: It's encouraging and empowering when you see things you envisioned and worked toward for a long time come to fruition. It will make you a believer.
  
  I'm a grown man trying to move forward in a rapidly changing world where a lot is at play and most of the factors are out of my control. Confidence is a must. You should play music and live life like you're in it to win it.
  
  GKW: Why is your style of music important to bring to the masses?
  
  Force: Honestly, we are living in a very stressful time, and it is very important to spread a little hope and positivism.
  
  Most of the pop music out there is very flavorless and lacking any sort of message. We hope to change that by making music that people can not only dance to, but also take home and really think about and possibly gain something from. We're all about family, and we really want everyone out there to be a part of ours.
  
  Garret K. Woodward, a native of Rouses Point, reviews music for several publications, including The Press-Republican, State of Mind Music Magazine, Roving Festival Writer and Fourth Coast Entertainment Magazine. Read his blog at TheRFW.com/blog/Garret, or email him at garret.woodward@yahoo.com.

• Review: The Alchemystics – Spread Hope [+ Show ]
  

  Album Review: The name Alchemystics is both an oddly fitting and oddly misleading name for this gro...Album Review:
  The name Alchemystics is both an oddly fitting and oddly misleading name for this group, depending on how you view the primary objectives of alchemy and the primary objectives of this band. The ancient tradition of alchemy was focused upon the creation of the Philosopher’s Stone, which would have the ability to turn base metals into silver or gold. On Spread Hope the Alchemystics blend a wide variety of genres, including reggae, ska, calypso, and hip-hop, to form their own concoction of bass-heavy groove music. While I can’t in good conscious say that those genres are the base metals which the Alchemystics turn to gold, the metaphor nonetheless stands.
  
  Small elements ranging from Afro-Caribbean percussion to Rasta mysticism to short, staccato stabs of funk guitar slither through the ranks of these seventeen tracks amidst a bubbling foam of positive vibrations and skank rhythms. As reverb drenched snare hits clash with Force’s socially conscious lyrical content and latin percussion sizzles through the mix, the band rigorously displays their knowledge and mastery of various genres. Through this molding, they speak not only as musicians, but as global citizens, modern day humans throwing their own two cents into the conversation of multi-cultural cooperation and exchange. The music is thrilling and evocative for the most part, combining elements from fields as far as the eye can see into a simmering pot, seeping out a delicious stew of eclectic influences, all based in the universal concept of rhythm and groove...Don’t let the length scare you away from this album, though. While there’s certainly a lot of material to wade through, the latest offering the Alchemystics has plenty of tracks just ripe for summer listening (like “Summer Life,” obviously, a celebration of the postiive summer vibes over a bouncing, dancehall groove), as well as inspiration to seek positive growth in a wounded world (“Be The Change,” “Leaving Babylon,” “We Can Overcome”)
  
  Written & Reviewed by: Chris Castro
  
  
  [Editors Note: All reviews are reflective of the album in it's entirety, from start to finish. These reviews are the honest opinion of each writer/reviewer, expressing their feedback as a genuine fan of the music. Each star rating reflects their review of the album, not the band. Music is subjective. Regardless of the review or star rating, we encourage you to listen to the music yourself & form your own opinion. Spread the awareness of all music in its art & contribution]

• CD Shorts, The Alchemystics "Spread Hope" [+ Show ]
  

  The Alchemystics Spread Hope (Northfire Recording) The Alchemystics represent something of a he...The Alchemystics
  Spread Hope
  (Northfire Recording)
  
  The Alchemystics represent something of a heavily branched river—in this case, an intergenerational blend of reggae, dub, ska, funk and hip-hop. It has that feel of historic Valley (or rather Hilltown) reggae, and the band's cred remains enhanced by its inclusion of elder statesman Ras Jahn Bullock of Loose Caboose fame. Now The Alchemystics have incorporated some Cajun and calypso influences and a horn section, and have also begun collaborating with other influential Caribbean figures, including Denroy Morgan, father of '90s reggae phenom Morgan Heritage, and Kurt Allen, who was named Trinidad & Tobago's 2010 National Calypso Monarch. The production is crisp, and the overall (spiritual) message is delivered by several messengers of markedly different styles. Check them out at the 2011 Strange Creek Campout at Greenfield's Camp KeWanee, May 27-30. —Tom Sturm

• The Alchemystics ’Spread Hope’ in true summer style [+ Show ]
  

  As every good music fan knows, sometimes even the best album can take a few listens before it starts...As every good music fan knows, sometimes even the best album can take a few listens before it starts to grow on you.
  
  Often, the catchiest tracks are found and played on repeat, until the rest of the album is slowly integrated into the listening cycle, at which point- if the CD is good- the listener begins to fall in love with the entire body of work.
  
  And sometimes you have the pleasure of love at first listen. This is the rare occasion in which you pop on a new album and are instantly captivated, effortlessly jamming out to the entire record while excitedly IMing your friends, “this is the best CD ever!” (OK, maybe I’m the only one who does that last part.)
  
  The latter can be said about the new album from The Alchemystics, “Spread Hope.”
  
  The 17-track LP comes in at a little over an hour- that’s 70 minutes of pure reggae awesomeness. In all fairness, part of my ease in listening to this record is that these dudes have been touring this material around for years, so I was already familiar with some of the tracks. I was also shocked to realize that, while in 2008 the band released both an EP and a live album, “Spread Hope” was their first full-length studio release, serving as a platform for old school fan-favorites and new material (which I’m sure will also become fan-favorites).
  
  To provide a little background on The Alchemystics- they’re a 6-piece reggae band from Western Massachusetts (represent!). Formed in 2003, the group has made quite the name for themselves in the Northeast and on the festival circuit.
  
  According to the group’s latest bio, “Their high-energy, fiercely danceable live shows, have gained the band a passionately loyal multi-cultural, multi-generational following throughout New England, and beyond.” Having discovered the band several years ago at Wormtown Festival, I can certainly attest to what a captivating live band they are, with an equally captivated audience. To put it plainly- these guys kick ass.
  
  Because I truly enjoy “Spread Hope” from start to finish, it would make for much too long an article if I were to gush about each individual song. So, here’s a breakdown of some of my favoritest favorite tracks:
  
  Type of Prayer – This is the album opener, and while it hasn’t appeared on any previous Alchemystics recordings, it’s recently become a live staple of the band. This song is a great way to begin the album because it has the perfect blend of Ian-I’s smooth and pleasant vocals, Ras Jahn’s raspy cries, and Force’s eloquent rap flows.
  
  Summer Life – Hands down favorite track on the album. This is the going to be the band’s summer anthem, mostly because of lyrics from Force like, “Mostly mai-tais, margaritas, hefeweizens / so refreshing, at festivals blowin’ hippies’ minds.” (I didn’t think it was even possible to rhyme “hefeweizen” with “mind.”) It should also be noted that I’ve listened to this song upwards of 30 times since I first heard it. Release this as a single!!!
  
  Shine I – Formerly known as “Shine Eye Girl,” this is one of the band’s most popular songs, and a big crowd-pleaser at their live show. It was great to hear this track on a full-length album- it’s such a fun, upbeat number that tells the story of a dude trying to win over a girl he’s had the hots for since high school. And just when I thought I had memorized all the words, Force went ahead and threw a new verse in.
  
  Dedication – The name of this song says it all. It’s a true 2 ½ minute dedication in which the band rhymes their thank yous to all of the family, fans and friends that have supported them throughout the years. From a fan perspective, I couldn’t help but get a little giddy when Strangecreek and Wormtown got shoutouts- my two favorite festivals of the summer, and the venues where I heard the Alchemystics for the first time. The band knows where their loyalties lie.
  
  We Can Overcome – This is the second-to-last song on the album, and serves as an uplifting finish to the entire body of work. Ian-I and Ras Jahn use their melodic vocals to reassure the listener that, through positive change, we can truly overcome anything. It’s a really good, rhythmic song that you can just sway back and forth to until it gently peters out around the 5-minute mark.
  
  While I could go on all day about how much I enjoy The Alchemystics and their album, “Spread Hope,” you should do yourself a favor and check them out for yourself. They will be one of the headlining bands at this weekend’s Strange Creek Music Festival, where they will have their new album available for purchase. Check them out, pick it up, and say hello. And thank me later.

• The Alchemystics | Spread Hope [+ Show ]
  

  MC Force recently told me, “We don’t really fit a category. We’re not easy to place.” Drummer/co-pro...MC Force recently told me, “We don’t really fit a category. We’re not easy to place.” Drummer/co-producer Demse Zullo agrees. “We don’t really fit in with jam bands. First of all, they don’t have any hooks, and we have plenty.”
  
  Plenty is an understatement. After three years of recording at Demse and bassist Garrett Sawyer’s studio, Northfire Studios, Spread Hope is a self-released labor of love that pays off with some of the catchiest and wide-ranged music. Most of the 16 songs have rapping from Force and lyrics, hooks, and choruses by both guitarist/singer Ian I and Ras Jahn Bullock. While Force is a fast-paced wordsmith with a contemporary frame of mind, Ian I has a melodic growl and Ras Jahn, who’s been playing reggae since before the rest of the band was even born, grounds the whole ensemble with a willowy wind of a voice.
  
  If that weren’t enough, Jay Metcalf is a binding force behind the keyboards. Jumping from reggae rhythms to soulful organ, Jay’s keys sound great throughout the album. There’s also Garrett, an excellent bassist. His lines are movement-oriented, a gentle blend of funk and soul. The other part of the rhythm section is Demse, and on the most reggae’d out tunes with all the other musicians at times getting pretty rootsy, Demse’s style is beefed up by hip/hop and soul, and might be the stirrer in this audio melting pot. Matthew King offers up percussion, expanding the sound, creating dimensions.
  
  Now to the album itself. Spread Hope opens with “Type A Prayer”, Ian I’s hook, a mix of soul and flow, over a keyboard patter. Soon after, Ras Jahn enters, saying, “We’ve got nothing to hide.” At first bat, “Type A Prayer” was a good choice for an opener. It simply can’t be categorized as any specific genre, although it’s so catchy and allows each singer plenty of room that any listener will shrug and say, “I don’t know what this is, but I like it.” By the time Force comes in we’re already invested.
  
  “Let Them Know” is a more reggae’d tune, with added horns, something that doesn’t normally follow the crew on the road. The horns are an excellent addition. The keys sound like a Dr. Dre sample as Ras Jahn sings, “Babylon going down to Hell.” Ian I is by far the biggest dreamer of the singers. “Corruption not going to do it again,” he sings. “We won’t stop until a brighter day.”
  
  Further down the line is “What We Need”, with guest appearances by Denroy Morgan and Catalyst. First is Force. “Spread hope like Obama,” he raps. “Let’s take a pause and remember when rap was all about the change.” The song is about needing new inspiration, and is sort of an autobiography for The Alchemystics, who have managed to freshen up the sound. “There’s nothing new under the sun,” Denroy sings, to add to that effect. The best part of this song, however, is Catalyst. The dude’s voice sounds like Jay- Z- no joke. He’s got excellent flow and fits in nicely with the vibe. “Let me grab your attention for a minute/to preach to the people about a little something different.”
  
  A key track is “Be The Change”, an airy jaunt with female backing vocals. “Everyone wants to see a change in everybody else/nobody wants to see the change begins with themselves,” goes the chorus. The bass line is righteous and Ian I’s guitar play is a bit afrobeat. It’s a delicious summation of the band’s ability.
  
  “Holiday” is Ras Jahn’s chance to sing out. The horns are a euphoric addition and this soulful, happy, hopeful tune builds on held out organ and Demse’s snappy drums. The “Doop-dabby-doop, dabby-doop-dap-day” refrain will get you singing along.
  
  Finally, “Shine I” is the only real love song. The groove is really pretty and the hook is infectious. “Never met a girl like you,” Force quips. “One thing I know that’s true/this’ll put you in the mood/we can break a couple rules.” The bass is a low-end booty shaker. I love it!
  
  Spread Hope’s content, despite having so much going on, is hopeful, (hence the name), and asks for unity, community, and believes in music. Will Force’s lyrics stand the test of time? I don’t know; they’re not all that timeless. However, they, along with the rest of the music, are like the Times balled up and presented. This album says, “This is what music is like today,” and it’s damn good.
  
  Some groups of the ilk blend genres. Others mix one or more together or bounce from one to the next. The Alchemystics, however, fuse, like a pile of raw materials one day being a fort to trifle with today.
  
  Bottom line: You definitely get your money’s worth with this richly thought out and complex album of conscious music.
  
  Album review by John Powell
  
  
  
  

• Review: CD Release Party [+ Show ]
  

  It was through a chance meeting at the Strange Creek Music Festival last year that I met Garrett Saw...It was through a chance meeting at the Strange Creek Music Festival last year that I met Garrett Sawyer, bass player for the band the Alchemystics. Interestingly, it was the year that while standing at our vending booth, Old 78 Farm clothing, that I was taking an informal poll to see which band at Strange Creek was people's favorite. Overwhelmingly, the local hip hop, funk, soul reggae band the Alchemystics seemed to be the choice of the Worms who come to celebrate twice a year in Greenfield.
  
  Garrett is a tall lanky fellow, with dreads that are longer than most people are tall. His careful yet easy going manner do not necessarily indicate the lively and spirited bass playing that he uses to anchor this fascinating band. I've seen the Alchemystics now probably five times since then, capped off by the performance last Saturday night at the Iron Horse music hall in Northampton MA that acted as the release of their brand new CD, Spread Hope. I was happily greeted by a line at the door that stretched down the block, hundreds of people waiting to get into a room that probably couldn't fit as many people as were in the line. This is a good sign.
  
  With the large ensemble Bearquarium opening the night, the sound crew had their hands full with two bands that require alot of equipment onstage and expertise off of it. So after a quick sound check in front of a music hungry mob, the Alchemystics readied themselves and whetted the appetite of the crowd. What followed was around two hours of exciting new music. By that I don't just mean the music that they premiered off of their new album, but also the whole concept of the band. While reminiscent of the band Arrested Development, in that they share that band's penchant for cultural history and mixing hip hop with other musical styles, the Alchemystics blend of hip hop, reggae, soul and funk is truly a glimpse into the future of contemporary music. Without the pretension of declaring this music in a "We Are now going to Mash Up these Musical Styles" (pretend a robot voice was reading that...) they simply mix them without pretense. Bands like the Alchemystics are just playing the music that they love, being adept at mixing their influences without declaration of intent.
  
  The band was firing on all cylinders- Ian-I on guitar and reggae influxed vocals; Garrick "Force" Perry on the mic bringing the sound into the 21st century with conscious rhymes, and the statesman Ras Jahn singing all of the hooks with his Jamaican inflected voice. They ran through song after song, including the album's lead single Type a Prayer, a song that perfectly illustrates what this band brings to the table. Equal parts Michael Franti, the Beatie Boys and Soulive, this band was able to fire into the appreciative crowd one salvo after another. In large part their ability to keep the energy up is due to the band's ridiculous rhythm section. That section is anchored by drummer Demse Zullo and frequent home town guest Matthew King on percussion, who also sings a bit of backup it seems. They are joined by the aforementioned Garrett Sawyer on bass whose infectious smile, island dancing and genial nature really sums up the personality of this band- serious badass musically but serious fun lover in life. A great combination!
  
  Jay Metcalf on keys is another anchor, supplying much of the legitimate skank and bubble that is the root of their reggae sound. You would hardly notice as he seems to crave the shadows instead of the spotlight. But there is plenty of spotlight to share on the Alchemystics stage- with characters like Force and Ian-I and all there is to see front and center, its okay to have a cat like Metcalf who is pulling the strings without demanding attention. This band has clearly matured not only over the five years or so that they have been lighting up the Pioneer Valley, but in the last six months since I saw them with Roots of Creation at the Elevens in Northampton for their Halloween themed show. At that show they wowed the crowd not only with their own abilities, but by bringing up serious guests like Trinidad's Calypso King Kurt Allen. This show was no different.
  
  In what would have been the second set had they actually taken a break, but was really just 90 minutes into a lengthy show, they brought up another out of town legend, Denroy Morgan. As the father of a slew of reggae musicians who now tour under the name Morgan Heritage, Morgan was decked all in leather, and brought some serious reggae knowledge to the show. Coming into the Iron Horse as an Alchemystics fan rather than a reggae buff, I wasn't super aware of him or the songs that they were doing, but his skill and experience shown through easily. The band was visibly jazzed by his presence and they dropped some old school reggae on the crowd while Delray and his two backing vocalists took the stage with the band for several tunes. He was then easily spotted in the crowd for the rest of the show digging as hard as anyone else there the sounds of the band. It was particularly cool to see someone who is so respected and accomplished in the reggae scene just being a part of the Alchemystics community- not separated from the crowd as an elder, rather in it as a participant. Such is the nature of what happens to you at an Alchemystics show- you come in as a stranger and are instantly integrated into their community.
  
  Afterward the band was in their groove, breaking out some of their fun material and not necessarily feeling the need to stay on the new album tracks, having already showcased them earlier. Metcalf fired into the tell tale chords of Van Halen's Jump which of course the band bent and molded into their own creation. It quickly morphed into the song Shout that we all know from the Animal house soundtrack- and the combination of the two songs was obvious to the point where you wondered why they had not been joined together before by others. The crowd was frenzied jumping and shouting along with the band and you could easily tell that the beautiful people there would want to be nowhere else but right there sharing their lives and loves with their favorite band. A few more tunes came out as the band glided to the end of the show including an old school Bangers and Mash and a few other tunes that I can't recall necessarily, but I'm certain that recordings of this show ought to be available here sometime soon somewhere.
  
  The band is getting ready to go out in June on their first lengthy road jaunt, just 10 days or so down to the upper South and back, but it's a symbol that they are willing to stretch themselves not only musically, but also in terms of their reach as a band. In speaking with Demse Zullo after the show, he smiled and winked a bit saying "I had just enough gas to reach the end..." But both he and I know that there is plenty of gas left in the Alchemystics tank, and you should not hesitate to check them out wherever you are.
  

• Like Tin To Gold [+ Show ]
  

  It's commencement weekend for the local colleges in Northampton, MA, so the town is packed. Families...It's commencement weekend for the local colleges in Northampton, MA, so the town is packed. Families and friends out on the town wait for their dinner reservations, attend speeches, and try not to get wet, as it’s a cold, rainy evening. The most electric energy, however, is over at the Iron Horse, where The Alchemystics and Bearquarium are playing the late show, and as the early band ships out, the line at the door travels down the road, past the parking lot.
  
  The Alchemystics are there early, their cars parked in a caravan outside the venue, waiting for the okay to load in. There’s a certain impatient energy to the crowd. I ask a young group if they’re excited about Spread Hope, the new Alchemystics album and the reason for this release party. “We already have it,” they shout, pointing to keyboardist Jay Metcalf’s Volvo, where he’s selling CDs out of his trunk.
  
  “I want one,” says an older woman, grinning. “I can’t wait.” She’s just one of many eager fans that have gathered early to get in and get ready. The Alchemystics are from around the area, and could call Northampton their home base. Naturally, they have some long- time fans.
  
  Another group also already bought the CD, and too impatient to hear them live, have relocated to their car in the parking lot, doors open and windows down, playing the album as loudly as possible, ears turned to the speakers, listening intently.
  
  Mike Sera and Chelz Tuson are a couple that seem to have bonded over music. “We’ve been following them for three years,” Mike tells me; “since I was sixteen.” His smile shows that he’s excited for the show and the prospect of further shows in support of Spread Hope. I ask Chelz why she loves The Alchemystics so much. “Reggae mixed with rap- that’s the best,” she replies. Mike adds, “This is what we love.”
  
  Another fan describes them as, “Reggae, but more than reggae.” She’s standing in a circle with her friends, around the corner, passing something around. There’s a young crowd, lots of teenagers and college students that The Alchemystics are perfect for, exactly as they describe it: a bit of all the music they love, with lots of hooks, opportunities to sing along, and a definite dance party.
  
  But fans aren’t limited to the late-teenager. An older couple wears biker jackets, white T-shirts, and the man sports some rocking facial hair. One woman explains she has the band’s first album wired into her light switch. “It’s the first thing I hear in the morning,” she smiles, adding with a laugh, “This new album should get us through the summer.”
  
  Before they even play, The Alchemystics have exceeded expectations. Just by offering this show, the line seems enthusiastic. It’s getting late, but no one minds and The Alchemystics themselves are feeling good, meet-and-greeting with the line. Bassist/ co-producer Garrett Swayer’s car is caked in dirt with “Clean me” fingered on his windshield. One bumper sticker supports organic farms and the other simply reads, “The Alchemystics,” and the car is the last thing the line sees before the door.
  
  The Iron Horse bartenders, despite the onslaught of costumers, remain friendly, aware that with no ventilation in the venue cold drinks are necessary. Sure enough, everyone was prepared for the cold, rainy night, and now they stand in a room as humid as Miami in July.
  
  After a short and sweet set, Bearquarium exchanges spots with The Alchemystics, who, after a long soundcheck, begin. Jay’s in a Roots of Creation T-shirt, (“Gotta represent,” he tells me), and Ras Jahn is in a slick Marley shirt. The band is as eager as the audience. They begin with the a’capella background provided by Ras Jahn and Ian I of “Dedication”, and then it takes off.
  
  The energy is super high. The entire band has a stellar stage presence, especially Garrett, a bass player that’s not content standing in the back. At one point he dips the head of his bass into the audience and lets a fan hold onto it for a few measures. At intervals his lion’s mane dreadlocks fall over the bass strings and in a fluid motion he tosses them back. Behind him, Demse Zullo is on the drum kit, and from certain angles in the club you can see his face and the slight but consistent smile on his lips. This album release was a long time coming, and it’s paying off. Next to him, Matthew King stands with all his percussion, having soaked through his button up collared shirt completely. He doesn’t care. He’s having a great time.
  
  Force is a great MC. “Since we saw you all waiting in line, it made us so happy,” he says. “Give a round of applause for yourselves. Love yourself.” He gets the audience clapping. He gets them singing along. When they play “Type A Prayer” he, Garrett, and Ian I step side-to-side in unison, putting on a show.
  
  Periodically, a wave of glow sticks is launched into the air. A beach ball gets punched around the dance floor. For a treat, Force says, “Let’s get our calisthenics on,” and Jay begins the synth line to Van Halen’s “Jump”, which causes the audience to scream in glee. (Let’s face it; that’s a great dance song.) It leads into “Shout,” causing another dose of screams as Ras Jahn commands, “A little bit softer now,” and the band as a whole crouches low before popping up like fireworks reignited.
  
  After guest spots by Catalyst and other Northfire Records rapping reps, including some freestyling, and guest appearances by two short, young singers that hold their own with Ras Jahn, singing with them with a big grin on his face, his eyes periodically darting their way, The Alchemystics sign off, playing a great little encore. “When we’re done, you gotta head out,” Force explains. “These Iron Horse people, they got a job to do.”
  
  The grateful audience buys copies of the new album, (proving the CD isn’t dead yet), and exit, glad for fresh air and a breeze. The Alchemystics shake hands, hug, pack up, and meet on the street. I stand around chatting with lingering fans and then Demse comes over to me, dressed all in black with his fedora cocked on his head. He beams a smile at me. “Ready?” he says, referring to the afterparty.
  
  Set Lists:
  
  Dedication
  Leaving Babylon
  Let Wi In
  Summer Life
  Type a Prayer
  Elements
  Leggo
  What I’m Saying
  Let Them Know
  Dance Upon the Corner
  Mosh Up
  What We Need
  
  Anything For You
  Jump -> Shout
  Bangers n’ Mash
  Freestyle
  Promised Land
  Mellow Mood
  Shine I
  Fire
  Overcome

• Nateva Feva- or maybe it’s just a sunburn. [+ Show ]
  

  The Alchemystics might be one of the most hardworking bands on the festival scene right now- these g...The Alchemystics might be one of the most hardworking bands on the festival scene right now- these guys are everywhere! They played on Sunday in the barn and killed it- especially when they brought up a couple members of brother-band The Problemaddicts. They all did a cover of “I Don’t Wanna be a Player No More” and brought the house down. Their stage presence was incredible and I was about two cups of Sunset Blush away from jumping on stage with them because they looked like they were having so much fun. Of course, these dudes are all so nice they probably would’ve humored me for about three minutes before having security take me away. My only issue with the Alchemystics’ set is that it should’ve been longer and on the main stage.

• Nateva Festival [+ Show ]
  

  I ran out and caught The Alchemystics. And, holy hell.  I have no words.  I walked into the Port Ci...I ran out and caught The Alchemystics.
  And, holy hell.  I have no words.  I walked into the Port City Music Hall and it was going wild in there.  The place was packed, jamming reggae jam crazy dance party was going on.  I caught the last two songs and the encore.  It was out of control, great beats, high high energy…. they literally blew my head off. I was dumbfounded.  My friend asked me what I thought of them, and I had no words.  I could not speak.  I was processing the crazy hip-hop reggae rage that just went down and I couldn’t speak.  Wow.  The Alchemystics.  Yeah, these guys are on my radar up near The New Mastersounds, who I saw at Mountain Jam.  Phewwwwwww.

• Strange Creek Music Festival [+ Show ]
  

  The Alchemystics were another new band, to this critic anyway, that thoroughly impressed and made ma...The Alchemystics were another new band, to this critic anyway, that thoroughly impressed and made many new fans with a stirring set. The band’s sound is rooted in reggae, and infused with hip-hop and soul music. Similar to the Roots, this band employs real musicians playing rock instruments, guitar, bass, drums, percussion and keyboards, while several members add harmony vocals. To the mix they add the potent vocal stylings of an emcee (Force) and a reggae singer (Ras Jahn.) On “Mosh Up”, the emcee pranced from one side of the stage to the other, and from the front of the stage to the back, firing up the crowd with his effervescent energy. His raps flowed super fast off his tongue while Jahn soulfully tempered the lyrical flow. The percussion and keys stood out on the smooth conclusion to “Spread Hope”, and then the band tossed out Alchemystics Frisbee’s to a large crowd eager to snatch them up. Where the band excelled was in the songs with more musical rhythms, such as “Shine Eye Girl” and “Elements”, rather than the more hip-hop leaning songs, such as “Bangers N Mash” and “Fire”. The Alchemystics paid tribute to Bob Marley on an emotive cover of “The Heathen”, and then followed up with their soulful version of Damien Marley’s “Road to Zion”.
  

• THE ALCHEMYSTICS [+ Show ]
  

  There are more musical elements crammed into the three–song two–dub sampler from the Alchemystics(Fu...There are more musical elements crammed into the three–song two–dub sampler from the Alchemystics(Fundamental) than in many full length releases. High energy contemporary dancehall DJ hip-hop, roots lyrics and full-band arrangements from the seven-piece group make for an impressive debut. My own favorites are the slightly calmer dubs with some nice flute snaking through the “Peace of Mind/Piece of Dub” track especially. [www.thealchemystics.com] By Chuck Foster
  

• Recorded Reviews (Performer Magazine November 2008) [+ Show ]
  

  Review of The Alchemystics EP (2008) Reggae fans who are tired of the listening to one pale Bob M...Review of The Alchemystics EP (2008)
  
  Reggae fans who are tired of the listening to one pale Bob Marley imitation after another will have reason to celebrate when picking up a copy of The Alchemystics new self-titled EP. While reggae sensibilities form the core of the album's sound, The Alchemystics are not content to rely on standard rhythms and trite chord progressions. Reggae beats are infused with hip-hop lyricism and techno innovations to create a sound that is polished and refreshingly unpredictable.
  
  The album opens with "Shine Eye Girl," an energetic love song that relies heavily on dance beats and hip-hop style rhymes. Just as the beat threatens to become a little too comfortable and the lyrics a little too predictable, the bridge steps in to introduce a new key, mellower rhythms and more melodic vocals. As the bridge moves seamlessly back to the song's original style, everything seems to speed up, giving the music an increasingly urgent feel.
  
  "Bangers N Mash" continues in the hip-hop vein with more aggressive vocals and a minor key that gives the track a darker sound. Piano is featured heavily and techno tendencies become more apparent. "Peace of Mind" marks a return to traditional reggae rhythm and vocal styles with lyrics that impart messages of both hope and despair over the state of the modern world. "Piece of DUB" is an instrumental track with prominently featured hand drums, woodwinds and melodica.
  
  The final track, "Ghetto Red Hot Dub" takes on both reggae and Latin rhythms with mandolin, Spanish-style guitar and trumpet interludes. The minor key and techno effects give the track a downright sinister feel. This track, perhaps more than any other, highlights the band's versatility by demonstrating a mix of styles and instrumentation.
  
  In a world where musicians seem increasingly content to follow established formulas, it's encouraging to find a band that can defy boundaries with skill and grace. The Alchemystics is a worthy addition to any collection, reggae fan or not. (self-released)
  - Leslie McIntyre
  

• Mystical Alchemy [+ Show ]
  

  Mystical Alchemy By Kendra Thurlow May 3 2007 This isn't Demse Zullo's first time. The perc...Mystical Alchemy
  
  By Kendra Thurlow
  
  May 3 2007
  
  This isn't Demse Zullo's first time. The percussionist has played with many bands during the last 20 years. He played in heavy metal bands in his youth; he's played with Gokh-Bi System, a Senegalese hip-hop group that has shared the stage with the likes of Tribe Called Quest, Kanye West, Erykah Badu and Patti Labelle. He also has played with Youssou Sidibe and the Baye Falls Time, the Riddim Makers and Loose Caboose, a renowned Valley-based reggae band that's been together for 30 years.
  
  This time around, it started in an attic in Easthampton. Four years ago, MC Phaze and Zullo started jamming a blend of hip-hop and reggae at Zullo's house, giving birth to what would become The Alchemystics.
  
  The founding members, according to Zullo, convinced classically trained bassist Garrett Sawyer that "not all hip-hop was bad." After Sawyer was on board, the newly-formed Alchemystics brought Jay Metcalf into the fold on keyboards. MC Force (Garrick Perry) joined the band after a few guest spots on the mic at one of The Alchemystics' many shows at Bishop's Lounge in Northampton. Force impressed the band members with his lyrical rhymes, and they asked him to sign on with them.
  
  "We were like, 'Who's that Mexican dude with the bald head?'" said Zullo in a recent interview with the Advocate. (According to Force, although he's often asked if he's Mexican, he is, in fact, African-American.)
  
  The lineup grew to include Ian-I on vocals and guitar, Souljah T and Ras Jahn, also of Loose Caboose, on vocals.
  
  The Alchemystics have been reborn numerous times the past few years. Just as Force joined the group as an MC, the band was releasing singles and getting ready for a full-scale album release. Most of those singles were scrapped and new tunes replaced them. Then, right before the re-vamped album dropped in late 2006, Phaze left because of musical differences with the other members, prompting the decision to scale back on promoting the disc.
  
  "We were playing constantly," says Zullo. "We were about to get it out there and Phaze quit the band."
  
  After scrambling for the next month, calling in guest artists to perform at shows, The Alchemystics started to work on their game plan for the future. "We've done a lot of soul searching to find out where we're going to go," says Zullo.
  
  And they think they've finally figured it out. With Force as the lead MC, the band is working on a new album, slated to be finished in early fall. The upcoming album, according to band members, differs from the previous one, The Alchemystics, in more ways than personnel changes. (Phaze is gone and Ras Jahn was not yet a part of the group when The Alchemystics was recorded, although Jahn does have a cameo on the album.) Force believes this new CD, full of high-energy dance music and a few songs to chill with, is going to be more of a finished product than the first release because all seven members contribute different styles, including soca, gospel, heavy metal, classical, reggae, hip-hop, dub and dancehall.
  
  "I think the beautiful thing about it is that we now have this amalgamation, especially now that we have seven people," says Force. "All of our influences just sort of blend together. We're just now coming to the point where everyone's creatively working together."
  
  Although certainly not the first band to blur genre lines and call on a range of influences, The Alchemystics are doing something unique for the Valley, creating their own brand of hip-hop/reggae, a genre that Zullo feels is a natural progression in music--the two musical styles have been influencing each other since the '60s. He hopes to bring that to light through The Alchemystics' music.
  
  "I think artists and musicians have an obligation to the public at large to educate them somewhat, whether it's on a spiritual, cultural or political level," says Zullo. "Most people don't realize that hip-hop and reggae have been cross-pollinating since the '60s. As soon as Jamaicans had access to short-wave radios, [they were listening to] sounds coming in from Miami. [Bob] Marley, for instance, was extremely influenced by Curtis Mayfield. And then in the '80s, you had a Jamaican coming to New York, and he's doing in New York City what he's doing in Jamaica… They had outside parties and he's just getting on the microphone just riffing--emceeing. It's an African tradition, but it came from Jamaica to America."
  
  But just because it feels natural to band members to play a blended version of the styles, doesn't mean all hip-hop and reggae fans like the mixture--The Alchemystics are constantly playing for different kinds of audiences and attempting to create their own scene and following.
  
  "Sometimes, they're a little close-minded in the hip-hop scene, and in the reggae scene, if you get a little too aggressive, it's a little too much for them," says Zullo. "So we're trying to infiltrate all of it."
  
  And they're not going about it timidly. Now that the members of The Alchemystics have solidified their lineup and their goal, they are charging the music scene like the bulls at Pamplona, using, according to Zullo, musical warfare--aiming to "just kill it" each time they go on stage.
  
  "We're putting ourselves out there so much that if you turn your head, you're gonna see us. If you go over there, you're gonna see us," says Zullo. "There's gonna be no denying us. You just have to get out there and use guerrilla tactics almost, just shoving it in people's faces. If people aren't gonna recognize, we're gonna make them recognize."
  
  
  These musicians have the walk to back up the talk. Their musicianship is impressive--the members have been playing music for years, and almost everyone plays in another band as well, creating a musical community that The Alchemystics feel is crucial in this area.
  
  "[When I] moved here, I realized what I wanted wasn't here," says Zullo. "You move to a place, look for what you want and when you don't find it, then you have three choices: you either create it, or you leave, or you live there for the rest of your life and you complain. So we decided to do something about it."
  
  They had a vision of bringing together a group of like-minded musicians and forming a bond of solidarity in the midst of what is an "Eric Suher-driven music economy," said Force, referring to Eric Suher of the Iron Horse Entertainment Group, which owns the Iron Horse, Pearl Street Nightclub and the Calvin Theatre and Performing Arts Center in Northampton. To that end, Zullo and Sawyer decided to build a studio themselves. Two years later, Northfire Recording Studio, a commercial studio that records jazz, reggae, classical, hip-hop and even Renaissance music, was born. The studio is also home to a record label, Northfire Recording, currently releasing music by The Alchemystics. The group of artists associated with the studio reads like a family tree.
  
  Mystika Music, a label that records at the studio, was founded by Tone and DJ Theory, members of the hip-hop group The Problemaddicts ("a five-man squad of emcees" according to the group's MySpace site), of which Force is also a member. The group also includes Vorheez, Black Buddha and 1ne Man Sound (also, along with DJ Theory, in Mystika's other act, Lyke Minds). Both Tone and Theory can often be seen on stage with The Alchemystics.
  
  Mystika just released Western New England Hip Hop Compilation, a CD featuring music by hip-hop artists like Cold Duck Complex, The Problemaddicts and The Alchemystics, including The Alchemystics' recently released single "Bangers 'N' Mash."
  
  These artists, plus many more, make up what Force refers to as the Northfire family. On any given day, numerous artists stop by the studio to network, hang out or record with each other. "Northfire is like a community center almost," says Force. The Northfire family isn't exclusive, either. Instead of a "keep it in the family" kind of vibe, those associated with the musical community strive to continually widen the circle, inviting anyone who's down to join the clan and offering up-and-coming musicians a piece of the action, opening for bands that are already established.
  
  The Alchemystics want to bring that open-minded spirit to the community at large as well. "We wear our politics on our sleeve by doing benefits all the time," says Zullo. The Alchemystics have performed in support of survival centers, walks against abuse, tsunami relief, FEMA, relief to Sudan and more. "I feel like what we're doing helps the community," says Force. "Everything we're doing is bringing focus to this area." This Valley is important to the members of The Alchemystics--they plan to call it home, regardless of how successful they might become. That's why they are planting so many roots in the community--they're a part of it too: "We're not going anywhere," says Zullo. "And if we do leave--we're coming back."•
  
  You can catch The Alchemystics in the act on May 18, 10 p.m., Iron Horse Music Hall, 20 Center St., Northampton, 413-586-8686, www.myspace.com/thealchemystics.
  
  Copyright © 2007, Valley Advocate

• Groove for the valley [+ Show ]
  

  by Jack Eskin The Alchemystics ' blend of reggae and hip-hop has gained a devoted following thro...by Jack Eskin
  
  The Alchemystics ' blend of reggae and hip-hop has gained a devoted following throughout New England since the group's formation in 2003. At the heart of their music is a love of heavy rhythms and fat grooves, and the belief that hip-hop can expand beyond the boundaries of radio formulas. Its members have played with such legends as The Abyssinians, Tony Rebel, Atlantik and Rupee, and have shared the stage with the likes of Spearhead, Busta Rhymes, Jurassic 5 and The Skatalites.
  
  Social consciousness is an active element of The Alchemystics' mix, and they have backed their ethos through teaching and performing at the local schools in addition to their musical appearances at fundraisers.
  
  This week, The Alchemystics headline a performance showcasing a few of the Valley's hottest acts. As Garrick "Force" Perry (the group's co-frontman) explains, "There are very few venues available for local artists to share and practice their craft, and we felt it necessary to put on an event to allow the community to get a glimpse of just some of the talent living amongst us all. This show is just one of our ways to keep giving back to the local arts scene." The night thus far includes Barak Yalad (a socially conscious emcee based in Springfield), I-Shea (poet, vocalist and active member of Amherst's Project 2050), Lyke Minds (the hip-hop duo featuring 1ne Man Sound and DJ Theory), and Gohki-Bi System (an acclaimed Senegalese world music/hip-hop outfit).
  
  

• Alchemical Stirrings [+ Show ]
  

  by Gary Carra According to vocalist Garrick "Force" Perry , it's always a dicey proposition to o...by Gary Carra
  
  According to vocalist Garrick "Force" Perry , it's always a dicey proposition to open a newspaper or punch up a Web site that is supposed to include a feature of his Amherst-based hip-hop band, The Alchemystics . It's not that they don't appreciate people taking the time to interview them. And like any band, goodness knows they could use the exposure. It's just that "The Alchimstics, The Alchamatics, you name it, they butcher it," Perry explains. "It's to the point where we are actually thinking of changing our name to a symbol."
  
  He's joking, of course. But if a moniker maneuver would make life easier for both the band and Valley editors, may your friendly, neighborhood Nightcrawler suggest The Altruistics? Quite frankly, he's seldom witnessed a band so willing to lend its sounds to so many causes and events.
  
  "We appreciate that, and that's particularly important for us because of all the negativity associated with hip-hop and the stereotypical images you'll find in the media," Perry says.
  
  Images that The Alchemystics, Mystafine , Soullution and more hope to break down with a positive, uplifting Reggae/Hip-Hop Fest this Friday, May 12 at the Northampton Center For The Arts. The following week, May 19, Perry and company can be found at the Northampton High School, this time performing a benefit show for the Northampton Survival Center.
  
  "A friend of mine from the Florence Learning Center contacted us about it," Perry says of the latter. "Since a number of us have performed at or taught at local schools, we immediately signed up to support it. Plus, I hear one of the kids is a yo-yo champion, so how do you beat that?"
  
  For more info on the band or the new CD they've completed after two years of tinkering, visit the Alchemagics site at myspace.com. Just kidding--It's www.myspace.com/alchemystics. Had you going there a second, Garrick, didn't I?
  
  

• Boogie to a strange brew, Alchemystics have the right stuff for a good mix [+ Show ]
  

  by John Stifler (2005) YOU are perhaps familiar with the phenomenon of watching someone do someth...by John Stifler (2005)
  
  YOU are perhaps familiar with the phenomenon of watching someone do something about which you know next to nothing, all the while being able to tell for certain that this person is extremely proficient at it. I never think I know much about hip-hop, but I know the Alchemystics do it very well.
  
  Formed in the Valley a year and a half ago, the Alchemystics are an assembly of substantial talent and experience in Afro-Caribbean idioms, with support from jazz, heavy metal, funk and classical theory, and with several sets of ears well tuned to the past three decades of reggae, rap, and other rhythm-based street-level stuff.
  
  They throw a large and beautifully mixed array of tones and rhythms into their performances. Their front man-emcee Phaze sings/talks with tremendous authority. And they've gotten people dancing all over the Valley.
  
  Besides Phaze, the group includes keyboardist Jay Metcalf, bassist Garrett Sawyer, and percussionist/sampler/dubmaster Demse Zullo, normally referred to in professional circles - he travels in several - by his first name. Demse also operates the electronic equipment that produces additional instrumentation, delay effects, and I haven't finished counting the rest of the sounds that complete the Alchemystics' palette.
  
  New as the ensemble is, its presence is polished, and all four members (plus a few rotating additions to the group) have arrived with substantial resum?s. Demse, now 30, grew up in New Haven, and as he said recently, ''Living so close to New York City, I was hearing hip-hop from the first stages. I was a street kid in the city. My parents were big into soul, and then I got into metal. And I played jazz, funk, flamenco, Brazilian music, and studied in Cuba a few years ago.''
  
  Sawyer, a graduate of Berklee College of Music, has the most formal and technical training, as well as the engineering skills on which the group draw when they record. Before they formed the Alchemystics, he joined Demse in playing with the Senegalese kora player Youssou Sitibe, and they've also backed the Valley's longtime beloved steel drum player, Mentos. Demse plays in the veteran Valley band Loose Caboose, and Sawyer plays in a soca band in Grenada.
  
  They picked their name, said Demse, because their musical style seemed to them to be very much a matter of alchemy.
  
  ''We're combining our various backgrounds. We're combining hip-hop with a lot of Caribbean flavor, reggae and soca.''
  
  At least as impressive as their deep knowledge of styles is the balance of their sound. Phaze, originally from Puerto Rico but raised in Southbridge, has a powerful voice both in intensity and in articulation, sometimes on political topics and other times more personal. You hear it both in the studio recordings (soon to be available on CD in stores) and in their live performances.
  
  To some tastes (usually including mine), hip-hop often becomes so heavily verbal and percussive that the musical notes practically disappear. Not with these guys; between Metcalf's wide range of keyboard skills and the cartload of instruments Demse pulls out of the black electronic pad in front of him on the stage, Alchemystics' songs are supported by a lush chord here, a tinkling lyrical melody there, and an occasional blast of horns.
  
  ''There are nine boxes on the pad,'' said Demse. ''Different sounds are programmed into it. Hit it, and it brings a sound into the live mix. Horns, for example - (the pad) is a way to get the sound without having to deal with another person on the stage.''
  
  Sawyer struts and swaggers on the bass line or drops into a well-placed thump to prop up everyone else. Demse also plays timbales, bells, cymbals and other pieces of a standard percussion kit. Meanwhile Phaze exhorts and exults, sometimes at a reggae mid-tempo, occasionally in call-and-response with an audience, but most often in the rapid, half-planned half-improvised delights of hip-hop rhyme.
  
  ''Some of our songs are organized compositions,'' said Demse, ''but we do a lot of improvisations. We'll be familiar with the song but not know where we're going with it. And sometimes Phaze will open the microphone to people in the crowd.''
  
  The crowd is a key element. ''It's dance music,'' said Demse, summing up everything they play. And the kicker: ''Clubs call us back.''
  
  Last Saturday the Alchemystics played at Bishop's Lounge in Northampton. On March 24, they'll be playing at The Harp in North Amherst at 10 p.m., and they're part of the Culture Shock evening at Diva's in Northampton on March 25.
  
  ''Culture Shock is a great event,'' said Demse. ''They have a couple of deejays and us, and it's the most eclectic crowd I've seen in the Valley. It feels like New York City - '70s disco and funk, and people in their fifties and sixties along with 18-year-olds. I've never seen a crowd like this in Northampton.''
  
  

• The Alchemystics [+ Show ]
  

  "In a world where musicians seem increasingly content to follow established formulas, it's encouragi..."In a world where musicians seem increasingly content to follow established formulas, it's encouraging to find a band that can defy boundaries with skill and grace... The Alchemystics are not content to rely on standard rhythms or trite chord progressions. Reggae beats are infused with hip-hop lyricism and techno innovations to create a sound that is polished and refreshingly unpredictable." ---- Leslie McIntye EAST COAST PERFORMER
  
  

Setlist

The Alchemystics deliver high-energy sets from a substantial repertoire of originals, well-known reggae tracks and hip hop covers. Single or multiple sets can be arranged from 45 minutes up to 2 1/2 hours or more.

Basic Requirements

Calendar