The Skints x Jesse Royal

Age: 19+

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Dubbing their sound as 'music from Jamaica in a London style', The Skints mix reggae, ska and dub with touches of grime and hip-hop; a contemporary style that draws as much from the streets of the nation's capital as it does from the Caribbean. Playing hundreds of shows since 2007, The Skints have had a steady rise from the UK underground, bringing their own rays of sunshine to festivals over Europe and beyond, with even The Guardian confirming that The Skints 'brought the house down' at 2014's Reading Festival.

The Skints' latest album Part and Parcel saw them fully galvanize on their live reputation with a stunning sophomore release. Recorded with British dub vanguard Prince Fatty(Gregory Isaacs, Hollie Cook) and featuring guest vocal talents of dancehall emcee Parly B, the crowdfunded album was an instant critical hit, with Rock Sound declaring it a 'modern dub, reggae and hip-hop inspired classic'. Buoyed by the viral success of the video of their cover of Katy B's 'On a Mission' –supported on social media by the song's original producer Benga and Katy B herself and with over 500,000 plays on YouTube –The Skints went on to promote the release with tours with You Me At Six, Easy Star Allstars and Sublime With Rome. Winning over fans and critics along the way, their ten date headline tour of the UK sold outevery venue, ending at an oversold Scala. Their ascent continued across 2013, with a sold-out London show at the 1,400 capacity Kokoand the record's successful release on the Soulbeatslabel in France being particular highlights. A remarkable run of European festivals followed in 2014 including Reggae Sun Ska, Summerjam, Dour Festival, Reading and Leeds Festival, Chiemsee Summer, Radio 1's Big Weekend and a memorable set in the rain in front of a 10,000 strong crowd of die-hard Skints fans at Lion's Den Stage, Boomtown Fair.

Not bad going fora band who started out as friends at a culturally-mixed London school back in 2005, then teenagers knee-deep in an underground scene ruled by punk and ska music. It wasn't long before the group's record collections reached back across the history of rebelmusic to the likes of Johnny Clarke, Culture and The Abyssinians for altogether more rootsy inspirations. Across an EP in 2008, and début album Live, Breathe, Build, Believein 2009, The Skints progressed from playing squats to stages and refined their identity from punk ragga urchins to become an outfit deemed 'the most accessible pure British reggae music you'll find these days' by A New Take. Tours with The Slackers, Reel Big Fish and Gym Class Heroes refined The Skints live set, embellishing their own compositions with cover versions, multi-instrumentation and uplifting, positive vibes.

After whetting the fan's appetites with the interim Short Change EP, The Skints are currently in the studio recording their third full-length. A concept album of sorts, Prince Fatty is back in the producer's chair with guests including reggae legends Tippa Irieand Horseman,and grime MC Rival. Finishing 2014 with the Jagermeister Music Tourwith Me First and Gimme Gimmes-taking in Brixton Academy in the process -2015 promises to be another heavy year for The Skints, with the new album on its way and plans of a US tour coming to fruition.

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