"...an atmospheric, classic dub feel that hits on all the right vibes."
Allageszine
"It’ll put your mind into a different space while embracing the good that comes with existence."
Medium
Steven Jess Borth II created Satori in 2005, as a side project from Rx Bandits, to showcase his own songwriting and reggae influences. The bands debut LP, Savor Every Moment, was released on Asian Man Records and served as a very promising stepping stone for what Borth had to offer. Following the release, Borth enlisted Justin DeHart, a.k.a. Dr. Echo, as a live sound engineer to fill out the sound of the trio and reflect the growing dub direction of the project. This would eventually evolve into the more experimental project, CHLLNGR, which is a collaborative effort between Borth and DeHart. However, in the time between shifting focus from Satori to CHLLNGR, Borth, DeHart, and a cast of very talented musicians recorded a batch of songs that were lost in time. These tracks were salvaged and now make up the album titled Dub Defender Sessions.
Both originally from Sacramento, CA, Borth currently resides in Copenhagen, Denmark and DeHart in Christchurch, New Zealand. Bonded by a love for dub music and sonic exploration, Borth contributes his compositions, sax, synth and vocal performances while Dr. Echo transforms the tunes with his dub mixing. The Dub Defender Sessions album is a nod to late-70's steppers and 80's rockers dub style. These are session-based old-school reggae rhythms with synths and electronic augmentation. Featuring guest performances by current and ex-members of Rx Bandits, Link 80, Bruce Springsteen, The Exit, Hepcat, The Toasters, Westbound Train, The Steady Ups, and The English Beat this collection of songs is dub time capsule finally getting its moment to shine.
credits
released May 22, 2020
TRACK LISTING
1 Little Do They Know Dub**
Jesse Hayes (drums), Chiquis Lozoya (bass), Gunnar Olsen (percussion), Steven Jess Borth II (synth, tenor sax, vocals), John Decarlo (guitar)
2 Mountain Meditation Dub***
Jesse Hayes (drums), Christian Vela (bass, electric guitar), Justin DeHart (hammond organ, percussion, SFX), Steven Jess Borth II (piano, tenor sax, vocal), Brian Wallace (tenor sax)
3 Change is Great**
Jesse Hayes (drums), Chiquis Lozoya (bass), Steven Jess Borth II (guitar, synth, vocals)
4 Nowhere**
Jesse Hayes (drums), Chiquis Lozoya (bass), Steven Jess Borth II (guitar, synth, vocals), Ray Jacildo (keys)
5 Decision*
Jesse Hayes (drums), Chiquis Lozoya (bass), Ray Jacildo (keys, organ), Steven Jess Borth II (sax, synth, vocals), Ben Malament (percussion)
6 It Dubbed Me***
Jesse Hayes (drums), Christian Vela (bass), Justin DeHart (organ, percussion, melodica), Rodney Teague (trombone), Steven Jess Borth II (guitar, vox)
7 Intimate Dubolution*
Jesse Hayes (drums), Chiquis Lozoya (bass), Raynier Jacildo (clavinet, piano), Steven Jess Borth II (synth, tenor sax, guitar)
8 I Dub to Follow Through***
Jesse Hayes (drums), Christian Vela (bass), Justin DeHart (organ, percussion), Steven Jess Borth II (guitar, tenor sax), Brian Wallace (tenor sax), Jammal Tarkington (alto sax), Ruben Garcia (trumpet)
9 Dub is Change**
Jesse Hayes (drums), Chiquis Lozoya (bass), Steven Jess Borth II (synth, guitar)
10 Dub to Nowhere**
Jesse Hayes (drums), Chiquis Lozoya (bass), Steven Jess Borth II (guitar, synth, vocals), Ray Jacildo (keys)
11 Dub Decision*
Jesse Hayes (drums), Chiquis Lozoya (bass), Ray Jacildo (keys, organ), Steven Jess Borth II (sax, synth, vocals), Ben Malament (percussion)
* Engineered by Steven Jess Borth II on a Tascam 388 at The Compound Gallery Oakland, CA.
** Engineered by Steven Jess Borth II on a Tascam 388 at The Compound Gallery Oakland, CA and Sherri Brewer's basement in the Upper West Side, NYC.
*** Engineered by Brian Wallace on a Fostex M80 8 track in Atascadero, CA.