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The Mighty Itals Ready to Spread the Joys of Roots Reggae and Honeybees!
Reggae | Thursday 13th November 2014 | Izaradz
Percy and Guy form the reggae dub duo that is the Mighty Itals. The reggae scene was scarce at their university town of Bath, so the boys decided to take the matter into their own hands. After a couple of years hosting nights and a growing record collection, the Mighty Itals transmitted their vibrations into Bristol. As their university chapter came to a close, the duo are now taking on London.
The boys have performed at Rototom Sunsplash Festival in Spain, a key event in the reggae and dub calendar, and made their debut at Farr festival on the Rubadub stage. After they cooked up one of their delicious curries, (which I am told are quite well known amongst the Mighty Itals devotees) and a cup of nettle tea, we caught up with the boys about records, festivals and honeybees!
Hello! So firstly, why The Mighty Itals? What’s the story behind the name?
Guy: Well it wasn’t our original name. We were originally called the Tree Kings. But, there’s a producer duo called the Two Kings in Bristol, and they’ve been going around for a while. And the Mighty Itals, I guess it comes from wanting to strive towards an ‘Ital’ lifestyle.
Percy: That’s kind of the area, the philosophy that we’ve really embraced from reggae music. It’s all about the natural lifestyle, living well. That’s kind of the most important message that’s come through it for us. So that’s how we try and do it! Keep it strong and Ital!
Sounds great! So talking more about your music, how would you describe your sound in 3 words?
Percy: Mighty! Haha… Roots!
Or what are you kind of looking to achieve out of your music?
Guy: Joy. Yeah, I mean it’s written up there (points to sun hanging on the wall), it says “Make a joyful noise”, so that’s all we want to do!
Percy: That’s it, it’s a chance to rejoice at life and have fun. It’s not really that we’re looking to take it anywhere necessarily or make any money out of it, it’s just something that comes naturally and feels like the right thing to do.
That’s very inspiring for all your fellow music makers out there. What would you say have been the highlights of your career so far in terms of your music or performing?
Guy: One of the highlights, which I managed to get a very terrible video of, was Channel One (Channel One Sound System) playing one of our songs at Vibe Bar!
Nice! When was that?
Percy: Boxing Day! Yeah, it was a nice family occasion.
Guy: Tudor (Tudor Lion), who is part of the Channel One family turned around and said to us, “Yeah your song is gonna be played next” and we were like “Whaaaat!”. Just trying to get my phone out quickly, like standing right at the front of the stack with a massive grin on my face!
Percy: And then playing at Rototom, that was really good. We’ve done that twice now. It’s always nice playing out in the warm weather, with lots of Spanish people around!
I’ve seen you guys also played at Farr Festival, how was that?
Guy: Yeah it was good it was nice.
Percy: Its far out man! Haha
Just as good as Rototom?
Percy: Nooo, it’s a different kettle of fish really. Rototom is 10 days on the beach, with the sun, like yeah it’s pretty good. Farr, beautiful. There was the Rubadub stage that we were part of, which, well they’re doing their thing in London and Manchester now. We do a few nights with them as well and they got us to play!
So do you guys like to incorporate live vocals or instruments into your sets, when you play festival sets for example?
Percy: We could get there with live on the night. Guy plays the sax. I play the melodica. We play guitar and bass. Drums. Every song we produce, we try to have at least one live element to it, because it can just become too digital. Well it’s all digital anyway but it’s nice to keep it alive.
Yeah keeps it unique and special.
Percy: Yeah if you play guitar well or the drum well, it’ll sound much better than just tapping a keyboard.
Guy: Our favourite music as well was made in the 70s and 80s, via analogue. So we strive to make that noise.
Percy: So at some of our sets, we’ll have someone on the mic doing vocals. Like Alpha Roots, who’s with the Herbivores. He does a bit more hip-hop but he’s been an MC since he was like 12 years old. He’s a natural on the mic. Yeah it’s nice to bring people it, keep the collective strong!
Are you doing anything else on the side? Other jobs? Or other interests that are going on at the same time?
Percy: Well we are full on DJs. First and foremost. We make music! Play music. But also we’ve made a few documentaries – that’s been fun. You can check them out on YouTube. It’s called Soul Rebel. And we’re into honey, keeping bees. Yeah! All things. All things natural.
So watch this space with the some organic honey coming your way from the Mighty Itals?
Percy: Yes! Keeping the bees alive in London! That’s another little project.
Guy: Keeping everything Ital. Ital where we go.
That sounds ideal. So a little fun question for you now. Imagine your house is on fire, what would you grab as you’re running out the door?
Guy: Records! Straight away, records.
Give me like a top 3? Ok how about 3 each!?
Percy: Top 3 records that come with us? Woah.
Guy: I think you might have to give me 10! Or 10 minutes to think about it! Off the top of my head…This was one that was given to me as a present, by the other half of the dub reggae duo – The Mighty Itals’ own Percy Neville (haha) – it’s by Ras Michael and the Sons of Negus, it’s an album. And it’s called ‘Run Come Rally’. It’s a big spiritual journey, it’s very psychadelic aswell. That’s my number one.
Ahh that’s very sweet, grabbing Percy’s gift.
Percy: It is sweet isn’t it
Guy: Yeah but it’s not because of that, haha. It’s because it’s a good album!
Percy what about you?
Percy: I think I’d go for the first record I got really. It was from the mum. It’s a Bob Marley album (I can get it out and play it). And then, I duno! After that, I reckon – your first 7 inch Guy, I’d steal that from your collection!
Guy: Haha yeah you’d run round my house, even though your house is on fire! I need to steal your 7 inch! I’ve got my second one. The killer, the king of soundsystems; Barry Brown, ‘Give Thanks and Praise’. I’d also like to add a different style to this – it’s an album called Cymande, a London based, kind of funk and soul. But they’re Rastas and they’re influenced by a lot of different things. They’ve actually also reunited for the first time recently. I’m seeing them in May.
Great so would you say that maybe soul and funk is something that influences your music too? What other influences would you say have made an impact on your sound?
Guy: Yeah definitely, but we take influences from everywhere really.
Percy: Reggae wise, King Tubby. He’s a big don. And Twinkle Brothers.
Guy: Yeah I’d say Twinkle Brothers are definitely up there.
Percy: And Channel One Soundsystem. 100%. That’s really the foundation of our whole little collective. We’ve got Tudor (Tudor Lion), Shere Kahn and Roots Guidance. We’ve all kind of come out of Channel One – they are the teachers really. Foundation Mikey and Kayleb.
Guy: And our friendship group are often there before and after Channel One play – helping with the boxes.
Percy: And it’s good to have such an experienced and talented soundsystem to look up to.
Nice! So going forward now, skipping ahead. Where do you see yourselves in 5 years time?
Guy: What we want to do, is we have a collective – including Shere Kahn, the mighty jungle cat, as well as Tudor Lion, Channel One and Roots Guidance, all pushing the same thing. So, if we can come together, and make a real cool scene for the next generation. Maybe even have a soundsystem!
Percy: Yeah that’s it. Keep the next generation moving. Studios, labels, nights. There are people looking after all aspects of the culture. And yeah, I guess the idea is to keep it rootsy!
Guy: Maybe create a kind of conscious movement – the Ital movement!
Percy: But in 5 years, I want to be, O2 Academy! Yeah, with my top off, screaming down the microphone to people! Yeah, that’s the look!
Yeah, great answer!
Percy: Like a full denim suit, yeah something like that.
Guy: Brand-new pair of Clarks for every day!
Be sure to check out the Mighty Itals duo and their future adventures in and around London. These guys have exciting plans and visions for the future and we eagerly await the unfolding of this new chapter of roots reggae.
They will be performing at Brixton Jamm on December 12th with the Reggae Roast Sound System featuring Brother Culture and Shere Kahn.
