The Israelites

Here is a very cool interview with Rich from the Israelites and Kingdom Beat Records. This man knows what true ska is and has strong opinions on those who don't! Check this out to learn about it and how he is committed to serving Christ through traditional ska

Ok, I know there is a lot, but who is in the Israelites and what do theyplay?
CHECK OUT OUR WEBPAGE AT www.theisraelites.com FOR A COMPLETE HISTORY. AS FAR AS WHAT MEMBERS PLAY WHAT, PRESENTLY IT'S. RICH CARLSTEDT-LEAD VOCALS AND GUITAR, JACKIEBLU CARLSTEDT-KEYBOARD, ADRIAN VILLALOBOS-DRUMS, GABE AGUIRRE-BASS, DALANA LEWIS-TROMBONE, JOEL DIMICCA-TENOR SAX, ANN HERRERA- BGVS AND ALTO SAX

Where are you from and how long have you been together?
WE'RE FROM WHITTIER CA AND THE BAND HAS BEEN AROUND 10 YEARS.

How would you describe your sound to the average joe?
TAKE REGGAE, SPEED IT UP JUST A PINCH AND FUSE IT WITH JAZZ, R&B AND YOU HAVE OUR SOUND. AUTHENTIC JAMAICAN SKA, (JAMAICAN JAZZ).

I know a little a bit about ska music but not a lot, without too much detail can you give me the bare facts about its origins?
THESE ARE MY PERSONAL OPINIONS. SKA MUSIC BEGAN BETWEEN THE YEARS OF 1956 AND 1962 BY A MAN NAMED COXSONNE DODD. THE FIRST BAND WAS THE SKATALITES. WITHOUT THEM BOB MARLEY WOULD HAVE BEEN NOTHING. FROM SKA CAME; ROCKSTEADY, REGGAE, DANCEHALL AND EVENTUALLY RAP. THE ONLY REAL SKA IS JAMAICAN STYLE SKA. TWO TONE BANDS LIKE SPECIALS AND MADNESS ARE'NT . NEITHER IS ANY OF THIS THIRD WAVE STUFF. MOST OF THESE BANDS DON'T EVEN KNOW THE ROOTS OF THE MUSIC, NEITHER DO THEY RESPECT THEM. I KNOW THIS IS BLUNT BUT THIS IS HOW I FEEL.

I have seen a couple of Moon Ska records bands in concert before and they were pretty good and kind, what is your impression of the underground ska scene? Is it very receptive to a Christian band?
TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH, WE GET TREATED BETTER BY THE SECULAR SCENE THAN THE CHRISTIAN INDUSTRY. AS A MATTER OF FACT WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF SIGNING ON MOON. THE CHIRSTIAN INDUSTRY IS TRENDY. THE MAJORITY OF THE KIDS HAVE NO CLUE ABOUT THEIR MUSIC. BUT OUR GOAL IS NOT TO BE POPULAR BUT TO PRESENT THE GOSPEL. AND THIS WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO DISPITE THE PROBLEMS INVOLVED. READ THE ARTICLE I WROTE ABOUT THE CHRISTIAN INDUSTRY ON OUR WEBPAGE IN THE NEWS SECTION.

Who was the first ska band you ever listened too?
WHEN I REALIZED WHAT SKA REALLY WAS I THINK IT WAS ALOT OF BANDS AT ONCE. I REMEMBER THE FIRST SKA ALBUM EVER BUYING WAS CLUB SKA 67 WHICH INCLUDED; THE SKATALITES, DESMOND DEKKAR, TOOTS AND THE MAYTALS, ETC.

What are your musical influences?
AS FAR AS ARTISTS, ANY JAMAICAN SKA FROM THE 60'S. MY FAVORITE BAND IS THE SKATALITES.

Tell me about Kingdom Beat Records. Who is on the label? Who should we be checking out?
KINGDOM BEAT IS A LABEL I STARTED IN SEPTEMBER. IT USED TO BE CALLED KINGSTON BEAT BUT I DID'NT FEEL GOD WAS LEADING ME TO WORK WITH A PARTNER. SO I WIPED THE SLATE CLEAN AND STARTED FROM SCRATCH. KINGDOM BEAT IS THE FIRST AND ONLY CHRISTIAN SKA AND REGGAE RECORD AND DISTRIBUTION COMPANY ON THE PLANET. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ONE RELEASE WHICH IS A COMP OF EVERYTHING WE SELL AND DISTRIBUTE. IT'S CALLED "AUTHENTIC SOUNDS VOL I". OUR NEXT PROJECT IS THE AMBASSADORS, THEY'LL BE GOING INTO THE STUDIO IN DEC TO RECORD A 7 SONG CD WHICH SHOULD BE OUT BY FEBURARY. WE HAVE 5 MORE RELEASE PLANNED FOR THIS YEAR. YOU CAN CHECK OUT OUR WEBPAGE THROUGH www.theisraelites.com.

I have to ask you what you think of the whole ska trend and its popularity?
IF YOU MEAN THIS GARBAGE THEY THINK IS SKA IT'S DONE WITH. 3RD WAVE IS DEAD AND GONE, BUT AUTHENTIC JAMAICAN SKA HAS BEEN AROUND FROM THE 60'S AND STILL LIVES ON. ON THE OTHER HAND IT'S GOOD BECAUSE THE 80% OF THE TRENDIE KIDS THAT USED TO LISTED TO 3RD WAVE HAVE MOVED ON TO EMO AND PUNK. THE OTHER 20% WHO STILL LISTEN TO IT. WELL, WE'LL HAVE THEM SOON. HA, HA.

What has God taught you since being in a band?
PERSISTANCE, ENDURANCE, INTEGRITY, AND LOVE. I PRAISE GOD FOR EVERY TRIAL WE'VE GONE THROUGH.

What does the future have in store for the Israelites and Kingdom Beat?
AS FOR THE BAND; PLAYING EVERY CHANCE WE GET. IMPROVING OUR SOUND, RECORDING CONSTANTLY AND SERVING GOD FOR AS LONG AS WE LIVE. FOR KINGDOM BEAT; TO SERVE GOD, AND PRODUCE THE FINEST IN CHRISTIAN SKA AND REGGAEMUSIC.

Any last comments?
DON'T LET THE DEVIL RIP YOU OFF. IF YOU DON'T KNOW GOD OR YOUR LIVING IN SIN GET RIGHT TODAY. JESUS DIED FOR YOU AND HE LOVES YOU.

for more information on this awesome ska band check out their webpage @ www.theisraelites.com