Jeff McCaughey, lead singer of Philadelphia’s Kings and Comrades, had just turned 21 when his song “Another Way” got my attention. The arrangement highlighted laid back vocals and acoustic guitar layered over a percusssive reggae riddim that drew me in. Since then, I have kept close track of the band, wondering what their future would hold and watching for their first full-length record.

Here we are nearly seven years later, and Kings and Comrades are just a few days away from releasing their debut LP Get Away, which comes out Tuesday, Feb 17 and features a slew of guests that have become mainstays in the reggae rock circuit in addition to the standout production of E.N Young on four tracks. I wanted to showcase the single “Touch The Sky” as part of the ongoing Rootfire Worldwide Premiere series. “Touch The Sky” shows off what I like best about the band–McCaughey’s dreamy vocals drifting over a thick reggae riddim, now accentuated by E.N Young’s (in McCaughey’s words), “signature wet snare hits.”

When I asked him about working with E.N, McCaughey couldn’t stop gushing: “Ever since I heard his mixing/production on Tribal Seeds’ latest album Representing, I was blown away. I love all the Dub and Roots elements he incorporates in his work. He is very humble and down to earth and we will definitely be collaborating with him again in the future”.

Kings and Comrades have been part of the Rootfire family since “Another Way” found its way onto Progressive Roots Vol. 001, our debut vinyl, released on Easy Star Records in 2013.  With “Touch The Sky” the band’s sound has reached a new level that builds on what has always been its strength by introducing first-class creativity in the production phase. I can’t wait for you all to hear it.