Durrant Pate/Contributor

Josep Grau Saula, better known as Irie Souljah, is a singer, songwriter and producer hailing from Calella, a municipality in Barcelona, Spain, but his musical career is making the move to Jamaica, which he has called home for almost a decade.

Irie relocated to Jamaica in 2014, fulfilling a vision he had since childhood, arriving on the island with very little in the way of resources but was undeterred, having already faced many of the challenges chronicled in the anthems that had inspired him. He easily identified with the local culture and was warmly received by Jamaica’s music fraternity, leading to collaborations with rising reggae-conscious household artistes such as Kabaka Pyramid and Jessie Royal on his first studio album, Immigrant. 

Released in 2015, the album featured hit singles such as Learn And Grow and the titular track Who Is The Immigrant, with legendary musicians such as Sly & Robbie, Bongo Herman and the late Style Scott contributing their time and talents to the production process. By the time Irie revisited Europe, he was a touring artist, sharing the stage at major festivals with superstars such as Chronixx, Coco Tea and Junior Gong.

‘Refining the sound and expand the catalogue’

Over the last two years, Irie’s been quietly working with his team to refine his sound and expand his catalogue. He recently hit the studio to finalise his upcoming EP, a deeply reflective compilation of songs featuring a diverse array of musical genres, including dancehall, reggae and R&B.

His versatility as an artist is on full display in singles such as Kiss The Sky, which dropped in April of this year, but he continues to stay true to his reggae roots and his message of love, both of which are showcased in his latest release, Helping Hand. The single is currently available on all platforms and world-class music video, which tells the story of a young boy, who is rescued and trained by a veteran boxing coach after running away from an abusive home.

Irie has no intention of slowing down anytime soon. His next record, Thankful is set to premiere on July 22. Irie is among the top reggae artistes billed for this year’s staging of Reggae Sumfest, the largest reggae show in the Caribbean.

The brand new track features elements of dancehall with a style reminiscent of groundbreaking artists such as Koffee. It’s the latest example of Irie’s ability to effortlessly blend his wide range of musical influences without compromising his signature sound.

Both Thankful and Helping Hand will be performed at Reggae Sumfest on July 23rd, and fans can look out for Irie’s new EP in September.

Early beginnings

Irie has been singing literally since infancy, and he started playing the guitar when he was only four years old. At the age of five, he was sent to a public music school, where he showed clear talent but struggled to connect with the classical material used to train students.

But after dropping out of school at 15, he embarked on a journey of musical and spiritual discovery that would ultimately carry him to the streets of Kingston, Jamaica. Irie’s mother and his aunts were avid fans of Bob Marley’s music and introduced him to reggae at a very young age.

During his teenage years, the young and bustling Irie discovered the work of contemporary reggae icons such as Sizzla Kalonji, Capleton and Buju Banton, while attending underground parties with his friends, where selectors played remixes featuring lyrics from famous reggae songs of the era.

Stirred by the fierce lyricism and deep spirituality found in these samples, Irie went looking for the original recordings, leading to a period of rigorous research into the history and origins of Jamaican music and the Rastafarian movement.

His life permanently changed when he watched Sizzla Kalonji’s 2009 performance in Barcelona. With his path now firmly set, the young artiste began to write his own music, which he performed in small bars and clubs, along with covers of his favourite songs.

Irie eventually started a band, dubbed Mystic Souldiers, which became one of the biggest reggae acts in Spain.