Paul Lupa – Whats The Dealin’ (2024)
As a newcomer to the reggae music scene, composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist Paul Lupa reaches beyond his German borders embracing the reggae flavours of the Caribbean. Having crossed our ears in 2023 with his well-received track ‘Free N Easy Riddim’, Lupa found the delicate line between vintage and contemporary reggae hitting the lines of Bob Marley with the soul of Sean King. Joined by Jamaican artist Jah Mason, Lupa saunters into 2024 with his new single ‘Whats The Dealin’’.
While it might be argued that one reggae song sounds like another, Paul Lupa proves this is untrue. From the soothing tones of his singles ‘Free N Easy Riddim’ and ‘No Future Like This’, ‘Whats The Dealin’’ has a sharper edge to the riddim with rock-tinged guitars and soul-filled horns. The traditional laidback quality of reggae is evident; however, just as there is smooth flow there is a hidden profoundness in the bold lyricism elegantly executed by Jah Mason.
Produced by Paul Lupa at his studio in Hamburg, ‘Whats The Dealin’’ can be classified as a reggae melody but with eclectic tints to the riddim. As I mentioned there is a laidback flow to this symphony but each instrument brims with individuality hitting you from each side.
BigFinga’s drum track holds the point to get your body swaying in time to the music, while Lupa’s bold bass steps up in a powerful beat. The percussion and keyboards lilt behind with Florian Muenzer’s guitar inserting a rise and fall of graceful sound. Yet, it is French musician Cédric Munsch’s horns that add a shimmering light to ‘Whats The Dealin’’. I do not want the song to end, but Munsch’s slow horn leaves with a contented sigh.
Lupa explains that ‘Whats The Dealin’ is “dedicated to the Hamburg-based photographer Nazar Moawad…he has had almost every reggae artist in front of his lens and taken wonderful photos….” The elegant and kaleidoscopic richness of ‘Whats The Dealin’’ encapsulates the power of Moawad’s vivid images, his enriching career and the introspective joy of a life lived in reggae colours.
Find out more about Paul Lupa on his Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
Listen to more reggae songs on The Other Side Reviews Reggae playlist:
