July 24, 2024 – Toronto – National Film Board of Canada (NFB)
At the height of the golden age of reggae, some of Jamaica’s brightest stars left their homeland to relocate to Toronto. Now their stories and the musical community they helped build are celebrated in Graeme Mathieson and Chris Flanagan’s captivating National Film Board of Canada (NFB) anthology series Sounds & Pressure: Reggae in a Foreign Land, premiering August 23 on nfb.ca and the NFB’s streaming platform for smart TVs.
Toronto’s Paradise Theatre will also host a special screening and launch event on August 22.
Through rare archives, electrifying needle drops and lively interviews, this five-part series takes viewers from Kingston to Kensington Market to see and hear how reggae made roots in Canada against all odds, chronicling the musical and geographical journeys of Nana McLean, Johnny Osbourne, Leroy Sibbles, Jerry Brown and the duo of Roy Panton and Yvonne Harrison.
Getting their sound to catch on in Canada wasn’t easy. These innovators of rhythm and rhyme had to work against racism, scarce resources and an industry that stigmatized reggae music. But that didn’t stop them from transforming the city into a reggae mecca. With a powerful message of love and a revolutionary spirit behind them, these visionaries faced the pressure head on—and thanks to them, you can still feel the infectious beats of Bathurst Street and Eglinton Avenue reverberating all over the world.
Special Toronto screening, Paradise Theatre, August 22
Prior to the online launch, the Paradise Theatre (1006c Bloor Street West) is hosting a special Toronto screening of all five episodes on August 22, starting at 8 p.m. The screening will be followed by a live Q&A with directors Graeme Mathieson and Chris Flanagan, and all five artists featured in the series, moderated by journalist/radio host Danae Peart. General admission is $15.00 + HST/fees. Tickets are available now at eventbrite.
More about Sounds & Pressure
Directed by Graeme Mathieson and Chris Flanagan
5 x 15 min. | Produced by Sherien Barsoum and Lea Marin
Press kit: mediaspace.nfb.ca/epk/sounds-pressure
Episode descriptions:
Roy Panton and Yvonne Harrison made history as one of the first Jamaican ska duos. Decades after going their separate ways, the pair rekindle their magic—this time, 3,000 kilometres north, in Scarborough, Ontario.
Against the changing face of Toronto’s Little Jamaica, where she established some of the city’s landmark reggae record stores, singer Nana McLean challenges outdated stereotypes and establishes her reputation as the queen of reggae in Canada.
Before gaining international recognition as the “Dancehall Godfather,” legendary singer Johnny Osbourne was at the forefront of a revolution that transformed Toronto into one of the most vibrant reggae communities in the world.
In Trench Town—the birthplace of reggae—Leroy Sibbles rose to stardom as the lead singer of The Heptones and the undisputed king of the reggae bassline. Then, at the height of his career, he left it all behind to create a new legacy for himself in Toronto.
Jerry Brown’s Summer Records was one of the first recording studios to give Canadian reggae artists a voice. Four decades later, never-before-seen footage lets us meet the man behind the mixer for the very first time.
About the filmmakers
Graeme Mathieson is a Jamaican Canadian filmmaker based in Toronto. Made in collaboration with Chris Flanagan, their film about ska and reggae legend Stranger Cole, RUFF & TUFF, premiered at Hot Docs. Beyond directing, Graeme is recognized as DJ Gramera, a title earned through his 15-year tenure hosting StolenSouls on CHRY 105.5 FM. He is currently in production on PLAY IT LOUD! How Toronto Got Soul, a feature documentary on the career of singer Jay Douglas.
Chris Flanagan is a Toronto-based installation artist and documentary filmmaker who creates work about music, magic and obsessive subcultures. His feature, Shella Record: A Reggae Mystery, premiered at Hot Docs 2019, played at festivals around the world and aired on Television Jamaica and CBC. In addition to exhibiting in galleries across continents, Chris is a DJ and runs Shella Records, a label dedicated to showcasing vintage reggae recordings in partnership with the original artists.
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French version here | Version française ici.