Peta-Gaye Clachar/Staff Photographer
Gary Exodus examines a wall at Exodus Studios, which is crammed with the posters of many who have laid tracks there.

Krista Henry, Staff Reporter

"Yuh hear fi mi voice coming through di speaker, but it sound sweeter wid di echo chamber."

So said Papa Levi in Mi God Mi King. This week, as it makes the rounds of the studios where the music that moves body and soul is made, The Sunday Gleaner features a dub studio, at Exodus Studios.

While most studios are known for famous songs made in their confines, Exodus Studios has built its name on dub plates, landing its powerful name among the greats.

Anyone who is anyone in the dancehall business has voiced a dub at 90 1/2 Red Hills Road. Built in the late '90s, it is the place where dancehall's premiere exponents gathered to earn a few - or many - extra bucks from dubs for various sounds.

Owner and engineer, Gary Exodus, tells The Sunday Gleaner that "we started out at 14 Dirk Avenue at my house. We started out as a private thing, but it got too big. We then moved to Mannings Hill Road, but due to an unfortunate incident there, we moved. We still use that as a private studio now. Currently, we are at Red Hills Road."

How it started

Exodus Studios was formed from the needs of the Exodus Sound System, for a private place to voice artistes. Word eventually got out about the fine technical capabilities of the studios and artistes were clamouring to be voiced there, with other sound systems wanting dubs done by these artistes.

Gary Exodus explains that, "We started from the sound system. My father owned the sound and he was part of the management of Exodus Night Club at Northside Plaza. Exodus was the spot to be at those times. After the club closed, he built a mobile sound and then we built a studio."

Work at international level

Building dubs has been so successful that they have had no need to go into production. In the last 10 years, Exodus has built a name for itself on the international level, supplying dubs for all the sounds that have entered the World Clash series, as well as working with many sound systems from across the world. This includes satisfying requests from sounds in Japan, Germany, the United States, and other countries.

Popular artistes to have voiced there include Beenie Man, Vybz Kartel, Cham, Sizzla, Bounty Killer, and the many whose posters fill the walls of the small, but effective studios. According to Gary Exodus, any artiste is welcome to voice dubs, as well as any sound system that wants a special.

And while dub plates are the main business, those who run Exodus Studios have also gone into the business of creating rhythms, preferring to bring back the old with a little flavour of today's dancehall.