Jamaican drummer, producer, and now singer Paul KasticK is no stranger to reinvention. Known professionally through his production company GrooveGalore MuziK, KasticK has spent decades touring and recording with some of the biggest names in reggae—from Maxi Priest, Big Mountain, and Diana King, to Shaggy and Ky-Mani Marley. Now, he’s stepping into the spotlight again with a new single, a reggae-dancehall reimagining of Whitesnake’s classic “Is This Love,” featuring Cen’C Love, daughter of reggae legend Bunny Wailer.
“As far back as I can remember, I loved this song,” KasticK recalled. “I was in Montego Bay playing in hotels when I heard it hit number one on American Top 40 and on MTV. Whitesnake was one of my favorite bands back then. I always imagined ‘Is This Love’ being done in a reggae dancehall style, so when I started my Reggae Rockin’ Journey project, I knew this had to be one of the songs.”
The track is part of his forthcoming My Reggae Rockin’ Journey Vol. 2, a continuation of his 2024 debut album that reinterpreted rock and pop classics through reggae rhythms. The follow-up, due in 2026, will include songs by Def Leppard, Stevie B, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Foreigner, and Go West, along with alternate mixes from the first album.
Working with Cen’C Love, KasticK said, was a natural fit. “We really hit it off instantly when we first met in Kingston. She recorded the vocals in New Jersey, and when I heard them, I thought—flawless. Now we’re talking about working on more songs together. This first recording was just awesome.”
The single is already creating waves. “The reaction and reviews internationally have been phenomenal,” KasticK shared. “Playing it at shows, I see people really love it from the very first listen.”
From drums to vocals
KasticK’s career began in the early 1980s with Montego Bay’s hotel circuit before he joined Jamaica’s famed 809 Band, backing greats like Dennis Brown, Freddie McGregor, Beres Hammond, Marcia Griffiths, and Shabba Ranks. His career soon took him global, touring with Diana King during her “Shy Guy” breakthrough, then joining Shaggy’s band after the artist won a Grammy in 1996. By 1998, KasticK became a driving force with Big Mountain, eventually producing several of their albums, and in 2001, began a long-running collaboration with Maxi Priest.
Alongside drumming, he found a passion for production, most notably co-producing Tessanne Chin’s 2011 album In Between Words. The breakout single “Hideaway” marked one of the first times KasticK brought his “reggae rock” fusion to the forefront.
“I’ve always appreciated rock music just as much as reggae,” he explained. “When MTV came on in the early ‘80s, I’d watch and study the drummers, guitarists, and the intensity of rock. It always grabbed me. I started imagining how those songs could sound in reggae. That’s what we did with Tessanne’s record—and it’s something I love bringing to the table.”
Though best known as a drummer, KasticK is also exploring his voice. “I wouldn’t say I’m trying to be a singer,” he laughed. “I used to sing back in the ‘80s while playing drums in hotels. I was always inspired by Phil Collins, who did both. Another huge influence is Narada Michael Walden—one of the top drummers and producers who went on to create huge hits for Whitney Houston and Aretha Franklin. People like that encouraged me to believe I could do it too. My colleague Taddy P once told me, ‘KasticK, you should really sing this project yourself.’ So here I am.”
Looking ahead
With his second Reggae Rockin’ Journey album on the way and collaborations with Cen’C Love in motion, KasticK shows no signs of slowing down. But one thing won’t ever change. That is his bond with the drums.
“Giving up being a drummer isn’t possible—it’s embedded in my DNA,” he said. “I may come out front more, but I’ll always go back to the drums. Phil Collins created a blueprint for that, and I’m working off it.”
As he continues to carve out his path as both a drummer and singer, Paul KasticK remains a bridge between cultures and genres. His reggae-rock vision, once just an idea sparked by MTV in the ‘80s, is now resonating worldwide.
“Music has always been about growth and exploration for me,” he reflected. “This journey is just beginning.”
