Williams (bass) met in college, while residing in Isla Vista, a popular beachside community in Santa Barbara. It was there that the seeds to Rebelution’s future would be planted– and would instill their kick back, “worry free” vibes, catchy refrain, and optimistic, inspiring, and engaging music that would leave their listeners with the sense that they have the power to make this world a better place.

On January 10, 2012 Rebelution will release their 3rd studio album, Peace Of Mind, through their label 87 Music. The label, in partnership with Controlled Substance Sound Labs, will simultaneously release two additional versions of the entire record as a multi-length triple album. Peace of Mind: Acoustic will feature all twelve original album tracks stripped down acoustic as well as Peace of Mind: Dub remixed by Easy Star’s Michael Goldwasser.

“It’s been two and a half years since our last album and we are very excited to release new material. The triple-album is definitely a progression musically and genre wise from our past albums, while still grounded in reggae,” says the band.

Expanding beyond their usual self-production, Rebelution collaborated with five different producers including Goldwasser (Easy Star All-Stars), Amplive (Zion-I), Yeti Beats (Kool Keith, George Clinton), Keith Armstrong and Errol Brown (Stephen, Ziggy, Damian, and Bob Marley), building upon their signature style and venturing into different musical landscapes. From the opening horns on “Sky is the Limit” to the lush strings incorporated into the gentle “Route Around” to the driving guitar and synths throughout “Lady In White”, the band has built upon their sound spanning a number of genres while remaining true to their reggae roots.

2012 will bring the release of the new album the day before the band sets off on another 3-month nationwide tour of the US. The tour will span 41 shows in 41 cities in venues such at The Palladium in Los Angeles, CA, Fillmore in Denver, CO, Best Buy Theatre in New York, NY and Congress Theatre in Chicago, IL.

Rebelution released their first full-length album “Courage to Grow” in June 2007 and the group quickly became known for sticking strongly to the roots of vintage reggae sound, all while appealing not only to reggae listeners, but also to music fans of all genres. The album hit an all time high when it was selected as iTunes Editor’s Choice for Best Reggae Album of 2007. In addition, “Courage to Grow” has been in the top 10 iTunes Reggae album sales and remained in the Billboard Top Reggae Album Chart since its release four years ago.

Two years after their first album, Rebelution released their long-awaited, sophomore full-length album. On August 4, 2009 “Bright Side of Life” was officially released, solidifying the #1 spot on iTunes in the reggae music genre, and the #3 spot for top albums downloaded in the United States in all genres of music. The album also debuted at #54 on the Billboard Top 200, #6 on the Billboard Independent Albums, and #1 on the Billboard Reggae charts.

The release of “Bright Side of Life” marks the first under Rebelution’s newly founded record label 87 Music, in association with Controlled Substance Sound Labs and Silverback Music / Raise Up Entertainment, the California based music collective.

In 2010 the band performed at some of the most prestigious festivals in the country including Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, Deluna Festival and Wakarusa. 2011 brought their first tour to Brazil, another 3 month USA national headlining Winter tour, a Summer full of festivals and the nationwide Seedless Summer Tour supporting Slightly Stoopid.

Interview by iamparadox

---

One of the most exciting bits of news to drop in the past week was the announcement of The Seedless Summer Tour with 3 amazing bands: Slightly Stoopid, Shwayze (and Cisco), and Rebelution. We were lucky to be able to set up an interview with Wesley Finley, drummer of Rebelution. They just completed a tour and got back from South America.

How did the name Rebelution come about?

While brainstorming one day it somehow just made sense to put the words "rebel" and "revolution" together. We use it as way to put a positive spin on rebelling, as sometimes that word has a negative connotation.

Describe your band in one word.

Phantasmagorical.

Do you like recording in studio or playing live more, and why?

While both are fun and challenging in their own right, I like playing live more because of the transfer of energy we get from the crowd and the ability to improvise on a whim or change the form of a song we play all the time.

What is your most prized possession?

My collection of autographed Dredg memorabilia.

What is the biggest challenge of band so far?

Besides finding ways to stay afloat financially, there is always the added challenge of getting along together as individuals. Everyone has their own opinion, musical tastes, and habits, so, being in a band is very much like being in a long term and long distance relationship.

Tell us about your guilty pleasures while on tour.

When I get home I try not to drink nearly as much or at all. Besides that there's always junk food just because it's convenient or the only food around at 4 in the morning.

What is your favorite Rebelution song?

That definition always changes because you usually get over songs you've played forever and get really into new songs you're writing and playing at the time. If there had to be a long standing favorite it would be "Bright Side of Life" because it's fun to play and always gets the crowd motivated.

Describe your recording/writing/creative process.

Lately it has been our lead singer/guitarist Eric sending us basic ideas he made with Garageband on his computer. Then the rest of us mull it over, talk about directions to take it, and jam out those ideas at a sound check for a show, which is usually our only time to practice new ideas these days. The more you play a new song the more it changes faces.

How do you guys kill time on the road?

We bring a plethora of games with us, including: baggo/cornhole, croquet, horseshoes, baseball gear, and beer pong among others. When we're driving we battle over what movies to watch, which usually ends up in a classic comedy or new-age horror flick.

What music have you been listening to lately?

I've been listening to Dredg's new album "Chuckles and Mr. Squeezy" because they're my favorite band, but also in rotation are Deftones' "Diamond Eyes", Local Natives' "Gorilla Manor", Circa Survive's "Blue Sky Noise", Radiohead's "In Rainbows" and Amp Live of Zion I's take on that same album called "Raindayz Remixes" which is hip-hop oriented.

How has your music evolved since you first began playing music together?

We've gone a long way in a short amount of time out of necessity due to the rapid popularity of our music; in general we're still considered a young band at 7 years. Our production quality has increased but also the maturity of our writing. Our next album will break our norm as far as dipping into other genres; some songs won't be reggae at all, which is what we're known for.

What is the best concert you have ever been to (not your own)?

For me it would have to be a Dredg show at the Catalyst in Santa Cruz a couple of years ago. They had just released "The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion", which is a great album, and that place is the coolest venue near my hometown. I had great seats, best friends with me, and got to experience my favorite band in an intimate place I knew very well. All the cards were right that night.

Do you prefer playing normal indoor concerts or a festival show?

I think I like indoor concerts more. Sometimes at festivals you have perform in the early afternoon which is horrible for me because I'm a night owl and accustomed to performing late night. In addition to that there's the intimacy aspect of being in a room with lighting effects and a proper green room. Conversely, festivals are fun because you're always on an adventure walking around and seeing a bunch of other bands do their thing.

If you could change anything about the current state of music, it would be:

Not much I suppose, it really is where it should be in it's state of evolution. Indie labels are thriving in the wake of the crumbling majors, touring, in turn, is where musicians make their money and challenge themselves, and musical genres are becoming increasingly harder to define, which are all good things. If anything I'd say pay-to-play or drive-through artists like Rebecca Black are the only thing to worry about.

Anything new that you are working on now or will be soon?

We've been consistently working on a new album, writing when the ideas hit us and recording when the time is right. We've showcased new songs like "So High", "Sky's the Limit", and "Comfort Zone" live for a while now, but there's no album release date set yet.

What was the last thing you bought on ebay?

I bought a couple Dredg posters from previous tours that had really cool art on them. The other day I ebay searched ourselves for the first time out of curiosity and was amazed at what I found - overpriced albums and upcoming concert tickets, backstage passes, and signed posters we probably gave to someone as a gift.

What is your favorite record?

El Cielo by Dredg. It's a concept album on sleep paralysis which also ties into Salvador Dali's work, who also happens to be my favorite artist. It has a wonderful flow to it all with both violent and somber moments, and everything in between.

Do you have any pre show rituals?

Most definitely. I usually try to catch the opening band while drinking a good beer, most likely an IPA or Newcastle. When they're done I have half an hour for changeover, which is when I make myself a vodka Red Bull and get to my stretching routine. If the vibes are right I'll play a little Zion I to chill me out, then finish off with an Alexisonfire track or two to pump me up right before I go on.

If you get a chance to get catch this tour this summer, I would highly recommend it. Here is some HD video of the band live: