Lead singer Matt Hoy was raised by a single mother, and “Queen”, the title track of Birmingham reggae collective House Of Fyah‘s new EP, grew from what that taught him: “how powerful and empowering women can truly be“. The song salutes mothers, daughters and partners, down to the girls who will grow into tomorrow’s queens. His co-writer, keyboard player Tony Mullings, is a father of six daughters and has said he only wishes his mother were alive to feel it. Over Steve Clarke‘s drums and Mullings’ keys, Hoy leads an uplifting roots reggae anthem shaded with soul, which Clarke mixed and mastered with Dennis Jarrett.

Hoy spent more than twelve years recording and touring with Ali Campbell‘s UB40, and Mullings, who grew up in gospel bands and spent years in the Bob Marley tribute band Buffalo Soulijah, has also played keyboards with UB40. Clarke, born and raised in Birmingham, opened Goldmind Studios in the 1990s, produced records for Sean Paul, Vybz Kartel and Beenie Man, and now drums for and directs Musical Youth. Jarrett toured Europe and North Africa with Sugar Minott, played with Black Slate and recorded with Maxi Priest.

The EP Queen came out on Goldmind Records on 31 July, with “Queen” leading into the break-up song “Gone” and a cover of The Isley Brothers‘ “For The Love Of You”. In October the band spend a week in Jamaica for a live show, radio interviews and a video shoot tied to new material they are keeping under wraps.

You can stream “Queen” and the rest of the EP HERE