Smoke and Mirrors Sound System
Available Releases
https://escapehatchrecords.com/collections/smoke-and-mirrors-sound-system
Press Contact
info@escapehatchrecords.com
Booking Contact
john@escapehatchrecords.com
Images (Click to Enlarge)
John Roy (credit: Andrea Roy)
Band Photo (2022)
BAND BIOGRAPHY
Smoke and Mirrors Sound System was conceived in a time of unprecedented global isolation, when the pandemic took away the ability to play in person, practice, and record together. For John Roy, a seasoned musician known for his work with bands like Gangbusters, OMD, English Beat, and Unsteady, the lockdowns of 2020 meant an abrupt halt to his livelihood. With no gigs and no way to collaborate in person, Roy found himself isolated, much like the majority of his fellow musicians.
However, rather than retreat into despair, Roy transformed this period of isolation into a fertile ground for creativity. From the office of his shuttered business, he began writing tunes, crafting lyrics, and arranging compositions. Using MIDI instruments, Roy recorded demos, capturing the essence of each track. But he knew that to bring his vision to life, he needed more than just his own contributions.
Roy reached out to the vast network of musicians he had built over decades of touring and performing. He sent emails and messages to friends and collaborators from all corners of the ska, reggae, and rocksteady scenes, inviting them to contribute to his new project. Musicians trapped at home responded enthusiastically, sending tracks, WAV files, MP3s, and even voicemails. Roy painstakingly edited these diverse contributions together, creating a seamless tapestry of sound that would become Smoke and Mirrors Sound System.
Once the tracks were assembled, Roy oversaw the mixing, mastering, and pressing of the album, turning his “imaginary band” into a reality. Players like Dave Hillyard (The Slackers), Buford O’Sullivan (Scofflaws, Skatalites, Easy Star Allstars), Roger Rivas (The Aggrolites), King Django (Skinnerbox, Stubborn All-Stars) and many more joined the fold, each bringing their unique talents and styles to the mix. The band’s roster reads like a who’s who of the ska and reggae scenes, featuring an array of talented musicians such as Jesse Wagner (The Aggrolites), Korey Horn (The Aggrolites, Gogol Bordello), Jeremy Peña (The Bandulus), Kelly DiFilippo (The Loving Paupers), Agent Jay Nugent (The Slackers), Dunia Best (Agent 99, Rude Girl Revue), Mark Lyn (The Slackers) and many others.
As restrictions began to lift, John Roy assembled a stellar lineup of musicians to bring Smoke and Mirrors Sound System to life on stage. The live version of the band features John Roy on saxophone and vocals, with an impressive array of talented performers. Chris Canceliere (The Loons) handles the drums, while Jeffrey Govan (Mobtown, Trish Toledo, The Untouchables) provides the bass. Guitar duties are shared by Brandon Niznik (Black Market Dub, Wise Owl), and Brian Jordan (B-Side Players, Lauryn Hill, Trulio Disgracias). Alex Gonzalez (SM Familia, Boulevar Descarga) adds dynamic percussion, complemented by Kevin Hewitt (The Equators, Unsteady) on organ. The horn section includes Kirk Wang (the 3000th US Army Band, Nothing Special) on trombone, and Doug Shaffer (Soul Purpose, The Overdrive Orchestra) on trumpet. Rounding out the lineup are vocalists Rob Baker (Jason Mraz) and Shardie Flenoid (Jason Mraz, Kenny Lattimore), bringing their powerful voices to the mix. Together, this diverse group of musicians brings the vibrant, energetic sound of Smoke and Mirrors Sound System to live audiences.
Since 2020, the band has released an album of originals, Strength in Numbers, an album of covers, Undercover, a dub album, Smokescreen, a tribute double album to Big Audio Dynamite, No. 10 Dubbing Street featuring the likes of MC Brother Culture, Zoe Devlin (Alabama 3), Tippa Irie, and Silky Hookings (Death of Guitar Pop), splits with Alpheus, The Dynamos, Satanic Puppeteer Orchestra, and countless singles on Liquidator, Jump Up!, Steady Beat, Badasonic, and Roy's own label, Escape Hatch Records. And they are just getting started. There is another album of originals and another album of covers that have been leaking out a song at a time.
Smoke and Mirrors Sound System, under Roy’s visionary leadership, has since become a beacon of collaboration and creativity in the ska and reggae community. The project not only showcases Roy’s talents as a songwriter and arranger but also highlights his ability to unite a diverse group of musicians around a shared passion for music. Through Smoke and Mirrors Sound System, John Roy has turned a period of global isolation into an opportunity for connection and artistic expression, proving that even in the darkest times, music can bring people together.
No. 10 Dubbing Street (2024) Press Kit
https://escapehatchrecords.com/pages/opk-ehr010-smoke-and-mirrors-sound-system
Smokescreen (2023) Press Kit
https://escapehatchrecords.com/pages/opk-ehr006-smoke-and-mirrors-sound-system-smokescreen
Split with The Dynamos (2023) Press Kit
https://escapehatchrecords.com/pages/opk-ehr001-the-dynamos-smoke-and-mirrors-sound-system
Split with Satanic Puppeteer Orchestra (2023) Press Kit
https://escapehatchrecords.com/pages/opk-ehr004-smoke-and-mirrors-sound-system-satanic-puppeteer-orchestra