Mr Shikler is a multi-talented reggae artist residing these days on the vibrant west coast of America, where he performs regularly in and around the Culver City area of Los Angeles. Although raised to a great extent on the sun-kissed coast of southern California, Gidon’s roots reach far and wide. Stretching from the Netherlands to Israel and back again, it is an international identity that he has continued to cultivate, leading to the unbreakable connections he also made while living in the UK and Jamaica.
From a young age Gidon had a love for all things creative, ultimately leading him to study photography from the age of 14. He would go on to specialise at the London College of Printing, graduating with BA honours in ‘98’. Music however, was his first love, a relationship he had continued to develop over the years. “I was always playing music and instruments. My first foray into performing was playing percussion with bands around the age of 18. I eventually wrote my first song around the age of 21...” It is certainly clear that Gidon’s high-vibe music reflects the diverse, cross-cultural influences that defined his early years.
He returned to London almost a decade later to start a new life here in 2007 and went on to front his first band ‘The Rockrites’, releasing his first album ‘Deeper Grooves’ in the same year. During that time Mr Shikler’s star made many lasting connections with a number of artists and musicians alike. I’m honoured to count myself amongst those lucky people, indeed Gidon has become part of the family now.
Much more than the lead singer of a band, Gidon has grown into an accomplished musician in every sense of the word. A singer, a song writer, a guitarist, a percussionist, as well as sound engineer, all wrapped up into one.
Eventually the longing for the warm sunny climate of home (California), not to mention the small portion sizes of the UK all proved too much, so after four years in London it was time for a change. Just a year later while working on a project in Miami with Jamaican producers Paul Fakhourie and Maestro, Gidon met Beres Hammond, they hit it off straight away and became good friends. “He invited me to Jamaica to record at his Harmony House Studio. That’s where we recorded ‘Call Me’...” The single was well received, helped along in no small part by Jamaican radio station IRIE FM.
It would be a further 3 years however before a new album would be finished. Thankfully, it was time well spent as the 2016 EP ‘Rise’ finally cemented Gidon’s place on the Reggae scene with his energy rich musical blends. Fusing elements of rock, jazz, soul and old-school Roots Rock Reggae. The resulting mix Gidon creates is a sunny, groove-filled sound that is every bit as soulful as the Jamaican legends who inspired him.
Ever since we first met all those years ago, collaborating has been a no-brainer. Frustratingly however, we couldn’t quite manage to advance this mutual objective. Back then we had all the positive intentions in the world but failed miserably to get anything going.
I know Gidon to be a positive, chilled out dude just like myself, great fun for hanging out, not so good for getting stuff done. I certainly wasn’t as driven as I am now, additionally, it wasn’t exactly obvious to me how I was meant to cross over from spoken word performer to lyricist and musician. This is why it feels odd to say that it wasn’t until Gidon had moved back to California and a further 5 years had passed that we finally began collaborating in the studio.
They say better late than never and it is in that hopeful spirit that we have combined forces. ‘Things Will Always Get Better’ has a reassuring message with aspiration at its core. If our song title is anything to go by, the future will be rosy indeed. In my experience so far, when two titanic forces combine to achieve a single aim, success becomes an inevitable consequence.
With a renewed urgency after the birth of his first child, Gidon has no intention to rest on his laurels and like a prolific blacksmith is already hard at work on a number of other projects, “I guess you could say that I presently have many irons in the fire...”
Exciting times ahead indeed, especially given that in addition to working on a debut album for his new band ‘Calibrations’, another solo studio album is said to be over half way. Also in the pipeline is the chance to perform at World Music and a number of other reggae festivals across the Western United States next summer. Clearly Gidon’s Star will continue to rise and rise, hopefully I can catch a boost in his slip stream. Whatever happens though, we know it’s going to get better.
“Gidon is an Ace at work,
And one of the coolest faces,
To ever walk the face of the earth,
In fact including space,
And the subterranean dirt,
His name exerts faith in words,
As he extricates pain from hurt,
It’s all in a day's work for this great Sir,
Even his way of being,
Generates an array of beams,
That radiate every which way he leans,
While the greatest ancient sages,
Remain in amazement,
At his latest teachings,
He speaks them in the name of Jinden,
While creating a deepening of the rhythm,
Within which all is forgiven,
Life is a bitch isn't it?
Not if you’re with him it isn’t!
Boredom is but an ornament,
In the ditch of a forlorn disorder,
And since an encore is within reach,
Tell the streets to get on with it,
And never let up,
If they still don’t believe yet,
Tell the peeps that,
Whatever the weather,
THINGS WILL ALWAYS GET BETTER...“
Posted (24/08/18)