Season Change Riddim – Berta Records

Berta Records’ Season Change Riddim arrived in 2017 as a roots-leaning reggae juggling with a modern polish and a live-band feel. The label is headed by Tomique “DJ Fresh” Williams, whose work has centered on conscious reggae with real instrumentation, and this project fit neatly into that approach. The riddim was released in May 2017 and later circulated as a six-track EP through digital platforms and Zojak distribution.

The cut that gives the project its title in spirit is Bugle’s Rising For A Fall, a serious anthem built on reflection and pressure, with Bugle’s sharp phrasing riding the groove in a way that feels immediate and assured. Chino McGregor’s I Nah Worry brings a steadier, more defiant tone, while Kabaka Pyramid’s Never Change adds his trademark conscious edge and conversational flow. Tarrus Riley’s There Is A Way brings warmth and uplift, the kind of vocal control that can turn a simple one-drop into something bigger. Rockaz Elements’ No Get Away adds another layer of roots harmony and message, and the Romain Virgo and Bugle pairing on No Problem is the most obvious crossover moment, balancing Virgo’s smooth tenor against Bugle’s harder contour.

The riddim itself sits around a relaxed mid-tempo pulse, with bass and drums doing the heavy lifting and the arrangement leaving room for the singers to carry the emotional weight. It is the kind of set that works because the songs do not fight the groove; they sit inside it. That balance helped the release travel beyond the local reggae circuit and gave Berta Records one of its better-known early catalog moments.