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SELASSIE I SOLDIER and SPECIAL FORCE
Jamaican Reggae, Feel the Riddim
Biography
SPECIAL FORCE is a reggae band with veteran Jamaican vocalist Hainzle Augustus Malcolm, a.k.a. Selassie I Soldier at the helm. SPECIAL FORCE, features an arsenal of rock solid musicians that play classic reggae treasures and original compositions that inspire their audience to sing, dance and feel that groove in the rhythm of the moment.
In Jamaica, the teenage Hainzle was singing some of his original songs when Leroy “Horsemouth” Wallace (a popular Jamaican artist) overheard him. He was so captivated that he insisted that Hainzle record them.
However Hainzle’s attention was elsewhere - he was a top competitor on the national swimming team and was not even considering music as a career path.
Then by chance a friend asked him if he wanted to record a song at the historic Aquarius studio. Unsure, he sought “Horsemouth's” advice which was “Don’t ask, just do it!” From that session at Aquarius studio came two singles that went on to become local favorites and made it into the Jamaican charts.
Spurred on by the success of these singles, Hainzle moved to the US to continue his career performing with touring reggae acts such as Hardcopy and the Boogie Brown Band.
He produced his own tracks with help and assurance from reggae icons, Sly and Robbie and of course, “Horsemouth” Wallace. Singles from this project were Mass Out, This Old Man and Launch The Attack, and are all crowd favorites at SPECIAL FORCE shows.
After the completion of this record, Hainzle, spent a few years gigging around New York City. Returning to Seattle he performed at the venerable Seattle festivals, Bumbershoot and Folk Life. Forming SPECIAL FORCE, Selassie I Soldier is performing classic reggae hits and original music once again on the West Coast.
"We live our music inside out. Days later you can still feel that bass shaking your bones.
Before long they come to see us again because there's something in that show that lifts them up. Maybe it's the bass. Maybe it's a drum, maybe it's a lyric, but somewhere along the line this music hits like a ton of bricks. It takes all of us working together to create this special force.
That's the thing we are inspired to do. That is why we write music.”
Special Force is a Seattle-based Jamaican roots reggae band with connections to Jamaica’s recording tradition. Performances at major Northwest events. Led by Jamaican-born vocalist Hainzle Augustus Malcolm, also known as Selassie I Soldier. The band blends deep bass, classic roots reggae, original songs, and uplifting live energy built for festivals, clubs, and community events.
Special Force is a Seattle-based Jamaican roots reggae band led by Jamaican-born vocalist Hainzle Augustus Malcolm, also known as Selassie I Soldier. The band blends deep bass, classic roots reggae, original songs, and uplifting live energy built for festivals, clubs, and community events. With connections to Jamaica’s recording tradition and performances at major Northwest events including Bumbershoot and Seattle Folklife, Special Force brings authentic reggae with soul, power, and purpose.
