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If you were to ask Joey Quiñones where he found inspiration for his music, you wouldn't have to look far from where the East LA son grew up. Listen to his work, and you're transported to a two-block radius of his neighborhood-from the liquor store to Sign of Music record store on Whittier Boulevard and back to a homie's house. In those two blocks, you hear cumbia blaring from the stores, punk rehearsals from a garage, oldies drifting from a neighbor's yard-a sensory overload that follows you home,all those genres singing in your head at once.This isn't a revelation to longtime fans of Quiñones' music. He has established himself as a premier interpreter of his generation, dedicating his career to offering his unique perspective on the Chicano soul songbook. But before Thee Sinseers, before the rich orchestrations and pitch-perfect harmonies that became his signature, Quiñones cut his teeth leading various backing bands for visiting Jamaican ska and dancehall acts touring Southern California. He describes those years as reggae college, getting yelled at by every Jamaican artist who had a record out. Those years ofapprenticeship in rock steady and roots reggae would inform everything that followed-and on his new solo record Inna Soul Steady Situation, Quiñones finally showcases those influences front and center.That quintessential blending of styles rings out immediately on the opening track InchSoul Steady SituationInch-Quiñones's vocals enter like a selector toasting over the riddim, an alarm call announcing his intentions with an urgency that feels club-ready and immediate. Then comes the classic drum fill, dropping into a rock steady groove that establishes the vibe this is dancehall-infused soul meant for movement, not just contemplation. It's a deliberate departure from Thee Sinseers' rich orchestrations, stripped down to showcase the Jamaican foundations that hav
