Monterey Bay Reggaefest displays the genre’s changing influences.

To most people, reggae music is one thing: a slow-boil mix of African music, Caribbean music, American R&B and ska popularized by the genre’s early greats including Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. These days, however, reggae acts are spiking the original formula with elements of electronica and rap. The resulting mixtures are a far different flavor from what most people consider to be reggae.

Kevens (pronounced “Keevens”), who performs Sunday at the Monterey Bay Reggaefest, is one artist who is taking reggae in a new direction. His song “Freedom” is basically electronica overlaid with R&B and reggae-inspired crooning. Another number, “Don’t Leave,” is electronic-tinged pop-rock with shades of world music and R&B.

The Miami-based musician began his career by working with the royalty of reggae music. Kevens’ first big musical endeavor was as a member of Le Coup, a reggae act featuring Bob Marley’s half-brothers Anthony and Richard Booker. The band performed from 1989 to 2000 until Kevens decided to embark on a solo career. “I just got a little tired of being branded as a Marley when I was not,” he says.

For the first seven years of his solo career, Kevens started to craft drum-and-bass and trip-hop music rather than reggae music. Then last year he began incorporating more reggae elements into his music and returned to playing reggae shows like the Bob Marley Festival. “Reggae is home,” he says. “How far away can you run from home?”

Now, Kevens views his detours from reggae as a means to draw all sorts of music fans to his material. “When I perform, I like to see the rock person present, the jazz person present and the reggae person present [in the audience],” he says. “It’s the best sight ever.”

It is not just Kevens’ hybrid music that sets him apart in the reggae world. Rather than releasing albums to be devoured by reggae music’s fan base, Kevens is relying on word-of-mouth from his live performances to get his name out. He has released only one single, the previously mentioned “Don’t Leave,” and no albums during his eight-year solo career. “What keeps me alive, brother, is the show,” he says. “It’s theatrical rock reggae.”

Even though the public can only purchase one of his songs, Kevens insists he has a wealth of his own material that he performs during his concerts. “I have about 65 songs right now,” he says. “I play all original, brother. I might throw in a remix of Sting. I don’t even do Marley covers.”

Following his Monterey Bay Reggaefest debut, Kevens is going to England, where he will finally put together his first album. “I’m going to make sure whatever I sing or write is timeless,” he says.

Another Monterey Bay Reggaefest rookie who is dropping new ingredients into the reggae mix is Bob Marley’s son Ky-Mani Marley. Performing Friday night, Marley’s music bridges the ever-narrowing divide between reggae and rap. His “Hustler” recalls dancehall reggae artist Buju Banton more than his father, while the song’s lyrics about hustling are cribbed from rap’s playbook. And tracks like “One Time” and “March” are rap songs that betray almost no hint of a relation to reggae.

Marley says he doesn’t have many memories of his father, who passed away when he was 5 years old, yet the icon’s son says that all the aspects of his father’s music have influenced him. Even so, Marley feels there is no reason he should be limited to playing only straight reggae music. “I’m just a music lover,” he says. “I’ll use anything and everything. I’m just here to make good music.”

Even reggae pioneers the Mighty Diamonds, who play the festival on Sunday night, are planning to slightly alter their formula of soulful reggae on their next CD. According to singer Donald “Tabby Diamond” Shaw, the group, which formed in Kingston’s Trenchtown in 1969, is going to have a violin player on their upcoming album (due out next fall).

The Mighty Diamonds– which are probably best known for their 1981 song “Pass the Kouchie” (reworked by Musical Youth to become the 1982 international hit “Pass the Dutchie”)– attempted a reggae/R&B hybrid in 1977 with the album Ice on Fire. It was rejected by fans and critics.

“The album was like a trial,” Shaw says. “It was too early.”

These days– and all weekend long– the popularity of the rap-meets-reggae sound of Ky-Mani Marley and the electronica-drenched reggae of Kevens will prove that the time is right to add different ingredients to reggae’s traditional recipe. 

THE MONTEREY BAY REGGAEFEST takes place noon to 10pm Friday, Aug. 29, and 10am to 10pm Saturday, Aug. 30 and Sunday, Aug. 31, at the Monterey County Fairgrounds, 2004 Fairgrounds Road, Monterey. $28 Friday; $38 Saturday; $38 Sunday; $90/weekend. 394-8432.