Rocksteady Roots, Retro Menswear and César Infame
There's something about special rocksteady. It's got that laid-back groove, a soulful bounce, but underneath there's structure and culture. It's no wonder the sound landed so hard in Britain back in the sixties, right when mods and skinheads were sharpening up their look and building something that mattered.
Fast forward to now, and that connection hasn't gone anywhere. Musicians like César Infame are keeping it alive, blending rocksteady with ska, reggae, punk, and all the other sounds that originated in the Caribbean and found a second home around the globe.
His new single "¡Ay Señor!" dropped December 11, and it's a proper rocksteady tune. He recorded it during a stressful waiting period, turning anxiety into humour and positivity.
When the Sound Crossed the Water
Ska and rocksteady didn't just arrive in Britain by accident. They came with people, with communities, and they landed in cities that were already hungry for something new. By the mid-sixties, mods had picked up on the bouncy, syncopated rhythms emerging from Jamaica, and they fit their aesthetic perfectly: clean, precise, and energetic without being messy.
Rocksteady slowed things down a touch, gave the bass more room to breathe, let the melodies stretch out. It was soulful in a way that ska sometimes wasn't, and that made it ideal for late nights, for dancing close, for letting the music do the heavy lifting. When skinheads emerged shortly after, they took that sound and ran with it, making it central to their identity before the movement got hijacked by the wrong crowd. But the music stayed clean.
It kept evolving. Reggae deepened the groove, punk added the fury, and bands started mixing it all. The Specials, The Beat, and Madness all understood that Caribbean rhythms and British attitude could coexist in the same space.
Stirring It Up the Right Way
“Rocksteady felt like the perfect vehicle — calm enough to breathe, but rich enough to carry all the emotion and irony.”
— César Infame
Venezuelan-Chilean musician and producer César Infame's been doing this for years now. He's mixed ska, rocksteady, reggae, punk, and alternative sounds into something that feels cohesive without forcing it.
Nominated for Best Ska Song of the Year at the Pepsi Music Awards in Venezuela, he's worked with heavyweights like Pdrito Criollo from Gogol Bordello, Héctor Hernández from La Maldita Vecindad, and members of Papashanty. All from his home studio, El Infame Records, which is as independent as it gets.
That DIY spirit runs through everything he does. The music has polish, but it also has soul and grit. The same goes for how he dresses. A knitted polo is a staple for the culture he represents.
Have a listen and a dance to César’s new tune ¡Ay Señor!, and check out the video!
Proper British Heritage Menswear
Relco's always understood this. The brand is rooted in the same subcultures that made rocksteady, ska, and reggae essential to British identity. Mod, ska, punk, and alternative scenes all required gear that matched their respective styles.
We’re talking British knitwear, checkered shirts, classic braces, and stylish retro staples that don't look like fancy dress. Clothing that does the job, whether you're on stage, in the crowd, or just going for a cheeky mid-week pint.
Ska Fashion & Music Live On
"¡Ay Señor!" is out now on all the usual platforms, and it's worth a listen if you're into music that respects its roots. It's rocksteady with a bit of bite, soulful without being soft, and it carries the same spirit that's kept Relco relevant for decades: know where you came from, wear it well, and don't apologise for it.
The music's still moving. The style's still dapper. And the connection between the two? That's not going anywhere.
Explore Relco's vintage-inspired range and find the clobber that's been part of ska, mod, and alternative scenes since day one.