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NEW ALBUM: Singing Melody

WITH A career spanning over 20 years, reggae singer Singing Melody is back with his new album They Call Me Mr. Melody. The Jamaican vocalist, who also makes up one fourth of reggae vocal quartet L.U.S.T. (along with fellow singers Lukie D, Thriller U and Tony Curtis), has now returned his focus to his solo career.

Best known for his 2006 cover of Take That’s Back For Good, the 44-year-old talks to Davina Hamilton about the importance of soundsystems, the state of reggae music, and picking himself up after the near fatal shooting of his son.

When did you first get into music?
I grew up during the soundsytem days. Artists didn’t get their music played on radio just like that. You had to start out on soundsystems. I travelled around Jamaica as part of the soundsystem and from there, I moved on to [producer] King Tubby’s [studio] where I got the opportunity to record my first single, Tie Me. So I started around 1986 and I’ve never looked back.

What do you think of reggae’s current output?
I think some of the lyrics could be better. There is a lot of good music out there, but unfortunately, a lot of it isn’t being highlighted. I think we need more of a balance on radio between music that entertains people and music that enlightens people.

The reggae fraternity was saddened back in 2006 when news broke that your son had been shot. Can you recall what happened?
My son’s mum had been in London for several years and she came back to Jamaica and my son wanted to visit her. I told him that I didn’t like the place where his mum was and that I’d prefer it if she came to him. But he was 17 at the time and he insisted that he wanted to go, so I let him go. He went and sadly, he was gunned down.

That’s often how it goes in the ghetto; if you come along and you’re a strange face in the area, it raises suspicion for groups in the area. He was approached by a couple of guys who asked who he was. He explained he was there to visit his mum, but they thought he was somebody suspicious so they shot him.

How is he doing now?
Thank the Lord he survived and he now looks at his life in a different way. I have sad moments when I think about it sometimes, but God has his plan for everyone and when it’s not your time, it’s not your time. He’s 22 now and he’s doing well.

How would you say 2012 has been treating you so far?
Well, first I give God thanks for life itself because it’s definitely a blessing to wake up and see another day. The year started really well for me. The album is out and people are really feeling it, so I’m definitely pleased about that.

They Call Me Mr Melody is out now, available on iTunes