Tarrus Riley presents new album after 6 years

  • “These difficult times are to bring people together and bring them closer, that happens when one values ​​time and values ​​the time between us”, Tarrus Riley said in his private presentation of the new album.

Behind 6 years of waiting, fans of Jamaican Reggae superstar Tarrus Riley will be able to enjoy the long-awaited album “Healing”, available from today on all your digital platforms, distributed through Jukeboxx Productions / Zojak Worldwide.

In a private session where the artist presented the album to the press, and where Reggae Chalice was present, “Singy Singy” reflected on the impact that the pandemic had on people's lives and how we need to better appreciate life, value time and those close to us.

“Use your time the best you can. Luckily we have the music, a tool where I can channel and express my emotions. But we have to appreciate the time, make our lives a better life”, said in mid-August Tarrus Riley when presenting his album.

Produced by well known studio magician Shane Brown and legendary saxophonist Dean Fraser along with Riley himself, “Healing” marks the meeting of “Singy Singy” -how fans know the charismatic hit songwriter singer as “She’s Royal” Y “Powerful” (con Major Lazer), featuring some of the hottest stars on the dancehall scene today.

Jamaican stars Shenseea, Konshens, Dexta Daps, Teejay and Rvssian Top Featured Guest List In This Timely Soundtrack For These Times of Tribulation.

Completely written and recorded during lockdown in the middle of spring in Jamaica, the LP of 12 tracks is the first work made entirely of reggae music on the time of COVID-19 and the consequences or implications that this moment has had in the lives of millions of people around the world.

Direct and current but with a spiritual tone, the project takes stock of the world at a time of unprecedented uncertainty, envisioning a future for humanity in which we must move forward without the comforts of the past. During “Healing” Tarrus tells a story from reflection, how the pandemic affected everyone equally without differentiating social classes, color or race. He talks about the race war in Babylon and also dedicates one of his songs to migrants.

“I reflected a lot on how the world is doing”, says Riley about the inspiration behind the album, his first full length since “Love Situation” of 2014. "What I had to do to avoid panic and keep my sanity is to express myself. Not everything is inspired by Covid. This project is about life itself: a soundtrack for our lives now, and maybe what our lives will be “.

“Healing” was done in unique circumstances, since Jamaica decreed curfews from 3 pm, which added urgency to the recording process and the recordings themselves. When writing songs with his guitar, Tarrus sent voice notes to Brown, who drew rhythms around the lyrics. Then, Tarrus drove more than an hour each day from his home in southeastern Jamaica to Brown's studio in Kingston to record vocal tracks before the lockdown was established., an experience that he compares to “prepare for war”.

Fraser and bassist Glen Browne joined them occasionally in the studio., while guitarist Mitchum ‘Khan’ Chin and drummer Kirk Bennett sent parts from home. Featuring a highly talented group of Jamaican singers who were mostly unavailable due to social distancing, Featured artists like Shenseea and even Riley's children filled the void with choruses and harmonies.

The singles list includes “Remember Me” (in prayer with Riley's children, Akilah-Joy, Tsehai and Mekiem); “Lighter”, a radio-ready anthem featuring Shenseea and Jamaican blockbuster Rvssian; and the title track "Healing" which positions Tarrus asking the question: What will the new world be like without a simple hug?.

“I'm asking a question that everyone wants to know”, dice Tarrus. "We need to heal right now, heal our health, heal us financially. My father is a singer and my mother is a nurse. I am them together and I make healing music”.

TRACK LISTING FOR “HEALING”:
1.- The Week/Weak
2.- Great Equalizer feat. DEAN FRASER
3.- Healing
4.- Babylon Warfare feat. TEEJAY and DEAN FRASER
5.- Poor Immigrants feat. SHANE BROWN
6.- Family Tree
7.- Lighter feat. SHENSEEA + RVSSIAN
8.- Connect Again feat. KONSHENS
9.- My Fire feat. DEXTA DAPS
10.- T.I.M.E. (Together In Moments Everlasting)
11.- Remember Me feat. AKILAH-JOY, TSEHAI & MEKIEM
12.- Blessings

Source: Caribbean News / RC team