Kaya Black Says Reggae Covers Boost Jamaican Culture
Reggae artist Kaya Black believes doing covers of international hits creates a new window of opportunity for Jamaican acts.
“When you turn a foreign song into a reggae song, it gives it a new life and a new dimension. It’s a win win for both the original artist who has the ability to reach a whole new market, if an artist covers your song decades after its original release and it’s done right, it’s a sign that your song is considered a classic,” he told DancehallMag.
On October 15, Black released a cover of the Commodores 1982 single Easy, produced by multi-platinum producer and Grammy winner, J-Vibe.
Easy is a song by the Commodores for the Motown, from their fifth studio album Commodores. It was written by group member Lionel Richie.
For Kaya, who grew up listening to the group, he felt like a reggae cover would complement the lyrics.
“I always felt a connection to the single and thought a reggae version would sound great, but I never acted on it,” the artist explained.
He also made it his duty to contact the Grammy-Award-winning producer after hearing about his work.
”I linked up with J-Vibe after hearing production he did on Collie Buddz’s single Close To You last year. I reached out to him and we have been working together with Tyler Cain, a Nashville based producer, ever since,” the artist said.
It was when he released recent press photos that his fans ironically compared him to Lionel Richie and suggested that he covered one of the American icon’s songs.
“Although it wasn’t a Lionel Richie song per se, Easy was the perfect song to cover,” he added.
The artist added his own unique touch, also accompanied by a stellar guitar solo by Grammy-nominated producer Tyler Cain. The single quickly made its ascent on the iTunes Reggae chart by premiering at number 62 shortly after the release.
Kaya says covers have the potential to be just as successful as original tracks.
“The song Baby I love Your Way by Big Mountain, originally done by Peter Frampton was successful. UB40’s hit Red Red Wine, originally by Neil Diamond, as well. Boy George covered Everything I Own By Ken Boothe and it became a massive hit,” he explained.
Kaya Black’s reggae roots began when his father Johnnie Black, a renowned Jamaican photographer pushed him into pursuing the genre as a career option. He also gained inspiration from listening to his mother’s R&B and Rock records, resulting in a blend of musical influences including Bob Marley and the Wailers, Stevie Wonder, Maxi Priest, Matchbox Twenty and John Mayer.
Easy follows the artiste’s recent releases, Missing You and Burn From You.