The Story Behind Jah Cure’s ‘Undeniable’ Album
Undeniable isn’t just the name of singer Jah Cure’s new album, but an unavoidable theme in the project’s actualization.
Released by VP Records on February 17, the 11-track set is a voyage through the nuances of love and relationships, starting with the opening and title track which features 24-year-old singer Kaylan Arnold.
The Florida, U.S., native got on Cure’s radar after uploading an emotive cover of his Longing For hit to her Instagram in 2021.
“He told me he was working on an album which was super cool to me because I grew up listening to Jah Cure and old school reggae,” she told DancehallMag. “He sent me like six records to choose from and I heard Undeniable, which didn’t have a title yet. In the first 10 seconds, I knew that was the record I wanted to be on and told him.”
He doubled her bars as she requested, the end result of which is an intense, soul-stirring pledge to an unbreakable connection.
“At least 70 to 80 percent of my catalog is love songs, so, the fact that this was a love song was even better,” she said. “It came from a very authentic place; where I was at in my life and relationship, and just a security reminder in romantic love and also when you have an undeniable relationship with someone.”
Ghanaian artist Stonebwoy is the only other featured act on the album with Everything.
Beyond the relationship theme, Undeniable is a meeting of the musical worlds of Cure and the project’s sole producer Hamed ‘K-One’ Pirouzpanah.
The Swedish producer, who has over two decades of experience and success across Pop, Hip-hop, and R&B, had only been making reggae music a month prior to meeting Cure in Stockholm in 2019. His elevator pitch was a song he created using acapella vocals from one of Cure’s older recordings.
“He was in the studio and I was kinda nervous, but I caught his attention and we started working,” K-One told DancehallMag.
They recorded three tracks which paved the way for them to work together when K-One came to Jamaica for a mini vacation a month later. The period was enough to convince Cure that they should do an album, so, shortly after K-One returned to Sweden, he bought him a ticket to come to Jamaica and make music which they did over one year.
It was an eye-opening and expansive experience for the producer who admitted to feeling insecure about his capacity to do reggae justice.
“I didn’t know what I was doing cause I was coming from hip hop, pop and urban music,” he said. “If, for instance, I did something with the organ or piano, he (Cure) would tell me if it sounded more European, so, I listened and learned.”
Plus, music heads like Clive Hunt, Tain Andre, Pernell, Bobby Kangol and Bounty Keys aided his practical understanding of arranging reggae productions. He incorporated this with what he and Cure call ‘reggae fusion’, heard through RnB injections on tracks like Turn off the Lights, beat-changing choruses on others like Trust, and the ear-perking elements of surprise like the Latin feels of If I Had You.
K-One was cautious about introducing foreign sounds, but said Cure encouraged him to do his thing.
“He also trusted me when it came to his vocals. When it comes to hip hop, urban music and reggae, it’s maybe one or two lead vocals and maybe backing vocals. When it comes to pop, it’s like 70 channels, a choir, and I’ve done that so much, so, I think I’ve learnt the right way to catch the vocals and mix it in the song and he trusted me a lot with that.”
That trust was reciprocal as Cure also allowed him to sing background vocals.
“I’ve never done that before. I often sing toplines for artistes but never recorded my vocals. He inspired me and gave me a boost, so, I sing backing vocals on some of the tracks.”
K-One, who is now working on songs with acts like Chronic Law, Vershon and Christopher Martin, hopes the album reaches a broad audience, especially considering “ this is a good album that we did with our heart and soul.”
Jah Cure is serving a six-year sentence in the Netherlands for attempted manslaughter, following the stabbing of promoter Nicardo ‘Papa’ Blake in Dam Square.