Singer Christopher Martin was in a jubilant mood backstage at the just-concluded Shaggy & Friends concert held on Jamaica House’s lawn in St Andrew on Saturday night.
“2018 will be awesome. I have a wonderful set of fans and every year I feel I get better with my craft. I just finished the album and I want to drop it this summer,” Martin told Jamaica Observer.
The new album, which is still untitled, is to be released by VP Records. It is the follow up to Martin’s 2017 release Big Deal, which was released in February last year.
“The album did well, and the support was very encouraging. Thanks to the fans and everyone who supported it,” said Martin.
Big Deal features 17 tracks, including collaborations with Destiny Moriah, Busy Signal, Chip, and Tanto Blacks.
Like his Big Deal album, Martin says he had a say in the direction and production aspects of the forthcoming album.
“I always have an input in my career. I produced three tracks and the rest were produced by Robert Livingston, ZJ Chrome, and Chimney Records,” he said.
he new album is a nice mixture reggae, dancehall, love songs, African pop and rhythm and blues,” he said.
The first single Come Back is to be released within weeks and the accompanying video is to commence production shortly.
Martin collaborated with Romain Virgo late last year on the song Leave People Business Alone. That video is due next month.
Big Deal has to date sold over 1,200 copies in the United States. The set peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Reggae album chart on March 4. His other Billboard-charting title was the Steppin Razor (EP) which reached number 15 in 2015.