Echoes, December 2023

I wrote both cover features for this month's Echoes. That's never happened before and I have the utmost appreciation for the two artists in question. Rwandan Afrobeats' star Bruce Melodie has a fascinating back story to go with his incredible rise to fame. He and Shaggy combined for their current hit When She's Around (Funga Macho) and the pair also tore up the Trace Music Awards in Kigali recently whilst Protoje is celebrating the Zion I Kings' remix of his album Third Time's The Charm and a children's book Here Comes The Morning co-written with Dutty Bookman's two young sons.

There's a round-up of the year in place of this month's Vibe column where we look at reggae music's highs and lows in 2023, and Run The Track discusses new singles by Kabaka Pyramid, Christopher Martin (This Christmas), Marlon Asher, Tarrus Riley & Capleton (Diamonds And Gold), Conkorah and Jah Lil. Elsewhere the 50th Anniversary issue of The Wailers' Catch A Fire is Reggae Album Of The Month with Ginjah, Redman International (We Run Things), Dandy Livingstone and Sugar Minott (Bitter Sweet) providing the also rans.