BY HOWARD CAMPBELL—
TWENTY years after multiple appearances on the British national chart with singer Pliers, deejay Chaka Demus has released a new solo album.
Second Coming is the title of the self-produced 14-song set.
Last week, the 49 year-old toaster spoke to the Jamaica Observer about his debut as a producer.
“Well, yuh definitely have more control. Nobody can tell yuh what yuh don’t want,” he said. “Everything work off my vibes.”
Being in control of Second Coming allowed Demus to select the musicians. They include guitarist Mitchum ‘Khan’ Chin, drummer Wilburn ‘Squiddly’ Cole and bass player Danny ‘Axeman’ Thompson.
It was not all smooth sailing during production on Second Coming which began three years ago. At one point, Demus dropped eight of the tracks because he was not satisfied with their quality.
“After dat, mi jus’ tek mi time an’ mek sure mi get things right,” he said.
The album is released by the Fire and Ice label, co-owned by Chaka Demus and longtime friend Winston Solomon. It was Solomon who co-wrote Tease Me, one of the hit songs from All She Wrote, the 1993 gold album that launched the international careers of Chaka Demus and Pliers.
Produced by Sly and Robbie, Tease Me was among a record six songs from All She Wrote that entered the British national chart. The feat earned Chaka Demus and Pliers worldwide fame and a slot as opening act for UB40.
Chaka Demus and Pliers had successful solo careers before teaming up in 1991. Their first song together was the Ossie Hibbert-produced Gal Wine, one of the numbers that eventually made the British pop chart.
Following the recording session at Mixing Lab studios in Kingston, Chaka Demus recalls telling Pliers that Gal Wine would be a big hit. He could not envisage the record-breaking run of the ensuing album which was released by Mango Records, a subsidiary of Island Records.
“Me’d kinda surprised…mi neva expect so much songs fi hit.”
Second Coming does not mean the end of Chaka Demus and Pliers. The duo recently performed on the Rototom Festival in Spain.
