Says there is a standard of music to maintain; vows to keep meeting bar
Following the release of his latest single, My Life, reggae and dancehall artiste Bugle said he is looking forward to showcasing all sides of him on his upcoming album. Scheduled for an October release, Bugle said the project will see him tackling social issues, embracing his dancehall side, while delving deep into love and relationships with some romance songs. All in all, Bugle said the album will have something for everyone.
“The album will be a mixture of everything. I have maybe about 14 songs on the project, and seven of those are reggae, and then the rest is dancehall vibes. But of course, it will be my kind of dancehall, because we nah go less than the Bugle standard. Mi have two Spanish artistes on there; mi have love songs on it, which mi never go so hard on love songs before pan none a mi projects. So it’s a variety, because variety a di spice of life,” he said. “But at the end of the day mi affi remain Bugle, and no matter what deh pan it, mi affi have the social commentary. I really don’t think there are a lot of people that tackle social issues like I do, so me really can’t let go dat. People look forward to hearing certain songs from me, so mi affi give dem weh dem a anticipate in true Bugle style.”
The entertainer said after his third studio album was released back in 2019, the plan was not to release another album so soon. But, with the pandemic having grounded him at home for an extended period, he said his studio became his base, and so the songs kept coming. “I didn’t really want to put out an album this year, but because of the pandemic and the whole lockdown and everything, mi just work pan a next album, because what else was there to do? Besides, me never get fi even promote the last album because me put it out August 2019, and by the time mi fi start tour everything lock dung. It never get a fair shot on the road, so hopefully, this one will.”
Although not keen on setting expectations for his work, Bugle said he is anticipating the feedback of his fans when they hear the project. He said that having commissioned some of the island’s most talented artistes to voice on the record, he hopes his efforts will be appreciated. “Mi always have great features on my albums that help to make them great, and this one is no different. On this one, I have Julian Marley and Bounty Killer on one track, I have Jesse Royal and Kabaka Pyramid on one track, I have Nation Boss, I have Jahmiel, and as I said, I have two Spanish artistes. The album a go wicked,” he said. “The intro alone a go speak volumes because there is no music, just melodies, and that’s where I have Tony Gold and Adena Myrie, and if you know them, you know they are some extremely talented vocalists. So with those great voices coming together, it a go set a standard from the get-go.”
Speaking of standards, Bugle recalled comparisons being made between himself, Buju Banton and Sizzla Kalonji back when he released his début album. He said that he was taken aback when persons likened his projects to what he considers two of the best albums produced by a Jamaican artiste — being mentioned in a conversation with reggae legends stuck with Bugle throughout his career. He admits that because of those comparisons, he knows the bar is set high for him, and he has every intention of meeting it. “My albums always stand out, and people always look forward to them. I remember when I put out my first album, Anointed, there were comparisons to Til Shiloh from Buju Banton and Da Real Thing from Sizzla Kalonji. That was unbelievable for me, because those two albums are two of the greatest album from my time and fi hear people make da comparison deh, it make me kinda put the thing pan a level weh mi can’t drop it, and so mi affi always maintain that standard,” he said.
