The new EP and upcoming international tour find the soulful crooner once again embracing the global marketplace. Recorded at Richie’s Pot of Gold Studios, and produced remotely by super producer Steven “Lenky” Marsden for his Diwali Records imprint, the 6-song EP (3 songs and 3 instrumental versions) showcases Richie’s powerhouse vocals over some select Lenky riddims, which were handcrafted with the singer in mind.
Lead single “Leggo” is a Latin-flavored dancefloor stomper, in which the “Golden Voice” of Jamaica (as Richie has been dubbed graciously by fans) conjures lyrics to steal your unattended girl, in both Spanish and English. Lenky describes the song’s content and intent as “Latin vibe with the Reggae feel to take listeners on a tropical vacation within their souls.” Stephens and Marsden shot the video for “Leggo” on October 16th at an undisclosed location in Jamaica. The video was directed by Graciann “Jay Jay” Christie for Terminal 4 Media. Never one to forget his roots, Richie delivers a dancehall ode to the style, sound, and spirit of his fellow regional islanders on “Caribbean People,” shouting out Trinidad & Tobago, St. Vincent, the Grenadines, St. Kitts & Nevis, Cuba, Jamaica, Antigua, Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, Barbados, Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, and St. Thomas.The guitar-driven title track is an inspirational anthem that will have listeners reaching appropriately “All The Way To The Top” to achieve their goals. The maestro Lenky completes the sentiment with a driving synth line that propels the song to even greater heights. Listeners yearning to dig deeper into Lenky’s instrumental prowess will also enjoy the 3 accompanying dub versions.
Steven “Lenky” Marsden, the Jamaican-born producer best known for creating dancehall music’s landmark Diwali riddim, recently released his sophomore solo album Self Taught, on the maestro’s own Diwali Records imprint. The 11-song instrumental album showcases Lenky’s dexterity on the piano, as well as his depth as an arranger. Expect more from Diwali Records in the months to follow. The label draws it’s name from the innovative riddim which spawned major hits like Wayne Wonder’s “No Letting Go,” Lumidee’s “Never Leave You (Uh Oh)”, and most notably, Sean Paul’s “Get Busy,” which enjoyed a 3-week run atop the Billboard HOT 100 singles chart.
