Anthony Mayler hoping to make inroads locally
ANTHONY Mayler has a story similar to many reggae artistes who live in New York City. Though he has established himself there, he yearns for a presence ‘a yaad’.
The singer was in Kingston recently pitching his latest songs, Mi Waan Know (with Gully Bop) and What True Love Means.
“Basically, Jamaica don’t know a lot about mi, so mi want to get recognition on this side. Grassroots support always important,” he told the Jamaica Observer. What Love Truly Means is produced by Ed Robinson, a stalwart of the Big Apple reggae scene.
Robinson, also a singer, has helped guide Mayler since he moved to Brooklyn in 1998. Two of his previous songs, What’s The Use (with Robinson) and Suffering, were also produced by Robinson.
“Ed is a really good producer; always trying new things to get di best out of yuh,” said Mayler.
Raised in the Central Kingston community of Allman Town, Mayler lived for a time in Seaview Gardens, where he was mentored by singer Wayne Smith — famous for the groundbreaking 1984 song Under Mi Sleng Teng.
It was not until 2001 that his first song was released. That single, Sidekick, was produced by Affiliation Records. Since then he has released a number of songs, mainly in the tri-state area where he does most of his shows.
— Howard Campbell