Reggae Act Iba Mahr is looking forward to spreading his brand of the music throughout the world, but is aware that the journey has to be taken on step at a time.

After the release of his first recording Had It and Lost It, produced by vintage chanter Max Romeo, Iba Mahr, now with Born Rolling Records, and is currently on a roll with his latest release.

“We recently did a video for the song which is climbing the charts. The track is titled Will I Wait but we also included a track that we had before that titled Born Free. So it’s two songs on the video. But we have a new song that is getting good rotations, Sound An Alarm. We looking for to have a EP (extended play package) coming out soon before the year ends. And then next year we have the album somewhere about February,” oozed Iba Mahr.

He has just began to buzz on the local music scene, but the music of this Linstead born artiste whose given is Mario Greaves, enjoys favourable attention on the European circuit. And that is mainly due to his debut single Had It And Lost It with which he started his recording career in 2008.

“Well, it’s a song that is well recognised outside of Jamaica, like in Europe and other places. But we never got much promotion here. However, it was released on a various artistes compilation for Max Romeo’s Charmax Music that was more promoted in Europe. The second release that I had was for Fattis Burrell called Where You Are and was also released on a various artistes album on iTunes,” he explained.

The young singer, who personifies the first part of his moniker Iba, an African name meaning humble and calm, which he combines with Mahr, an acronym for Mario of Harar, stressed: “As artistes we try to create things that really reflect us, more than just create something just for the namesake. That’s why the name Iba Mahr.”

Asked how challenging it is for him as a cultural artiste to make an impact in the music industry and he responded: “We know it’s not falling on deaf ears. People really listening. Even if they not listening dem a hear. So they can pick the good from it. So much things out there, so much music out there to derail you, so then you need positive music to keep the people them in track. That’s what we do daily, we live it. And with Rasta at the helm of our inspiration, is just dem energy deh we have to flow. “

In an apparent effort to market himself more forcefully on the home front, he promised to be more visible on the local stage. “We are looking forward to be on most of the major shows towards the end of this year and we are looking forward to tours for the message is spreading all over Europe, Caribbean, USA, all over the world,” Iba Mahr whose major appearances so far this year included St Mary We Come From and Reggae Sumfest, told the Observer.