ONE year after splitting from production company DASECA, singer Serani is back with a new record label, Rockstone Media.

“It’s starting over for me now and I am doing it by myself, so while the concept may be similar to that of DASECA, it is much harder. It is tough playing the role of

a songwriter, engineer, producer, etc, but the work has to be done,” he told Splash.

In 2008, Serani was riding high. His hit single, No Games, not only topped local charts but debuted at number 55 on Billboard’s R&B/Hip Hop Chart.

Serani, whose real name is Craig Marsh, has just released a 40-track mixtape called Life Goes On. The title song is by Deep Jahi, the sole artiste signed to Rockstone Media.

Life Goes On also features songs by Fantan Mojah, Chrisinti, Gyptian and Munga Honorebel. Serani also released two riddims called Go Johnny and Large Up.

“For now I will releasing singles and riddims but as the label starts to grow the way I desire, I will be start focusing on releasing

an album,” said the

30-year-old entertainer.

The traditional album has taken a beating in the last five years due to mass download through the Internet. Serani, however, believes an album is still vital to an artiste’s career.

“There are lots of fans out there who are willing to buy albums and not just want to pirate a copy from the Internet,” he said.

He pointed out that a successful album is all about timing.

“You have to know when to release an album. It is all about knowing when you have a hit song, or songs, that will push the project.”

Serani emerged on the music scene in 2001 when he and friends David and Craig Harrisingh started DASECA. Five years later, the team co-produced We Be Burning, one of the hit songs from Sean Paul’s platinum album, The Trinity.

They also produced songs by Mavado, Bounty Killer, Tony Matterhorn, Bugle, Alaine and Vybz Kartel.

— Simone Morgan