FOR much of his career, deejay Monsoon Bedward has recorded easy listening reggae songs. But his latest single, Answer Yuh Phone, hears him returning to his dancehall roots.

According to the Washington DC-based artiste, the track is a throwback to songs he enjoyed while doing the sound system rounds in his native Clarendon.

“I use to deejay on sound systems in my community and across Jamaica.I was also a student of (deejay) Johnny P who took me across Jamaica, performing on ‘sounds’ and stage shows. I started doing culture tunes when I migrate to the USA,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

Answer Yuh Phone is being serviced to the growing Latin market where Monsoon Bedward has a following, particularly Costa Rica where he has performed several times. In fact, Answer Yuh Phone is co-produced by CostaJamic Productions, a company he operates with Sergio Trex of Costa Rica.

“I want to show the dancehall side of my music which is fun and good vibes for the girls them…no slackness, no badness,” said Monsoon Bedward.

CostaJamic Productions released Monsoon Storm, the artiste’s debut album in 2015. That set containedMadiba, a tribute to late South African icon, Nelson Mandela.

Monsoon Bedward (given name Denton Bedward) has lived in the American capital since the early 1990s. He started his career there as a member of the DKGB Band with whom he stayed for 18 years and recorded one album, Higher Calling.

He went solo in 2013.

— Howard Campbell