AS he prepares to launch Altitude, his fifth album, singer Jahman hopes to become the latest artiste to break out of the United States Virgin Islands (USVI). Influenced by an elite reggae cast, he would not mind getting a break in Jamaica.

Altitude, which will be released Friday, includes the title song, a duet with Jamaican singer Ann Marie. But Jahman also has high hopes for another single.

“We are pushing Journey and being that Jamaica is the home and the birth of reggae music, it would be an honour and, a privilege for one of my songs to be accepted by the Jamaican community and the whole reggae family. So it will be greatly appreciated if one of my songs like Journey could capture the blessing of Jamaica and the world,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

Altitude is produced by Jamaican John “Jon FX” Crawford, who has produced albums and songs by Sizzla, Ky-Mani Marley and rapper XXXTentacion. Crawford has also worked with Pressure Busspipe, the USVI artiste who had a big hit with Love And Affection in 2007.

Pressure Busspipe, Midnite and Dezarie are some of the reggae acts from the USVI who have made a name outside of those tiny cluster of islands. The 41-year-old Jahman (real name Jabari Carrington), who is from St Thomas, credits a growing awareness of music among the youth for this surge.

“Kids are more involved these days through the school system or on a personal note. Just from growing up in the Virgin Islands, where our communities are small, even if you are not interested in music, your neighbour will be so close that whatever type of music was being played you would be subjected to it,” he explained. “Reggae, calypso, R&B, jazz, quelbe music, meringue were just a few. Also, within the last 10 years Virgin Islands-born artistes have gone international, which can be credited to the birth of many singers and players of instruments.”

As a youth, Jahman’s taste in music were decidedly Jamaican: Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Dennis Brown, Jacob Miller, Toots and the Maytals, and Everton Blender, as well as British reggae bands Steel Pulse, Aswad and UB40.

Altitude is his first album in seven years. His previous set, Rasta Endure, was produced by Laurent “Tippy I” Alfred, one of the biggest names in USVI reggae.

Ensuring his new batch of songs is different from his previous work was important for Jahman and Crawford.

“The combination of beautifully written songs and arrangements alongside exceptional production and engineering was facilitated through the Most High, definitely on this one. There was not a specific concept but to make great music that was not monotonous was definitely in consideration,” he said.