New York-based

independent label Easy Star Records has had several of its releases top the

Billboard Reggae Albums chart. The label, which was founded in 1996, will this

Friday, November 15, release its latest project, Fight The Fight, an EP

by Jamaican reggae artiste Mortimer.

Fight The Fight was produced by

Winta James, and it also bears the Overstand Entertainment logo.

“The EP is a

collaborative effort as far as production and the artiste is concerned. Winta

and myself, we both flesh out ideas together, so it’s really a joint effort of

combined ideas,” Mortimer explained.

“This EP is special

to me because of the time in my life that I did this project. I did it when I

was at a place in my headspace, trying to figure things out.”

Albums released by

Easy Star, which have topped the Billboard Reggae Albums chart, include those

by Jesse Royal, Protoje, New Kingston, The Expanders, The Green, Passafire and

Rebelution.

Love for music

But Mortimer didn’t always

have his eyes on being an entertainer. Initially, he wanted to become a soldier

or an auto engineer. However, those plans were dashed aside as his love for

music further accelerated.

“I’ve been doing

music from I was younger,” said the now 26-year-old. “My parents were active in

the church and I sang on the choir,” he recalled.

Born Mortimer

McPherson, he grew up in the Red Hills Road area. For a time, he lived in St

Elizabeth, where he attended Black River Primary. He then went to Kingsway

High up to the third form, before moving on to Jamaica College.

“After graduating from Jamaica College I pursued a Degree in Fine Arts at the Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts. But I stopped going to school. Afterwards, I went to the International University of the Caribbean (IUC) where I did Media and Communications, but that did not last long either. I wanted to focus on music,” he shared.

Evolution

His first song was a

collaboration with singer Denyque, titled Can’t Get Enough. The track

was produced by Jay Crayzie.

Mortimer believes he

has evolved musically since his entry in music in 2014.

“I think I am

growing in all aspects. I try to make myself teachable by life and the people

around me. I am growing as I go. I believe I have evolved positively,” he said.

“I’d love to be the

voice for those who have the physical voice but don’t have the courage to voice

out. My aim is to bring people together in Jah name.”

Tracks on Fight The

Fight include Careful, Lightning, Misery, Fight The

Fight, Style and Grace and No Lies.