Following the death of its lead singer Vaughn Benjamin, the Akae Beka band has posthumously released the album Righteous Synergy .

According to producer John “Juaquin” Wilson of Fifth Son Records, they needed time to come to terms with the artiste’s passing.

“The reason this album took so long to release is that the year after Vaughn Benjamin’s ascension, the album needed time to marinate, and be worked on; just as we needed time to reckon with the reality of his physical conversion. Some call it mourning. We celebrate life instead,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

The 10-track roots-reggae project was officially released on February 26. It features songs like African Liberation Talk, Spirit of Love and Responsible For It.

Benjamin died in Port St Lucie, Florida on November 4, 2019. He was 50 years old.

He was strongly influenced by classic Jamaican roots-reggae. He collaborated with a number of Jamaican acts including Protoje, Jah9, and Lutan Fyah.

Benjamin’s lone performance in Jamaica was at the Police Officers’ Club in 2016. He also launched his album Portals in Kingston that year.

Juaquin added that the completion of the project was far from difficult.

“I took a number of instrumental dub plates that I had been creating with him in mind and met with Vaughn Benjamin in Oakland California, amid an Akae Beka tour, in May of 2019. We spent three days writing and recording the vocals: and added some instruments of bandmates, and created music in a synergy,” he said.

Although Benjamin is no longer here physically, the producer said his energy radiates throughout the project.

“ The main difference with this album was the immediacy and intensity of Father Vaughn’s presence, which seems to have increased with his ascension. Word sound and power incarnate; we just followed the light and the teachings.,” Juaquin continued.

He added that he will always remember what a pleasure it was to have worked with Benjamin.

“I am humbled and proud to have worked so closely with Vaughn Benjamin. The lessons taught and learned, the ongoing study that was instilled, and the musical synergy shared will never be unlearned nor forgotten. The connections and music made is at the top of my lifetime list of importance,” the producer said.

His wish is for the album to resonate with all listeners.

“ My hope for the album, in fact all the albums we produced together, is that Vaughn’s words will strike a chord with the world. Let the world know to listen,” Juaquin said.