Like most reggae acts who live abroad, Ginjah stays in tune with the music scene in Jamaica. It is important, the singer says, for the songs he creates.

That was one of the inspirations behind These Arms, his self-produced ballad which was released recently by Tad’s International Record.

“Yes, I do keep track of what’s going on in Jamaica and that’s why I’m stepping up my game by doing more songs about love, which is also message music,” said the California-based Ginjah.

Most of his songs, such as Guilty Conscience and Never Lost my Way, carry social messages. But Ginjah said he has never shied from doing romantic tracks like Sweet Killer, a big hit for him in 2013.

“I’m comfortable with singing ballads. My teacher told me that you can’t go wrong with love songs because people fall in love every day. I can also see that there’s a shortage of love songs in the reggae space,” he said.

His ‘teacher’ is Beres Hammond whose Harmony House label the Hanover-born Ginjah was associated with early in his career.

Promoting Fall In Love, another ballad, is part of his immediate plans. As well as a remake of the uplifting Music Alone, a song he first released in 2006.

Ginjah is also working on his seventh album, expected to be released late this year by Tad’s International Record. His previous set, Ginjah The Reggae Soul Man, came out last year on Natures Way Entertainment.

Born Valentine Nakrumah Fraser, Ginjah moved to Central Village in Spanish Town as a boy. The rugged nature of that community has had a strong bearing on his songs and career.