On Missing You, his latest single, Sun Shade sings of love lost. But while heartbreak inspired the self-produced song, the Ohio-based artiste, whose given name is Melville Malcolm, believes contemporary reggae needs some more romance.

Missing You was released July 1 by Tuff Gong International. It has a laid-back feel reminiscent of the lovers’ rock movement that emerged from Britain in the early 1980s.

“Love is everlasting and yes, Jamaica needs to show much more love to the women in and around the world,” Sun Shade told the Jamaica Observer. He added that while he has his homeland in mind whenever he records, getting a hit there was never a factor when writing Missing You.

“Actually no, because at that time of writing this song it was about how I feel and what is it that I or we could have done to keep the chemistry alive,” he said.

Missing You is the follow-up to a cover of The Deele’s Two Occasions, which was produced by Paul “Computer Paul” Henton. Sun Shade plans to put out another single this year, followed by the release of his first album in early 2023.

The St James-born vocalist has been based in Cleveland, Ohio, for nearly 15 years. The highlight of his time there has been a presence on the city’s reggae scene as well as releasing Don’t You See, a seven-song EP in 2018.

Sun Shade’s next show, on August 14, is in Cleveland at the Music Box Supper Club.

— Howard Campbell