SINGER Shuga is gearing up for the release of her debut album. Shuga, who won the Digicel Rising Stars competition in 2009, says the project will be all reggae.

“We are working on my album, which is now in the final stages of production and will be released in the first quarter of the coming year. It is a full reggae compilation and has the feel of that heartbeat original reggae sound and I simply can’t wait to share it with all reggae and music lovers,” Shuga told the Jamaica Observer on Monday.

In preparation for the album, Shuga has been creating some momentum with the song Don’t Play Me, which is currently on the New York Reggae chart.

Produced by Donovan Germain, Don’t Play Me moved from 10 to eight in its eighth week on the chart.

“Don’t Play Me was simply inspired by unfaithful relationships or bun as we call it in Jamaica. So many of us are very familiar with either cheating or being cheated on and it’s a serious game of the heart played and enjoyed by many but disliked by those who get bun,” said Shuga.

Shuga continued, “This song was produced by Donovan Germain with whom I not only have a good work relationship, it feels like we are literally family now which makes our chemistry undeniably great. My song was actually the last song recorded and released on the project. All the songs are great. However, Donovan thought it needed some feminine energy so he said: ‘Shuga, come across!’. So myself and Slash [recording artiste] sat in the studio and put it together. It’s a whole family vibe.”

Shuga previously worked with the veteran producer on songs including Tribute to the I-Threes, Dear Mr. Government (which also charted in South Florida and New York), Give My Soul to Jah, and Ebony.

Germain is best known for his work with Marcia Griffiths, Beres Hammond, Buju Banton, Cutty Ranks, Nadine Sutherland, Tony Rebel, and several artistes through the years. He achieved crossover success in the United Kingdom when he produced hit songs for Audrey Hall and Freddie McGregor which made the UK charts.

Shuga, whose real name is Mitsy Campbell, grew up in Bogue, Montego Bay. A past student at the Herbert Morrison Technical High School, she honed her musical skills early on as a member of the school’s choir.

— Kevin Jackson