Ultimate Love, lead single from veteran guitarist Ian “Beezy” Coleman’s debut EP of the same name, was released last week. Self-produced, it has a sound reminiscent of ‘80s pop acts like Hall and Oates, and a departure from the roots-reggae he has played for nearly 40 years.

Coleman told the Jamaica Observer that he wanted “to go in a different direction” for the six-song project. Although there are songs with a roots-reggae flavour, Ultimate Love, the song, sums up the EP’s mood.

“Wi love wi roots-reggae, but there is so much roots out there wi didn’t want to get lost in it. Wi wanted to do something else,” said Coleman, who is a longstanding member of Stephen Marley’s band.

Drummer Squiddly Cole and keyboardist Llamar “Riff Raff” Brown, who are members of Stephen Marley’s touring and recording units, played on Ultimate Love on which Coleman also sings. Guitarist Lamont Savory, keyboardist Chadian Monroe and bassist Devon Bradshaw also worked on the song.

Prior to joining Stephen Marley’s band, Coleman earned his roots-reggae stripes by touring with The I Three, Burning Spear and Ziggy Marley and The Melody Makers.

But his pop heroes influenced the sound of his first EP, which he expects to be released this year. They include R Kelly, one of Coleman’s favourite producers; Michael Jackson, Pharrel and Bruno Mars.

The Clarendon-born Coleman started his career as a musician working the St Ann hotel circuit, and as a session musician with engineer/producer Barry O’Hare. He recorded a handful of songs as a vocalist for O’Hare, before branching out as a rhythm guitarist with the Marleys in the 1990s.

Howard Campbell