There was a time when singers dominated Jamaican music. Although that changed during the 1980s, Wormbass longs for a return to sweet melodies with vocals to match.

He goes for that sound on Sunshine, his latest song, which was released in May.

The lanky bassist co-produced it with Michael Jacas and shares writing credits with Geddys Ferguson.

The idea, he said, was to record a song that recalls simpler times.

“I did go for a lovers’ rock song deliberately, because there is too much confusion going on right now in terms of how the music is presented. These days, nobody wants to love any more, so I figure I’ll go for something smooth, like how I saw my mom and dad was when I was growing up,” he told the
Jamaica Observer.

Wormbass (real name Delroy Niven) is best known for his stint with the Blaze Band, which backed acts like Beenie Man and Sanchez in the 1990s. In recent years, he has toured with Winston McAnuff and the Inna De Yard roots collective.

The veteran musician has also emulated fellow bassists like Boris Gardiner, by recording a number of songs as a singer. Those include
Follow You, Royalty and Liberation, as well as Reggaeman, his album which came out in 2016.

From St Thomas, Wormbass cut his musical teeth playing in local bands before expanding his horizons to Cancun, Mexico. Back in Jamaica, he was a key figure in Blaze, one of the top show bands of the 1990s.

While still focusing on the bass, he believes his singing has come a long way.

“When I listen to previous works that I have done, like the Reggaeman album, and the new stuff that I’m doing, I hear a lot of improvement in my vocals which makes me feel very proud to know that beyond the sky there is no limit,” said Wormbass.