Alkaline may not be inundating the music industry with new music, but the entertainer is still making waves on the international scene. He has been so widely regarded for his musical contributions that he was recently honoured by Boston’s state Senate as they wished him continued success.

In an interview with the Jamaica Observer, Alkaline said the honour, though it caught him by surprise, is a reflection of the impact his work has had on the industry over the years.

“The senator recognised my commitment to using my platform to inspire, uplift, and bring people together, and it was just humbling to be honoured in that way. I’m grateful for the opportunity to share my music with the world and to see how well it is being received,” he said indicating the latter is the reason he’s never bothered by negative comments.

“I’m always grounded and solid. Never concerned about the noise. My music is authentic, and my presence is undeniable. This recognition means a lot and is a reminder that my work, my music is making a true impact on people all around the world,” he continued. “For me, it’s never been about keeping up with trends or saturating the scene; quality and authenticity will always speak louder than noise, and that’s what I focus on — staying true to myself and making music that’s true to who we are.”

Describing the recognition as a win for dancehall as well, Alkaline said that, as a globally impactful genre, dancehall will always stand tall on the international market and expressed that quality music will always find a way to rise to the top.

“This recognition drives home the fact that quality always cuts through and that dancehall will always have its place,” he said.

Alkaline, who will be bringing his New Rules event to the United Kingdom later this month before returning to Jamaica to host the show in Trelawny, says he is looking forward to bringing an exciting performance to his fan base. He is particularly delighted about his home delivery, highlighting that his decision to move the show to rural Jamaica was strategic.

“There is nothing like performing in your home country. The energy, the love from my people is always something special. I’m looking forward to bringing that energy to the stage and connecting with my people. We wanted to bring the show to a place that doesn’t always get these big moments. So going to Trelawny was just a way of connecting with the people,” he shared. “Since the announcement, the energy and the love have been crazy. The fans are excited and it’s gonna be something special for sure. Good energy, good music, good production designed for my people to have a time.”

With that said, Alkaline promised to follow up on the live performances with new music, pointing out that he’s currently working on a few.

“I’m always working, so I have new music coming soon. We recently released the video for Earn Your Way and we are working on some new tracks at the moment,” he said.