Anthony Malvo’s spiritual route to new release Bye Bye Loneliness
As a spiritual person, Anthony Malvo says he sought divine intervention before writing and recording Bye Bye Loneliness, his latest song. Produced by Lloyd “John John” James, it was released in January.
Known to dancehall fans for songs like Come Back to Me (with Tiger) and a cover of Peabo Bryson’s Can You Stop The Rain, Malvo believes Bye Bye Loneliness has the goods to get him back on the charts.
“This song came to me after fasting for 21 days and asking God for a song. It’s trending to be a hit, and I believe it has the potential to resonate with many people,” he told the Jamaica Observer.
The Atlanta-based singer has maintained a steady recording schedule in recent years, cutting songs for different producers in Jamaica and the United States. He believes ballads such as Bye Bye Loneliness have a place in contemporary dancehall music, which has been dominated for years by flamboyant deejays.
“I believe it [dancehall] could benefit from more songs like this. Reggae music is the foundation of dancehall, and incorporating elements from reggae can add depth and authenticity to the genre,” said Malvo.
Singers ruled the roost when he started his career in the 1980s on sound systems like Black Star in August Town, St Andrew, his hometown. In 1987, Malvo and Tiger roared to the top of the charts with Come Back To Me, a cover of The Deele’s Two Occasions.
It was, arguably, the year’s biggest hit and earned his ticket from the dance halls to recording artiste. Can You Stop The Rain and Greatest Girl Lover (with Daddy Lizard) ensured he avoided the one-hit wonder curse, but Malvo insists there has never been pressure to duplicate Come Back To Me’s success.
“Come Back to Me with Tiger was a big hit, but it wasn’t an original song. In contrast, Bye Bye Loneliness is an original song that holds special meaning for me,” he said.