For reggae singer Kenne Blessin, revisiting a classic is less about nostalgia than reinterpretation. The artiste’s new version of Barrington Levy’s Vice Versa Love — the 1990s reggae favourite celebrated for its gentle groove and message of reciprocal love — has begun drawing attention across reggae circles.

Kenne Blessin is pleased with the response he is getting by introducing the song to younger listeners while preserving the warmth that made the original such an enduring masterpiece

“The response has been pleasantly surprising, people really appreciate the fact that I chose that song, and they keep telling me it is time for this living, legendary song right now because of the turmoil in the world today,” he said.

The remake appears on Kenne Blessin’s latest album, Caught My Attention, a 14-track project centered on themes of love, self-awareness and unity. On the album, the singer leans into a polished but organic sound, balancing contemporary production with the emotional directness associated with roots reggae.

The songs include traditional love songs like the romantic Wanna Be With You and Spread the Love which address themes of nature and universal love. Kenne Blessin said that the inspiration to sing Vice Versa Love just came to him naturally during the album’s production.

“The Vice Versa Love came into the inspiration of the project, came naturally one day while I was playing a riddim, and it just kept coming at me and I love a natural feeling and that made it magical,” he said.

Born in Kingston and raised in St Thomas, Kenne Blessin was shaped by a broad musical upbringing. He grew up listening to Jamaican icons including Bob Marley, Toots and the Maytals, Sizzla and Beenie Man, while also absorbing American hip-hop influences like Snoop Dogg. Later, while living in Antigua and performing in a band, he developed an appreciation for soca and rock music, influences that would eventually broaden the texture of his recordings and live performances.

His musical journey began in Jamaica but accelerated in Antigua after he won the Caribbean Star Search competition on Gem FM. The victory led to his breakout soca single, My Love Will Never Die, a song that first gained traction in Trinidad before finding audiences across the Caribbean and beyond.

Over the years, Kenne Blessin has built a reputation as both a songwriter and an interpreter of familiar material, known for what fans often describe as his “smooth” vocal delivery. His collaborations have stretched across genres and generations, sharing stages with artistes ranging from Sean Paul to reggae veteran Freddie McGregor, while also working alongside soca and rock bands internationally.

Now based in Atlanta, the singer has continued to revisit popular songs through a reggae lens. Among his better-known covers are interpretations of Holding Back the Years, produced by Hugh Campbell, and Ed Sheeran’s Perfect. More recently, he recorded a reggae version of Elton John’s Nikita and contributed to the Blue Flame Riddim project alongside artists including Anthony Malvo and Delly Ranx.

He has performed in countries such as Switzerland, England, Germany, Antigua, Trinidad, St Kitts, and St Maarten. Interestingly, he is yet to grace the stages in his native country, a development which he hopes to remedy in the future.

“I am really looking forward to showing what I can do on a stage in Jamaica, and with how things are shaping up in 2026, that will be soon,” he said confidently.

Through his independent imprint, Dacosta Muzic, Kenne Blessin has also expanded into production, overseeing projects that range from reggae to gospel music. His catalogue includes the 2020 EP Millions, a project that reflected his ongoing interest in themes of resilience, aspiration and spirituality.

At a time when reggae increasingly blends with global pop and digital trends, Kenne Blessin’s approach remains rooted in melody and feeling — qualities that help explain why a song like Vice Versa Love still resonates decades after its original release.