Ras Brando not giving up

Singer Ras Brando has been knocking at the door for years.

The burly vocalist, who has been a fixture at Mixing Lab studios in Kingston since the 1990s, believes he has found the breakthrough song with Saudi Arabia.

Produced by Mishka Production, it is one of four songs on the Sugar Plum rhythm.

It hears a frustrated Ras Brando longing to leave Jamaica for even the Middle East, just as long as he can enjoy a better life.

The St Elizabeth native admits he feels a different type of frustration in terms of his music.

"Nuff time [I'm frustrated], but through mi know music is part of mi, mi jus' keep moving on. Over di years, is jus' a lack of promotion is my obstacle," he said.

Ras Brando (real name Marlon Brown) said he began recording in 1983, his first song being Rastaman Know The Truth.

Over the years he has voiced for numerous producers including Sly and Robbie, Roy Francis, and FatEyes Productions all of whom worked out of Mixing Lab.

Between recording sessions, Ras Brando works in construction and does "any likkle thing" to make ends meet.

Saudi Arabia is his first released song since 2021 when he recorded Call on You and Children Having Children.

Nyjah, Thriller U and Hawkeye also have songs on the Sugar Plum.

Ras Brando has a good feeling about his latest effort which has a Burning Spear/Joseph Hill sound.

"Once it get di promotion it can go very far, 'cause is a good song," he said.

Howard Campbell

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