ASANTE Amen plans to have a studio album out by this fall. The reggae artiste says most of the tracks for the album have already been laid and the prospect for a major deal is already on the table, though he is tight-lipped about the arrangements because, as he puts it, “it is too early to call.”

“We have been recording singles for a while now. Although my visibility in Jamaica still needs to increase, my visibility overseas is much higher and I want to carry it higher still, and so me and my team figure that an album would help in this regard. We a look fi put an album together that, we will hopefully have to rerelease inna yard and around the Caribbean when the visibility get higher here, because the standard we using to make the album is well high. Reggae music with quality, character and spirit yuh see it,” Amen tells Splash.

Asante is a well-learned musician, schooled by some of the best in the industry. Although desirous of a hit single, he said he’s not at all deterred by not having one and is instead encouraged to continue working by the critical acclaim he has received across the industry, both nationally and internationally.

“I am very happy and humbled by the feedback I have been receiving for my music. Me a get much love from Switzerland, Germany, Italy and other parts of Europe, US Virgin Islands, St Lucia and parts of the US and we grateful for that. The Most High a bless me yuh nuh” he says.

His most current song in rotation, a track called Wipe Your Tears on the Flower Beat compilation album produced by Italian record company Nite Lite Productions, is said to be receiving rave reviews and a music video for it was recently completed.

“This song is coming from a personal place but yet has a universal appeal. There are many relationships going on where one of the partners is in doubt about the genuineness of the other. And more time, that doubt is based on fear and negative experiences that person has carried with them from a previous relationship. So my whole aim is to represent the voice of those who the questions are being asked of and who want to remove the doubts of their partner. We have a video out for the song as well and we are receiving much love from a couple local cable networks at the moment and we have been sending it out to the major networks in Jamaica and overseas as well to see if they will take it up. Jah willing this will happen,” said the entertainer.

Working with various producers and record companies both locally and internationally on a number of projects, including other compilation albums over the past year. One of the local companies he has been working closely with in recent times is the Kleva Roots Production Label. Kleva Roots is an independent label that is based in St Ann, Ocho Rios, and is owned and operated by Shawn Edwards. The label’s main focus is to produce, “quality reggae music that is reminiscent of what Dennis Brown, Alton Ellis and Beres Hammond, our idols have made and still make and the world has come to love and appreciate”, said Amen in a passionate tone, explaining that it is one of the main reasons why he has chosen to work with the label. He has so far recorded two songs for Kleva Roots and is currently working on the third one, which he thinks will be a winner with the public at large.