Before he left Papua New Guinea for recording sessions at K-Chief Studios in Montego Bay, Anslom Nakikus declared the importance of the project.

“This is bigger than Anslom, this is about Papua New Guinea. When I walk into that studio in Jamaica I will be carrying the flag of Papua New Guinea,” he said.

Anslom Nakikus was recently appointed Papua New Guinea’s national cultural ambassador. His visit to Jamaica is endorsed by the country’s National Cultural Commission which donated 10,000Kina (the Papua New Guinea currency) — the equivalent of $355,000 — for his stay in Montego Bay.

Those sessions are done entirely at K-Chief Studios which opened last December in the Barnett Street area of the tourist mecca.

Michael “Mister Sam” Samuels, a senior partner at that facility and lead producer for the Anslom Nakikus project, told the Jamaica Observer that the artiste recording there is a shot in the arm for the studio.

“Having a reggae artiste from the South Pacific recording an album for K-Chief in Jamaica speaks volumes; opportunities are now open for expansion in that market. Artistes from the United Kingdom, United States, and locally have recorded with us so far,” he said.

Christopher Stewart, Delroy Green, and Antonio Spence, senior members at K-Chief Studio, are also involved in the recording sessions.

Influenced by Bob Marley and Lucky Dube, Anslom Nakikus has carried the reggae flag throughout the Pacific for many years. He has collaborated with Aston Barrett Jr, son of Aston “Familyman” Barrett, legendary bass player of The Wailers; and Quino of Big Mountain.

Samuels, an engineer/producer for 30 years, said giving artistes from St James and western Jamaica more convenient recording opportunities is one of K-Chief Studio’s priorities.

To date, the Memories rhythm, which features songs by Anslom Nakikus, A J Brown, Clive Emmanuel, Ian Sweetness, and Steve Santana, is its sole release.

— Howard Campbell