Beres and Popcaan collab was all about respect, says producer

Last month, Beres Hammond and Popcaan got the industry's attention with an unexpected and unforgettable performance during the veteran's Love From a Distance concert.

It served as the unofficial debut for their collaboration God Is Love which, according to Shane Brown, the song's producer, was born out of the respect both entertainers have for each other. Inspired by a dream, Brown admitted that the original idea was for the artistes to record a 'girl tune', but Popcaan wanted a spiritual song.

"Beres was equally impressed as he was shocked. That's where it all started," Brown told THE STAR. "The dream itself was about us as an industry not giving enough respect to Beres, who in fact, has transcended from the 80s, 90s and 2000s with his music. The man has so much life and talent, but what is so special about this record is not many of the older people in the industry want to support the youths, but Beres can be applauded as one who is open-minded and supportive."

Brown also said that younger persons, though they respect the work of the pioneers and veterans, believe that their styles and songs are outdated.

Older generation

"Popcaan is not one of them; he respects every single artiste before him and actually listens to the music of the older generation more than anything else," he said.

Brown, whose production career started from the early 90s as an apprentice at Tuff Gong recording studio, said that for reggae and dancehall to remain relevant in all markets and attract wider audiences, there has to be a junction where the ideas of the old and the new meet.

He said, "Even the show we just did with Beres, looking at the production, it shows how an older person can incorporate very modern ideas. It showed where the music needs to go and how we need to showcase it. He deserves more respect and support for his journey. The chemistry between Poppy and Beres, well, it's not even approached like father and son, it's more of a big brother-little brother."

As a Grammy Award-winning producer and audio engineer, Brown said a lot of his knowledge comes from working with veterans and learning from their work. Among them is Treasure Isle Records' Duke Reid, who is actually his grand-uncle.

"The roads have been paved for us to travel, from single lane, to double lane, and now we have highways which had to begin from a foundation," he said. "Sometimes, as innovators, we have to go back to the older roads to get to where we are going, and we also have to embrace the new (or the young), to familiarise ourselves with the direction and to know where we are headed."

The music video for God Is Love is set to premiere on Billboard's website this Wednesday, and is already being recognised as a song Miss Rhona, Popcaan's mother, who is mentioned in a verse, can share with her church family.