Swiss reggae artiste drops new album

Swiss reggae artiste Elijah Salomon has released his sixth studio album titled Essenz.

The 10-track project was produced jointly by One Camp Records and Kellaz Records. According to the Zurich-born songwriter, the album consists of a variety of musical blends including reggae and dancehall, with shades of Afrobeat, soul, hip hop, and electronic music.

"I wanted to create a sound that is modern, deep, and yet danceable," he said. Salomon added that he began working on Essenz during the COVID lockdown, and that it was like dopamine that helped to carry him through a very difficult phase of his life.

"During the process of the album, I was going through challenging times personally, and also where the music business is concerned. So, what I did was to just lock myself in the studio, focus on the music and express what was in my heart. That focus on the music helped me through those challenging times and gave me the energy to complete the album and put the best of what I have into the music," he said.

The multi-instrumental talent teamed up with veteran Jamaican dancehall artiste Angel Doolas and a host of overseas-based producers to complete Essenz, which he said is now available on vinyl, CD, and on his Bandcamp website. Additionally, the reggae crooner will be hosting an album launch event at Kingston Jerk in New Kingston, on Wednesday. Salomon will be joined by various guests, including veteran Mike Brooks, soulful singer Sycorah, and Truvice, a fast-rising artiste.

"This album is very diverse, way more than the previous albums where we were looking for a roots or dub sound. For this one, I didn't think of a genre or style, I just followed the vibe," said Salomon.