Producer focuses on new reggae band

There's a new reggae outfit in town and it's called Mesh Marina.

Fronted by 20-year-old Waterhouse-based singer Shennell, the band comprises Curley (keyboard), Jeremy (bass), Xavier (guitar), Shawn (drums), Pierre (keyboard), and Kierra (harmonies). Award-winning producer and DJ, Mario C, who, over the years, has assisted in bringing several artistes to the fore, has thrown his muscles behind the band.

"Mesh Marina delivers modern commercial reggae that blends authentic Jamaican roots with pop, hip-hop, and Afrobeats influences, creating radio-friendly songs designed for both global streaming and powerful live-band performances," said Mario C.

He admitted that it was never his intention to "unretire" from the music industry. but after attending a few events early last year, he noticed a lack of reggae songs being played in "prime time", meaning when the party was in full swing.

"I decided this cannot continue. I may have produced and contributed to dancehall, but as a Jamaican citizen, I am a fan of reggae and respect the genre equally. I could not stay home and allow disrespect to continue, so I made a plan to create a label focused strictly on reggae and use my years of experience to play a role in the reggae revival," Mario C said.

Mesh Marina represents a new generation of Jamaican music built for both local culture and global audiences. Formed last May, the band blends classic reggae rhythms with modern synth textures, global production trends, and contemporary reggae vocal flows, creating a sound that is both rooted and forward-facing. Mesh Marina combines soulful vocal tradition with modern songwriting that reflects the experiences and emotions of today's youth. Influenced by artistes such as Whitney Houston, Bob Marley, and Marcia Griffiths, Shennell brings a natural storytelling approach that connects deeply with modern listeners.

Mesh Marina was formed with a clear mission: to deliver high-quality, clean, modern reggae music at a time when the genre struggled to maintain strong youth engagement. The band's debut single, titled Joke Dem a Joke, generated more than three million organic views within its first month of release. The band has since built a fully organic digital presence, surpassing 100,000 Instagram followers, building a strong TikTok audience, and generating hundreds of thousands of organic YouTube views. The music has received support local radio and organic coverage across multiple music blogs and media outlets.