By Simone Morgan-Lindo—
SET Time is the name of gospel singer Chevelle Franklyn’s latest album.
Released last Friday, the 18-track set is produced on the NOW Records imprint.
In an interview with Jamaica Observer yesterday, the former secular sensation said the album is for “everyone”.
“This is for everyone who loves music, saved, and unsaved. It is about my journey, especially my spiritual connection in Africa,” she said.
“God opened doors in Nigeria, Ghana, and Zimbabwe, I mean all over Africa, and the world by extension — London, the Middle East, the States and Europe, so I figured people were wondering if I migrated or something. God was doing His thing. I kept receiving new music but the season was not yet fulfilled for music to be released,” she continued.
Despite her absence from the local scene, Franklyn is confident her music will reconnect with her old fans and win over new.
“When an artist has good talent, it is easy to recapture the people. I can humbly say that those who know Chevelle will know that I reflect excellence,” she said.
Set Time is the singer’s first album in 10 years. Her last was His Way.
“For the past several years, I was recording a few singles but they weren’t being promoted. I was more focused on touring as, while I was not being requested locally, I was performing in countries in Africa and other parts of the world. The wait for the album wasn’t on purpose, this is just how it unfolded,” she said.
While Frankyn is credited as executive producer, the album boasts production work from Nigel Staff, Sly and Robbie, C-Sharp, and Danny Brownie.
Included in the project’s track listings are Who Can’t Hear, First Love, and Let All Nations. Set Time also features collaborations with American Grammy-winning artist Donnie McClurkin on I Have A Father and No Foreign God; American Grammy-winning singer Israel Houghton ( Good Shepherd); South Africa’s Lionel Peterson ( Peace); and Nigerian Frank Edwards ( Fire).
“I have collaborated with a lot of Jamaican gospel acts in the past, so I decided to do something different this time. When I was away travelling I have shared stage with the international acts, so we have developed a relationship over the years, so getting them on the album wasn’t difficult at all,” she said.
Two decades ago, Franklyn’s Dancehall Queen with Beenie Man and Mr Lover Man with Shabba Ranks exploded onto the world scene and catapulted her to the who’s who in the music industry.
But Franklyn said she doesn’t miss that lifestyle.
“As a secular act, I was just singing what persons wanted to hear but now I sing only for God. I now have a better purpose which aims at pleasing God,” she added.
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