Given the never-ending international turmoil, there’s been no shortage of material for singer/songwriters like Mark Wonder, whose latest album Remz of The Dragon Slayer covers issues that made headlines in the last five years.
The 12-song set was released March 6 by German independent company, Oneness Records. That label also distributed the Jamaican artist’s 2012 album, Working Wonders.
His previous album, Dragon Slayer, was released in June, 2017 by Irie Ites Records out of France.
“I would say di last album was more militant, although some of the themes remain the same in terms of issues. A song like Voyages Across The Sea (done with South African singer Crosby) deal with di whole refugee thing dat was going on, so wi jus’ write a song about it,” said Wonder.
The lead song is the earthy Another Day. Other tracks include the introspective Brand New Me and In Tune 2 di Rockaz, an ode to hardcore reggae.
Kingston-born Wonder wrote or co-wrote all of the songs on Remz of The Dragon Slayer. With the exception of Better Days, which is produced by his longtime collaborator Franklyn Irving, they are produced by the Oneness team.
Like most of his eight albums, Remz of The Dragon Slayer will be marketed mainly in Europe where Wonder has toured since the late 1990’s. Typical of Jamaican roots-reggae acts, that continent is his biggest stomping ground.
Though he began recording in 1985 for Jamaican grassroots producer Black Scorpio, Wonder has never had hit songs in his homeland.
That does not daunt him.
“Mi think ’bout it some times but mi jus’ busy a do my works. Wi dey pon a mission with Rastafari an’ wi try stay focused,” he said.
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