Alwayne Love is a rarity in contemporary reggae. A singer-songwriter who shuns trends including collaborations with top artists to get a ‘bus’.

His self-titled debut album was released on May 1 by T25 Records, a Brooklyn, New York-based company. He wrote all its nine songs which are co-produced by Mark Burke and Steven Ventura.

For Love, creativity and being original got precedent on his most ambitious project to date.

“The satisfaction (making the album) wasn't a chart number, it was hearing that balance come through, the same balance I talk about in life, and knowing the album sounds like me, start to end,” he said.

‘Africa The Motherland’, released in 2024, is the only song from ‘Alwayne Love’ that hit the market previous to May 1. ‘Drop it Supreme’, ‘Where Did You Go’ and ‘Wake Up’ are other tracks from the eclectic set.

Alwayne Love started his career as gospel artist J Love over 10 years ago. Although he gradually embraced secular sounds after a change in stage name, he maintained the spirituality of his early work.

He was determined to express that sincerity on ‘Alwayne Love’.

“My message to listeners on release day was simple: ‘Take what's yours and leave the rest’. Everyone will relate differently, and that's what life is about. Share this journey with me, and let's give thanks for reaching this stage,” Love reasoned.

WRITTEN BY HOWARD CAMPBELL