These days it’s the norm for Jamaican artists to work with international production houses. A gratifying result of this global nature to the business is that a rising label from Europe can connect with a veteran vocalist who may not have received all his dues.
Mikey General is one such hardworking, distinctive and yet underrated singer. Born in England, he got his musical education on name sounds in Kingston and then London. Having sung for the likes of Fashion Records in the 80s he relocated to Jamaica in the 90s where he struck up a still solid friendship with Luciano. Mikey’s large frame belies his high, buttery, slightly childlike voice. It’s a voice that sits well on his impressive new album with Catalan imprintReggaeland – founded by producer (and Rototom MC) Marcus Reggaeland and engineer, rhythm maker and multi-instrumentalist Genis “Genious” Trani.
Reggaeland started in 2004, growing out of Marcus’ Reggaeland FM radio show. In recent years it has yielded albums from Spanish artists Jah Nattoh, Miguel Arraigoh and Maia, Catalan group Tixulum, and Jamaicans Malijah, Chantelle Ernandez, Singer Jah and Anthony Que.
Marcus knew Mikey from his time organising parties in Barcelona and linked him while in Jamaica in 2011 about voicing with Luciano. Instead he decided to use the higher pitched man and the seeds were sown for this project – voiced at Tuff Gong and then in Barca when Mikey was on European tour.
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