For those unaware, Montego Bay, Jamaica raised vocalist, songwriter and producer Hezron Clarke will be releasing his album, M.O.A.M. (Man on a Mission), on August 19th, 2022 via Tad’s Record (Ernie Ranglin, Tanya Stephens).

Recorded in Reggae’s birthplace, Kingston Jamaica, M.O.A.M. features some of Jamaica’s greatest musicians including Dean Fraser (saxophone), Kirk “Kirkle Dove” Bennett (drums), Donald “Danny Bassie” Dennis (bass), Mitchum Khan (guitar), Carol “Bowie” McLaughlin (keyboards) and Robbie Lyn (keyboards).

On a lyrical front, the album embodies feel-good vibes with motivational and inspirational concepts that encourage patience and resilience.

1. Man On A Mission
2. House Of The Rising Sun
3. Plant A Seed
4. Tik Tok I’m Coming
5. Blame It On The Wine
6. Taxi Driver (ft. Dean Fraser)
7. Stronger In Love (ft. Dean Fraser)
8. Made For The Battle (ft. Turbulence)
9. Kuja Nyumbani (I Want To Go Home)
10. Smile Today
11. Black Widow
12. Warriors Code (ft. Tony Skrelunas, ’Navajo’ and Gabriel Yavia ’Hopi’)
13. Holding On (Grandpa’s Chair)
14. Save The Children
15. One Day Outta Seven
16. Resilience
17. Walk In Love And Light

This expertly sculptured, heartfelt and organic new album opens on the brilliant reggae hipsway of the titular Man On A Mission (a song about his personal journey as a goal oriented person) and a refreshingly wonderful rendition of The Animals’ House Of The Rising Sun and then he follows those up with the reggae-pop bounce of Plant A Seed, the loving, R&B-laced balladry within Tik Tok I’m Coming, the mid-tempo rhythms of Blame It On The Wine, and then comes my own personal favorite, the free flowing, Marley-esque Taxi Driver.

Up next is the melodious Stronger In Love and the sterner Made For The Battle and they are in turn backed by the informative pleas within Kuja Nyumbani (I Want To Go Home), the upbeat Smile Today, the rhythmic Black Widow, the gently rapped storytelling within Warriors Code, the earnest Holding On (Grandpa’s Chair), Save The Children (a heartfelt commentary on the alarming number of brutal acts committed against the youth), the album rounding out on the sunny reggae-pop bounce flow of One Day Outta Seven, the aching mid-tempo balladry within Resilience, coming to a close on the acoustically-imbibed Walk In Love And Light.

With inspiration from classic soul artists such as Luther Vandross, Otis Redding and Sam Cooke, to 90’s favorites KC and Jojo and Dave Hollister to iconic Jamaican singers Beres Hammond and Dennis Brown, Hezron has embodied his own classic vocal and musical style while taking notes from some of the greats.

Hezron released his debut album The Life I Live(d) on Tad’s Record in 2015. His return to the label with M.O.A.M. unites two established Jamaican brands, each committed to proving that quality reggae with the potential for widespread global appeal is still being made in the music’s birthplace.

Although many younger Jamaican artists embrace trap and hip-hop over indigenous reggae and dancehall, a stark contrast to the proliferation of young American reggae bands, especially in California, Tad’s Record founder Tad Dawkins is determined to see Jamaican reggae restored to prominence internationally.

It’s an objective he firmly believes will be fulfilled with the release of M.O.A.M. “Hezron is trying to pivot to a wider audience and propel his achievements to the next level. He has that fire in him and he is going to make it work because he is a man on a mission,” states Tad.

“M.O.A.M (Man on a Mission), in its truest sense, is a mission to bring back great Jamaican music and musicianship to the mainstream,” offers Hezron. “It’s a reminder of where reggae is supposed to be in the world.”

Hezron Clarke - Man On A Mission (Official Video)

Hezron Clarke - Resilience (Official Video)

Hezron Clarke - Save The Children (Official Video)

Hezron Clarke - Tik Tok I’m Coming (Official Video)

Official Spotify Purchase Link