“The music, it heals,” is what Toronto-based music master Jay Douglas says of his freshly nominated 2020 JUNO Award Reggae Recording of the Year, “Jah Children” — available now.
“The nomination is about good and positive vibrations,” he continues. “Reggae music is an awakening, and the message is peace and love every time.”
As Douglas sings, “we live in a land, we got so much to give thanks for,” the track lands as an optimistic ode, aiming to shine light through the many social and political issues plaguing the world, and features iconic Jamaican dancehall DJ General Trees and a remix by JUNO Award-winning Canadian reggae artist Dubmatix.
“Three years ago, I performed at a reggae festival in Toronto with General Trees as the headliner,” Douglas recalls on how “Jah Children” and the collaboration came to be. “I was so impressed with his performance… He had the audience in his hands.
“I invited the General to Side Door studio to put a rap on ‘Jah Children,’” he continues. “He accepted my invitation, and we played the track for him… He looked at me and smiled; it took him less than one hour to do his rap, he was so excited.”
Jay Douglas first appeared on stage in Montego Bay, Jamaica and, in the over 50 years of entertaining since, has developed into an Internationally idolized musical renaissance man thanks to his wide-ranging repertoire of American blues, West Indian rhythms, and jazz standards — including fronting The Cougars, a circa-1960s/1970s R&B act, and Light in the Attic’s ‘From Jamaica to Toronto’ concert series.
“Jah Children” is Douglas’ second JUNO Award nomination, the first being for 2012’s reggae release, Lover’s Paradise.
Douglas has also won NOW Magazine’s ‘Best R&B Act,’ the Annual Toronto Reggae Awards’ ‘Male Reggae Vocalist of the Year,’ and the BBPA Harry Jerome Awards’ ‘G98.7 Entertainment Award.’
“Thanks to Jessie Dubmatix and Everton “Pablo” Paul who worked so patiently with me, voicing me properly, and making me do so many harmonies and octaves with the help for the backing vocals,” Douglas says of the team’s work on “Jah Children.” “Great mixing and mastering by Dubmatix, and his positive vibes every time.
“Blessings to Dubmatix and General Trees for joining me on this project. ‘Jah Children’ is the message we need right now.”
