STEVEN “Lenky” Marsden has teamed up with reggae icon Jimmy Cliff for a four-track instrumental EP titled Zen.
Released last Friday on the Diwali Records, the track listing comprises Life, As I Am (Mixoholic), Love Song, and Welcome Home. It is available for purchase on all digital platforms via Zojak World Wide. “Rhythm Twins” Sly and Robbie contributed to the project.
Marsden shared with the Jamaica Observer how the project came about.
“I have been working on Jimmy Cliff’s new album and we loved how the mix turn out, so we decided to put out the instrumental ahead of the album. Jimmy said he wanted to include a little audio to make it different and the rest is history. Jimmy is very professional and knows what he wants; he is not just a regular artiste,” he said.
In 2002, Mardsen released Diwali riddim which drove some of the biggest dancehall hits. One of the biggest sellers was Sean Paul’s Get Busy which made the Billboard pop chart.
“Take the Diwali type of flavour, a combination of international and dancehall with a little folk, and I tailored it around Jimmy. I also thought to put my brand on it so it can reach more people,” he said.
“I think about something that people want to hear, but it is different. I got my inspiration from Sly, and from very early I wanted to be like him and make my works stand out,” he added.
Cliff, one of two Jamaican musicians who holds an Order of Merit, is known for enduring tracks including Many Rivers To Cross, Reggae Night and I Can See Clearly Now. He is also the star of cult classic The Harder They Come.
