Clatta Bumboo levels up for second album

In a matter of months, Clatta Bumboo will release his second album. An unapologetic disciple of roots-reggae, he says the new project will honour the tenets of that genre.

The yet-titled album will be released theee years after ‘Make Way Rasta’, the Jamaican singer’s first album. While keeping details of the follow-up close to his chest, Clatta Bumboo did issue some teasers.

“Different but the same. ‘Make Way Rasta’ is the blueprint, and helps us focus on ensuring a higher level of consistency in sonic quality. It’s the same messaging, and same roots offering. However, Clatta Bumboo is growing as an artiste and this growth does affect my world view,” he said. “But it’s safe to say I will not be straying too far from the roots anytime soon.”

As a precursor to the album, the Rhode Island-based Clatta Bumboo released ‘The Purge’ in February. He co-produced that song with Jefferson A. Ramos, an American musician.

It features the militant Steppa beat whuch drove many reggae songs during the late 1970s. ‘Rapid Response’, a dub version of ‘The Purge’, was also released.

He is banking on his music to reach a diverse audience.

“Appeal is hard to measure, however each song in the Clatta Bumboo catalogue was created with the Afro-Jamaican people in mind at home and within the Diaspora,” he noted. “From what I can see, based on Digital Service Providers (DSP) reports and requests for Custom Version/dub-plates, the northeast of the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, South Africa and Brazil are the top markets for the Clatta Bumboo sound.”

Clatta Bumboo is from Westmoreland parish in western Jamaica. That region has been fertile ground for Rasta and roots-reggae for many years; it’s where he, as Sheldon Townsend, discovered Jamaican culture in its truest form.

It was not until moving to Rhode Island in 2008 that he began recording music. Seven years ago saw the release of ‘Future Water’, his first EP, which set the tone for ‘Make Way Rasta’.

“In 2026, we are planning on serving up more high-grade roots-reggae music. Multiple singles are planned for the first half of the year with an album offering at the top of the third quarter. Certainly more live appearances and collaborations,” said Clatta Bumboo.

(Photo contributed)