Mason Di Emperor has ‘Conversations in the Dark’
Published:Sunday | November 22, 2020 | 7:58 AMYasmine Peru/Senior Gleaner Writer
Back in January, weeks before the world as we knew it changed forever, Grammy award-winning United States singer John Legend released a ballad, another of those unconditional love ditties, which, on reflection, he must have been guided by a special light to sing. Conversations in the Dark, accompanied by a music video awash with happiness, was the perfect antidote for the confused, pandemic world.
Towards the end of 2020, reggae, soul and alternative singer, Mason Di Emperor, is having great expectations for his latest single, Conversations in the Dark, a cover on which he has placed his own soulful reggae interpretation.
The singer shared that, although he has been making music for years, he “had to go deep in [himself] to sing this song and make it [his] own”. He recalled that it was almost strange the way a guiding light led him to choose Conversations in the Dark. “We were in the studio talking about doing a cover, and Congo Billy [percussionist] said ‘click on a John Legend’, and that song popped up, and it hit us as the tune we needed to do,” he said.
Mason Di Emperor & the Rebel Soulz band have strummed up a fusion of reggae, soul, and alternative music to create a song that they surely hope will rack up views and streams in the millions. “The feedback pre and post release has been filled with great vibes,” he said enthusiastically, adding that a short music film was also shot. With 17 million views and counting on YouTube, the original is a certified hit which topped the iTunes chart back in January and has since charted in the United Kingdom, United States, Italy, Canada, Australia and Brazil. Mason Di Emperor expects no less from his release. And Japan, where he has been living for part of the year for the past 30 years, could probably be added to the mix as well.
Masterpiece
Mason Di Emperor’s team notes that “ Conversations in the Dark showcases a masterpiece thousands have been looking forward to, especially after the huge success recorded with Lover’s Rock, a 15-song album that was considered for the Grammy nomination in 2018.”
The Jamaican musician has worked with dozens of world-famous artistes, producers, and personalities across the entertainment industry, including Mariah Carey, Dean Fraser, Queen Ifrica and Tony Rebel. His singles, such as 6 East, Summer Vibes, and Lover’s Rock, topped many charts from Japan to the US and beyond.
Mason Di Emperor says that his plans for 2021 include the release of a new album, but specific dates are vague for a reason. “What’s next? I would like to say that I plan it. But the truth is that life just seems to guide me in the right direction every time,” the author of the book, Changed Man: Lover’s Rock - Escape Through Music, declared.