Marshalling a new sound, fanbase
Co-producer and songwriter of Billboard hit, ready to turn up ‘temperature’ with his music
Published:Sunday | March 6, 2022 | 12:08 AMStephanie Lyew - Sunday Gleaner Writer
It’s not uncommon to find producers and songwriters taking a stab at the music industry as recording artistes – and sometimes it happens in reverse. A good 14 years after writing and co-producing Sean Paul’s hot track Temperature, alongside Rohan ‘Jah Snowcone’ Fuller in 2006 and scoring international recognition, Adrian Christopher Marshall, known professionally as Chris Marshall, has finally stepped out with a debut solo project.
“I feel it was kind of a calling,” the producer-turned-recording artiste told The Gleaner.
He added, “Working with many artistes over the years, sometimes other elements of your creativity are revealed, and in 2019, I did the Tu Y Yo collaboration with Warner Music Brazil-signed artiste Anitta, which has close to 19 million views on YouTube, and was featured on her album Kisses. Essentially, it helped me find my voice, introduced me to the other side of the audience and then [people] started to ask when I’d be dropping something else.”
Chris Marshall shared that the relentless questioning about what his next move would be was the catalyst for him moving out of the studio control room and into the voice room. A year later, he had a solid compilation which he dubbed Marshall Law, released under the Rich Music Inc record label. His first single, iFear featuring labelmate Justin Quiles and Nigerian superstar Kizz Daniels amassed approximately 225,000 views on YouTube. But he does not consider that EP as his true rite of passage.
He said, “Most of that project featured collaborations, and yes, those songs did better, but I’d still have to say that my proper debut is my recent production. Songs like Push Back are an affirmation of me standing on my own two feet.”
He credits much of the development of his musical style to working with Jamaican recording artistes and his upbringing. Though Chris Marshall migrated to the US years ago, he explained that the international music scene is in tune with “what they can get, when they collaborate with me,” as it relates to the sound and “that authentic Jamaican feel or more so, dancehall energy”.
INFLUENCE
Noting his exploration of different musical landscapes, Chris Marshall shared that he still finds his way back home. He is heavily influenced by local musical icons Freddie McGregor, Beres Hammond, Denroy Morgan and conscious veterans such as Richie Spice.
“Nowhere is better [than] home, but it doesn’t stop me from venturing out to find new opportunities. I want Caribbean people, Jamaicans and our neighbours to know I am here committed to the work and still connected to my roots,” he said. “In everything I am doing, I fly the Jamaican flag high as possible. That’s my identity, and persons can hear that throughout my music.”
His most recent album Audio Therapy, released in September 2021, leads listeners through the various moods of Chris Marshall. With 15 tracks, each sounding unlike the other, such as Push Back, Push Harder, Why Mi Bother and Hardcore Lovin’, he shows the many sides of him as a recording artiste and styles for music lovers to sift through.
“I can say that I know more of my direction, and the projects that follow will reflect it. Dancehall definitely resonates more with the people, and I will go back to the basics of the drum patterns and compositions that the genre is known for.”
Though the process of putting together the solo project was filled with ups and downs, it was smoother, he said. Very critical of himself as an artiste, the ups and downs haven’t made him reconsider the direction he has taken.
Chris Marshall strongly believes that he has what it takes to move into the spotlight. He is building up his fanbase by growing his catalogue before he takes his act on the road.
“I am critical of myself, and as creatives, we have to be because we want to know we are putting out good music that people will actually like. I want to win over the listeners of my music, and I believe that people have a diverse and dynamic body of work to make their own assessment of what I have to offer. For now, I’m focused on the digital platforms until I can get that support from promoters who don’t have to second-guess when they say, ‘Let’s go, book Chris Marshall for a show’,” he said.