BMG signs worldwide deal with new label Trojan Jamaica

13 February 2019 - Press release

BMG is delighted to announce the launch of Trojan Jamaica, a new frontline label working directly with BMG to bring newly produced, Jamaican-made music to the world. 

Trojan Jamaica is the result of a partnership with renowned musician/producer Zak Starkey and his partner, artist/musician/producer Sharna “Sshh” Liguz. Based in Jamaica, the label will reflect not only the island’s rich musical history, rooted in Africa, but American soul and blues. BMG is both co-funding the Trojan Jamaica label and has licensed the name for use from its famed Trojan Records label for the new venture. 

While some of the artists overlap with the Trojan Records catalogue, Trojan Jamaica is an entirely standalone frontline label. The label’s first release is slated for Spring 2019. 

The genesis of Trojan Jamaica came when Kingsley Cooper, curator of the Peter Tosh Museum in Kingston, saw a video of Starkey and Liguz’s musical project SSHH performing of ‘Get Up Stand Up’ and invited them to perform at the opening ceremony of the museum in October 2016. Their performance in turn led to another invitation the following year to the second annual Peter Tosh tribute concert. 

Starkey and Liguz later opened a recording studio in Ocho Rios and began working with legendary and contemporary artists, including Toots & The Maytals, Freddie McGregor, Big Youth, Sly & Robbie, U-Roy, Mykal Rose, Ziggy Marley, Andrew Tosh, Tanya Stephens, Jesse Royal, Ce’Cile, Rygin King, Santigold, Shaggy and more, in order to create new music. 

Starkey said, “We felt so warmly welcomed and at home in the musical community, that we stayed and recorded all the music that has become Trojan Jamaica. We’re committed to presenting local artists together with international musicians who, like us, have been inspired by roots culture.” 

Sshh added, “It’s our aim to bring a range of new Jamaican music to the masses. An evolution of roots, rock and reggae, combining contemporary artists with a number of Jamaica’s musical pioneers. It’s an absolute honour to be working with such incredible people.” 

BMG CEO Hartwig Masuch said, “We are delighted to partner with Zak and Sharna on this exciting new musical endeavour. This is a wonderful opportunity to reflect the new sounds of reggae’s homeland.”