Davina Morris, Contributor

Tarrus Riley

To say that music is in Tarrus Riley's blood is an understatement. Being the son of famed reggae vocalist Jimmy Riley (of Love and Devotion fame) may well have given him the music bug. But the rising reggae crooner admits that it wasn't actually his famous father who gave him musical encouragement.

"My father never really told me to sing," says Riley. "He didn't actually know I could sing. It was my mother who was more encouraging on that score. But my father is supportive now."

Hot on the heels of his recent performance at Brixton Academy, England, Riley was in no mood to relax. Heaven knows if he bothered to do any sightseeing whilst in the UK, but he did, naturally, find time to get some work done in the studio. Thankfully, he managed to tear himself away (just about) from his studio responsibilities in order for us to have a chat. And he was all too excited as he reflected on the recent London show.

"It was great. I wish I'd had longer to perform. I was just getting ready to sing and before you knew it my set was over! But it was nice. The crowd was great," he said.

Riley is no stranger to the business, having pursued his music interests since his teenage years. Though his 2006 album Parables, and its subsequent hit, She's Royal, launched him as one of reggae's brightest 'new' talents, Riley is no overnight success. "Parables is actually my second album, but for a lot of people, I was a newcomer when that album came out. I guess I'm a newcomer with a lot of experience. But I'm still learning, I'm still a yout'," he says.

Well, this yout' has been celebrated by reggae fans across the globe. Undoubtedly one of the standout artistes among the crop of Jamaican talents defining the modern- day roots reggae sound, Riley's analytical lyrics embracing Rasta teachings and his heartfelt romantic delivery have won over a legion of fans. Could he be the long overdue artist to earn stardom by taking roots reggae to a wider, more commercial stage?

Ideal woman

"That's not really what I'm aiming for. I'm not really interested in being a star. I just want to make good music, maintain my self-respect and always be comfortable with what I do. I just want to give people good music. I don't just see myself as a roots artiste; I'm a musician and I can be versatile. But there are certain things that I won't do just to become a star. I'm only interested in being myself," he said.

Similarly, Riley's ideal woman is one who can also be herself. Having earned huge praise for his anthem She's Royal, his celebration of women with 'natural beauty', it seemed fitting to find out if there's a special someone in his life.

"Yes, there's a queen in my life," he admits. "But She's Royal wasn't written for one particular woman. It's a song to encourage all women to hold their heads up high. The teachings of Rastafari show us that we're all kings and queens. My mother raised me and I have a lot of love and respect for women."

Always good to hear. And what's his definition of natural beauty? "It's not even about physical beauty. You can have some women who are attractive to look at, but they're not beautiful inside. Natural beauty is about being yourself and being comfortable with who you are. It's not just about what's on the surface, it's what's on the inside. I respect any woman who is comfortable with who she is and can be herself in any arena."

Parables is out now on VP Records.