Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer

Lutan Fyah

DUE TO years of gang fighting, Spanish Town has deve-loped a reputation as one of the most violent areas in Jamaica. On a positive note, it has produced big-name artistes like Stitchie, Papa San and his brother Dirtsman.

Singer Lutan Fyah wants to be the next big musical act out of the old capital.

The Rastafarian vocalist has a strong underground base in his hometown, but is still searching for the hit song to make him a household name.

"Getting that (hit song) is important for every artiste. I always sing as a artiste, but it's time now dat I sing fi the radio," he told The Gleaner.

There is a lot to be heard on Africa, Fyah's latest album, released on December 9 by 2B1 Records, an independent company based in San Francisco, California. There are 30 songs on the two-disc set.

Hardcore audience

Africa contains some of the songs that have endeared Fyah to a hardcore audience. They include the title track, De La Vega, Save The Juvenile and Outa Line, none of which gained the massive radio rotation necessary for a big hit.

On Africa, Fyah collaborates with various producers such as Sly and Robbie and Richard Bell of Star Trail. There are combinations with Morgan Heritage, Natural Black and Turbulence, Chezidek and Inner Circle.

While he yearns for a breakthrough song, the 32 year-old Fyah stays true to his underground tag. He says the link with 2B1 is deliberate as it is unlikely some of the songs on Africa would have been picked up by established reggae labels like VP Records in the United States, or the British companies, Greensleeves and Jet Star.

2B1 has a distribution deal with Sony International and will source Africa throughout Japan, Europe and South America. That link, Fyah believes, can help get his music out to fresh ears.

"People who never know who Lutan Fyah is, dem will know now," he said.

The faithful in Spanish Town have known about Lutan Fyah for some time. He grew up as Anthony Martin in Thompson Pen, one of many communities in Spanish Town that have been scarred by years of gang violence.

While a student at St Andrew Technical High School (STATHS), Martin juggled academics, music and sports. He has three passes at the CXC level and had ambitions to become an architect.

Martin also played Manning Cup football for STATHS and in the National Premier League for Hazard United and Constant Spring.

But, there was always music, which he first found through his grandfather's Black Iniverse sound system in Thompson Pen.

With injury curtailing his football career, Fyah turned to music. Five years ago, he had a minor hit with There Is No Peace in Spanish Town, which was followed by Rasta Still Deh 'Bout.

To date, he has released six albums and toured North America and Europe.

Roots singers like Freddie McGregor and Sugar Minott paid their dues on the sound system circuit for many years until the big break came. Lutan Fyah hopes his time will come in 2009.

From underground to the airwaves