Jamaican singer-songwriter Mortimer releases “My Child,” the fourth single from his anticipated full-length debut. The album, titled From Within, was produced by Winta James (often in conjunction with Mortimer), and will be released September 20, 2024 by Overstand Entertainment and Easy Star Records. The new single, which is accompanied by an official music video directed by Dennis “Denni” Fyffe (whose credits include videos for Protoje, Lila Iké, and Jesse Royal).
From Within is a series of songs that tell an overarching story of Mortimer’s journey – spanning his loves and passions, his struggles along the way, his ability to overcome these trials, and how his Rastafarian faith and love of family have helped guide him through it all. From the introspective, acoustic-heavy “Whole Heap,” to the slinky, sensual dancehall groove of “Slowly,” followed by the propulsive, modern roots sounds of “Not A Day Goes By” and “My Child,” each of the LP’s singles released so far boasts a broad and dramatic sonic palette. The release also dips heavily into melodies inspired by ‘80s pop and R&B, as well as a surprising foray into the under-represented sub-genre of reggae disco. In an era where artists are encouraged to sling constant content that disappears after a few weeks, Mortimer has taken his time to create a timeless piece of music that traces his personal path in a way that is bound to connect deeply to his listeners.
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Mortimer says that the message of From Within is “to speak of an expression of the duality of human nature. To be emotionally up and down, dark and light, fire and water, and, at the same time, for us to be hopeful, while still in pain and agony. The roses of the garden, if you will; thorn and petal. A show of co-existence amongst emotion, heart and mind, here and there.” Beautifully manifesting this concept of dialectical duality, “My Child” follows the brutally honest “Not A Day Goes By,” a stirring roots track that addresses Mortimer’s own mental health struggles.
Regarding “My Child,” Mortimer describes the song as “things I wish I heard from my father that I had to tell myself…things I now tell my children and that I hope they tell theirs. ‘My Child’ is a letter to myself and my offspring.”
“I also wanted to get everything off my chest,” Mortimer continues. “Emotions I’ve been trying my best to process over the years. With a sense of gratitude for being alive, thus being able to give myself opportunity.”
The album’s themes are visually represented on From Within’s album cover, shot by Michael Moodie, which has a close up of Mortimer’s face surrounded by flowers. Mortimer says, “The flowers represent human nature: fragility and beauty, softness, a breath, the heartbeat of the living, the opportunity to still grow and bloom.”
As a key player in the current wave of Jamaican reggae, Mortimer has made a significant impact in his short time in the industry. His own singles, along with standout guest features on tracks by Protoje, Keznamdi, Jaz Elise, and Khalia, have helped build his reputation and fanbase. More recently, Mortimer has been heard voicing over Winta’s Gratitude Riddim and collaborating with Samory I on “History of Violence,” which was on Samory I’s Strength (the only reggae album on Rolling Stone’s Best Albums of 2023 list). He also covered a classic David Bowie song (“Soul Love”) on Easy Star All-Stars’ Ziggy Stardub album in 2023. This spring, Mortimer completed a month of European touring alongside Samory I and Tippy I Grade playing to enthusiastic, sold-out crowds across England, Germany, Switzerland, and more.
