When Bijean was presented with lyrics for the song Rastafari the singer was instantly taken by its indiscriminate spiritual message.

While the title hails a particular group, he said it appeals to persons of diverse faiths.

Co-produced and co-written by Bobby Treasure and Maurice Gregory, Rastafari was released early this month.

“This song really a tell people to move forward, don’t be afraid, no matter how things are. So, if you are a Rasta or a Muslim or Christian or whoever you praise, it will speak to you. I just knew this song was bad from I heard the first note,” Bijean told the Jamaica Observer.

Rastafari is the first song released in 2023 for the dreadlocked artiste who has been recording music since his teens. During that period he has written most of his work and done songs for producers, including Colin “Bulby” York and Lynford “Fatta” Marshall.

While he is committed to composing original material, Bijean sees nothing wrong with recording songs written by other people.

“I don’t have a problem singing another person’s song, whether it’s a cover version or a song that has been written specifically for me. I tend to like to hear different viewpoints, sometimes people come across with new sounds,” he said. “So, I don’t have a issue or a problem singing other people’s songs.”

Bijean (given name Bijean Gayle) is from the Grove Road area of St Andrew.

Influenced by Alton Ellis, Dennis Brown and Barrington Levy, he was part of a harmony group called HUSH before launching a solo career that has produced songs such as Spiritual Poverty and Sen On.