With the release of his excellent new album Ring The Alarm caught up with Mikey Murka, a man who broke through during the 80's with tracks like 'Ride Pon The Riddim', 'Control The Dancehall' and many more, he then took a long break from recording but is back on the scene again and as popular as ever after linking up with Reality Shock Records.

So how did you start out singing?
Well you know mi start sing from back in Jamaica, growing up as at youth when I used to go to Denby Primary School in Clarendon, I used to go to little stage shows, little area dances, local school concerts and them kind a thing and that's where I started singing from.

Who were you musical influences growing up?
Well Barrington Levy was my main influence, as a young artist growing up in Jamaica Barrington Levy was a big influence, I would say also Barry Brown, Linval Thompson people like that.

Do you remember your first dance when you performed?
Well the first time I sing in a dance was really in Jamaica, like in my area every weekend there would be dances and I'd be mucking about on the mic with others, that's the first time you know, it wasn't too serious still.

You made a big impact on the UK reggae scene during the 80's what was the atmosphere in dances like back then?
Well during the 80's the vibes was kinda nice in the dance you know, it was just like a family thing and there was more art in the music with less computers, people just used to chat on the version after playing the A side, it was just nice you know. There was a lot of talents and each sound used to verse another sound with their singers and deejays and the would clash, a lot of clash would go on (he laughs).

And you sang alongside some of the great singers of that time?
Yeah you know, Sugar Minott, Richie Davis, Tippa Irie, Pato Banton, King Kong, Pinchers, Kenny Knotts, Errol Bellot, Demon Rocker and Flinty (The Ragga Twins) many.

You had quite a long break from the business, why was that?
Well just through family and having kids, just life in general and the struggle the whole a we have to go through still.

So what inspired you to get back in the studio?
Well just having a talent, when you have a talent you can't really just let it go you know, because I didn't enter this for bling and gold.  We enter this stricly for the love of it, a mechanic can't just throw down his tools you know what I'm saying, and plus my fans you know, mi can't leave my fans alone still.

Obviously a lot of people remember you from back in the 80's?
Yeah, due to 'Ride Pon The Riddim', 'Control The Dancehall', 'We Try' and all them tunes there I'm still known through Europe.

Well congratulations on the new album, We've been listening to the preview for a couple of weeks now and we love it all, have you got a favourite track though?
Well every track on this album is my favourite song you know, but I would have to say 'In The Name Of Love' plays a very important part on the album for me, just due to the way the world is run at the moment, because we need more love still and I hope that message reaches a lot of people.

Yeah we've noticed a lot of positive messages in your lyrics, especially in tracks like 'The Children' (ft. Deadly Hunta & Silk) and 'Gang Business'.
Yeah you know in 'Gang Business' I'm just shouting out to the youth them fi haffi watch what we're thinking, stop and check and think the right way of positiveness, we have to try an eradicate negativeness.

Obviously you played a big part in the UK reggae scene back in the 80's, what do you think of the UK scene right now?
Well the UK reggae scene is kinda well big right now to me, things have changed from back in the day when it was all about Jamaican reggae music and some of the DJ's in England never liked to play the home grown talent, we never used to get the same respect. Things have really come a long way now, a lot of UK talent is on a par with Jamaica or even America and we're starting now to love our own talent, it's getting a bit more respect. The music scene in England right now is big, I just think that we as musicians, artists and producers need to get together a bit more, but yeah you know it's going well.

Who are some of your favourite artists of the modern era?
Well I would say Jah Cure is one of my favourite artists right now, when it comes to the deejays I would say man like Junior Kelly, Capleton and Fanton Mojah.

So if you could work with anyone who would it be?
I would say Capleton, I woulda like do a tune with the fire man still you know, if there was one artist yeah it would have to be Capleton.  But as a singer you know Mikey General also, cause him a mi long time bredrin still you know, I was singing with General from a long time before mi even break through.

Fingers crossed there will be a tune with Mikey General coming soon then?
Yeah fingers crossed, cause mi and Kris Kemist, the big producer right now, we did want to link up a ting with the General but it never came through at the time, but it's still in the making you know what I'm saying.
 

Well we can't wait to hear that when it happens, so have you got any messages to send out to people checking out the new album?
Yeah I would just like to say big up and blessed love to everyone who is tuning into my album you know, I hope the I them get some nice messages from it.  Blessed.