It’s been nearly five years since reggae royalty Damian Marley released his last solo single, “Reach Home Safe.” Since then, the four-time Grammy Award recipient has collaborated with artists ranging from Wizkid and Common to Killer Mike. Marley made his grand return last summer in July as a solo artist by covering the classic 1970 song “My Sweet Lord” by the Beatles member George Harrison. 

Speaking with BET.com, Junior Gong himself remembered riding around Los Angeles in his manager’s car and zoning into the song six or seven years ago even though he had already heard the song before. 

“I remember asking my manager to rewind the song a few times,” Marley explained. “I felt the melodies and I’m a God-fearing person so the lyrics resonated with me on that level.” 

Marley found himself drawn to the track enough to listen to it frequently. He began experimenting with different chords and ideas in the studio, where spontaneous jam sessions were commonplace. Eventually, he started spontaneously singing the song over a reggae jam. There were no prior intentions or preconceived notions; they were simply playing music.

Amid the pandemic, with no deadlines or schedules to adhere to, they decided to rework the song in a reggae style. Marley's decision was not influenced by a deep familiarity with George Harrison's catalog or any significant contemplation; it was a natural and unpretentious creative process. For him, the process was “just a vibe.”

Today, the “Welcome To Jamrock” artist released the video for “My Sweet Lord,” which was shot in San Basilio de Palenque, a Columbian city with a rich history amongst the African diaspora. Palenke is uniquely distinguished as the first free African-based community for Black people in the Western Hemisphere, predating Haiti's independence. This revelation challenged Marley’s previous understanding, as he had always associated Haiti with this achievement. During his time engaging with the community of Palenque, several things stood out to him.

“Violence, violent crimes and stuff like that were absent,” said Marley. “They’re very much in tune with their ancestry and their African roots, history and heritage. It was very uplifting to see the culture of the people there and how they live.”

Marley says the song is a one-off, though he’s consistently working on more music. He does have a few more singles set to release later this year that aren’t necessarily tied to each other. They’ll all represent different styles and moods while displaying the versatility that’s become his hallmark.  

“I guess you could say more romantic bass songs and some stuff for the streets,” Marley said. “A lot of artists in Jamaica are really more single based, driven kind of industry. Of course we do release albums, but it’s very heavily based in singles.”

Marley mentioned that if an album is to come, expect it sometime in late 2024 or early 2025. That means not expecting an album anytime soon or a collaborative project like a follow-up to 2010’s Distant Relatives with Grammy-winning emcee Nas. When asked about the possibility of reuniting with the King’s Disease rapper, his only reply was, “your guess is as good as mine.”

“Whenever I speak to Nas, we always say that we want to do it,” explained Marley. “So with the ambition of both of us wanting it to happen would lead toward the possibility of it happening. But we don’t have anything scheduled.”

“My Sweet Lord” is also the first release for Marley as an independent artist through his solo release through Ghetto Youths International, which he runs with brothers Stephen and Julian. Similar to their lineage to their iconic father, Bob Marley, Ghetto Youths International is helping to usher in the next generation of reggae artists, including Jemere Morgan (from the Morgan Heritage Family) and Christopher Ellis (the son of Alton Ellis). 

“We have a stable of young artists that we’ve been working with for the last few years,” explained Marley. “So apart from my music , the mission of Ghetto Youths International is still to help develop these younger artists and get some music out for them.” 

That’s not all Damian has in store for 2024. Before last year wrapped up, he, alongside brother Stephen Marley, announced the co-headlining Traffic Jam tour, which kicks off February 16th in Long Beach and ends at Chicago’s Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom around late March. The two have collaborated with Stephen, producing Damian’s albums such as the Grammy Award-winning Welcome To Jamrock and Stony Hill. Damian likened it to recalling the first time one learned to ride a bicycle or tie their shoes, emphasizing the enduring nature of their creative bond as brothers.

“We always work very closely together and hence why we even have this tour because we really have the amount of songs that we have together,” Marley explained. “We’re able to do a combined set with our own individual songs and songs we have together.”

As Damian navigates the streaming era in an ever-evolving landscape of the music industry, he highlights the newfound freedom and independence that artists enjoy regardless of age.  In today's digital era, musicians can explore various avenues to share their art without relying on major distribution channels. Damian recognizes this as a positive shift, as artists can now connect with a global audience with a simple click, allowing them to express themselves freely and reach their audience more directly. 

“It's a great time to be a musician; still in a way of being able to express yourself and get thought freely,” said Marley.