Today, two-time Grammy-nominated artist Julian Marley announces his upcoming EP, 1692 (out September via Monom Records), and shares the first single, an electronic take on the 1967 rocksteady single “The Tide Is High.” Originally written by John Holt and performed with his legendary vocal group The Paragons, Marley’s new interpretation brings the beloved classic back to its Jamaican roots, over a bouncy dancehall beat supplied by producer and Monom Records chief Alexx Anteaus (Earth, Wind & Fire, Rolling Stones, Jah Vinci, Yaksta)
Speaking on the cover, Julian recalls: “I did ‘The Tide is High’ because I’m a fan of John Holt…because he’s one of my teachers. The song is a nice song…You know, it always gives me an uplifting feeling. We love to pay respect to our teachers and our elders. So, you know, this one is for uncle John, ya man – much blessings.”
The official music video, directed by Damanic Green, arrives alongside the single to instantly transport listeners to an island dance vibe. The accompanying visuals highlight Julian’s roots reggae tones and flawless vocals against the backdrop of Jamaica’s historic Devon House, a heritage site built in 1881 by the first Jamaican black millionaire George Stiebel.
“The Tide Is High” has been reimagined by several notable artists throughout the years. Blondie’s 1980 pop version went on to top international charts in the US, UK, Canada, and New Zealand. Additional versions have been cut by Kardinal Offishall & Keri Hilson, Atomic Kitten, and Gregory Isaacs.
British-born Julian “JuJu” Marley is the son of Jamaican musical icon Bob Marley and Barbadian mom Lucy Pounder. Julian is a roots-reggae musician, singer-songwriter, producer, and humanitarian. The 1692 EP and “The Tide Is High” single follow Julian’s 2019 Grammy-nominated album, As I Am, which scored millions of streams worldwide, and features collaborations with Jamaican superstars like Shaggy, Beenie Man, Spragga Benz, and Addis Pablo. Julian Marley is currently touring in the U.S. until June 18th and then onwards to Europe for the summer festival season.
Related Links:
Julian Marley Website
@julianmarley
Watch: Julian Marley – “Boom Draw”