Shaggy On New Christmas Album, 20 Years Of ‘Hot Shot'

The 15-track ‘Christmas in the Islands’ features collaborations with Joss Stone, Ne-Yo and more

- DAVID BRITTO

AFTER COLLABORATING WITH BRITISH musician Sting on 44/876 two years ago, Jamaican-American reggae/dancehall artist Shaggy thought of plotting a holiday record with the former Police vocalist and bassist. However, the pandemic restricted the two musicians from meeting and Shaggy instead decided to go through with the idea himself. “At that point, it was pretty evident that it would probably be a Shaggy album,” he says.

The newly released 15-track Christmas in the Islands, out in India exclusively via Mumbai label 9122 Records, is filled with a whole host of collaborators ranging from English singer-songwriter Joss Stone to American artist Ne-Yo and other talented musicians.

In this interview, Shaggy talks to us about what drove him to make the record, what Christmas means to him, completing 20 years for his hit album Hot Shot and more.

I want to open by asking you about your last India tour in 2016. What are your memories of it?

2016… that’s a long, long way to remember. But always coming to India brings great memories. I remember my wife coming to meet me there, she had to take a couple of flights to come in because It kind of fell on my birthday around that time. It was great. Got an amazing time out, a lot of good friends and a lot of good food. Every time I’m in India, I’m always eating pretty well. I’m a big fan of the culture. The Indian audience for years and years, from the beginning of my career all the way down, we’ve had a long list of success. It’s always been great.