Jah9 returns with ‘OPEN HEART’

After starting life anew in East Africa, Jah9 has returned to music, piecing life’s lessons into a mosaic on her new single Open Heart. The song will be out May 26 via VP Records. On Open Heart, Jah9 frees herself from the strain of negative self-talk. The reggae soul track, produced by Iotosh, shimmers with a jazzinfluenced horn section as the singer-songwriter cycles through positive affirmations, shedding doubt and resentment along the way.

Directed by Ash Mswaki, the music video follows Jah9 across her new-found home of Tanzania, staging scenes rich in lush landscapes, vivid colours, and East African symbolism.

“Open Heart initially started as Focused Mind, an affirmation that evolved into a reflection and ultimately became a celebration of personal growth,” said Jah9.

She added, “When conceptualising the visuals for the song, it became clear that Open Heart perfectly captures the essence of the sounds and sights that accompany this powerful intention.”

While launching her previous album, Note to Self, in Ethiopia, the pandemic struck. Rather than return to her birthplace of Jamaica, Jah9 decided to remain in East Africa, and went to Tanzania after she received what she describes as a “divine calling”. Three years on, and she’s settled there, having found solace in its transformative energy.

Jah9 will stage a unique show at City Splash Festival in London on May 29 as she’s joined by recording engineer Hopeton ‘Scientist’ Brown, who will do a live dub mix of her vocal performance. It will mark her first time performing for a live audience in three years.