Jamaican-born singer Irie.
Photo by Kyasha Campbell
Jamaican-born, New Jersey-based singer Irie is showing no signs of slowing down after a standout year in 2024, thanks to the success of his hit single “Chatty Chatty.”
“Chatty Chatty” featured DJ Peter Metro, which Irie, whose real name is Wayne Campbell, said has garnered success in Jamaica.
Irie told Caribbean Life on Monday that he is preparing to follow up on that momentum with more collaborations and fresh tracks set to drop this year.
“I have at least two new tracks coming out soon with Peter Metro,” he said. “I also have one with DJ Powerman titled ‘Right Type A Girl’ on the same label, TM God Alone.”
On “Chatty Chatty,” Irie revealed the inspiration behind the song.
“Recording the song was my idea,” he said. “I was thinking about how women don’t like men who talk too much.
“I got the riddim from producer Miguel Smith, so I called Metro and told him it would be nice if we could do the song as a collaboration,” he added. “He liked the idea, so I wrote my part, recorded it, and sent it to him. He recorded his part, and, as they say, ‘the rest is history.’”
Irie said “Chatty Chatty,” recorded in New Jersey, peaked at #1 on Clinton Lindsay’s Reggae Charts in New York and also made waves in Jamaica, landing on the Stampede Street Chart, where Irie and Peter Metro were named Artists of the Week.
Irie’s recent accomplishments go beyond studio success. He said he performed alongside US R&B group Blue Magic at a Mother’s Day concert in 2022, he took the stage at Jamaica’s Rebel Salute in 2023 with Peter Metro, and earned the “Singer of the Year” title at the Original Dancehall Thursdays event in Kingston, the Jamaican capital.
In 2024, Irie said he returned to Jamaica to perform on International Night at Reggae Sumfest, sharing the stage with Peter Metro, Wicker Man, Daddy Lizard and Anthony Malvo.
Born in Waterhouse, Kingston 13, Irie said that he grew up “immersed in reggae,” disclosing he was influenced by reggae icons Alton Ellis, Bob Marley, John Holt, Dennis Brown, Jacob Miller, Delroy Wilson and Ken Boothe.
“Music was my everyday life,” he said. “Even at school, I would use the bench for entertainment.”
Looking ahead to 2025, Irie said he has several new tracks pending, including “Right Type of Girl” (ft. Powerman), “CE A Come” (ft. DJ Mikelous), “Sleeptalk,” and “Pretty Girl” (ft. Peter Metro).
When asked which other artist he would like to collaborate with, Irie was unhesitant, telling Caribbean Life, “Lloyd ‘Judge’ Ferguson of the Mighty Diamonds, best known for their 1976 single ‘Right Time’ and ‘Pass the Kouchie,’ which was covered by Musical Youth as ‘Pass the Dutchie,’ which became a global hit.
“I would love to do a collaboration with him,” Irie added. “He is the only living member of the group.”
With his mix of roots reggae, dancehall energy and collaborative spirit, Irie said he is proving himself to be a voice to watch on the international reggae scene.