Unless it’s an oldies event or token airplay, there is not a lot of ska in Jamaica. But for roots singer Jahmark, the horn-hooked sound holds a special place in his heart.
When he was a boy in Kingston, Jamaica’s capital, he could count on hearing ska during Independence celebrations in early August. Those memories prompted him to write and record ‘No Sorry fi Maga Dog’ with his band, The Soulshakers.
Released last August, the song is produced by Mike Irwin, an American who has worked with the group for many years. For Jahmark, recording a ska song was inspired by more than boyhood memories.
“It’s a fun genre and I have recorded a few ska-flavored songs before, like ‘Life’ on the ‘Life’ album, ‘Ain’t No Dogs’ on the ‘Book of Redemption’ album, and ‘Baby, Don’t You Worry’ on the ‘Happiness’ album,” he disclosed. “But this tune, in my opinion, is the closest one so far to a truly authentic golden age ska vibe.”
Formed in Jamaica during the 1980s, Jahmark and The Soulshakers are based in Southern California. They have a solid following there thanks to the aforementioned albums which are heavy on roots-reggae.
‘No Sorry fi Maga Dog’ favors the ska sound that first emerged in Kingston’s clubs during the early 1960s. Bands like The Skatalites, and acts like Derrick Morgan, Prince Buster and The Wailers, were its biggest exponents.
It is the first song released by Jahmark and The Soulshakers for 2026. In October, Jahmark released two songs — ‘Golden Days’ with Ras Dave, and ‘My Revolutionary Friend’, a collaboration with Jeff Harris.
