One year after releasing her first album, singer Auraiya Hope returns with a four-song EP which includes a cover of a classic reggae ballad. ‘The Chronicles of Love Vol. II’ is scheduled to be officially launched on January 28 in Kingston. Although her album carries the same title, Hope noted that the EP is different in direction.
“My label Rocky Valley Records wanted us to do a reggae project. The EP has only reggae tracks in comparison to the album which had tracks from multiple genres including soul ballads, R&B, dancehall and reggaeton,” she explained. “We continue to explore the emotions we feel as we pursue the dream of finding a true-life partner. We explore the thrills of finding new love, the conflicts we face as we learn to co-exist.”
Hope wrote three of the songs on ‘The Chronicles of Love Vol. II’. The exception is a cover of ‘It Hurts to Be Alone’, the timeless ballad first done by The Wailers at Studio One in 1964.
Hope’s version features Beverley Kelso, an original member of that legendary group, who sang on the initial track 61 years ago. Oneil Walters, who also plays drums on the EP, produced ‘It Hurts to Be Alone’ which was done at Tuff Gong studios, owned by the family of Bob Marley, another original Wailer.
A physician by profession, Hope launched her recording career four years ago, and has released several singles in addition to an album.
