For over 15 years, Jamaican reggae artist Major Brandish — born Gladstone Brown and raised in east Kingston’s Rockfort neighborhood — has built his career on authenticity, a commitment he brings to his vulnerable and message-driven new single *Love Again*, released last month via ShartyB Records. Drawing from the deep personal pain of a past romantic heartbreak, the singer crafted the track to turn his own struggle into a lesson that resonates with audiences navigating similar experiences.
In a candid conversation with the *Jamaica Observer*, Brandish explained the core philosophy driving the song: while romantic hurt can leave lasting scars, he argues that allowing that pain to curdle into hate only harms both oneself and the people around one. Growing up in Kingston’s inner city taught him critical lessons in self-discipline, emotional control, and most importantly, how to cultivate self-love in the aftermath of heartbreak. Rather than closing himself off from future connection, Brandish emphasizes that hurt is merely a common life obstacle, not a permanent barrier to opening one’s heart to new love. “Not everyone will have the opportunity to hurt you, some do come to love you and care for you, and you just do the same,” he noted.
What sets Brandish apart from many of his peers in the entertainment industry, he says, is his willingness to center raw, personal emotion and positive messaging in his work. Many artists shy away from sharing their private struggles with heartbreak, but for Brandish, this openness is not a matter of courage — it is a core part of staying true to himself. “Ninety per cent of them go through it because they are human; they go through heartbreak too, and expressing it is good for the soul, and it frees you up,” he explained. His artistic mission is simple: to preserve the authentic, joyful, reality-centered reggae that rooted his upbringing, with intentional positive messaging that uplifts listeners.
Looking ahead, one of Brandish’s biggest career highlights is coming this June: he is set to perform at *Legends of the Caribbean – A Tribute to Dennis Emmanuel Brown*, scheduled for June 26 at Ottawa’s Meridian Theatre in Canada. A lifelong fan of the late “Crown Prince of Reggae” Dennis Brown, Brandish called the opportunity to honor the icon a profound honor. Brown, who was named Bob Marley’s favorite singer, has been a household name for Brandish since early childhood, remembered for his enduring focus on love and celebration of Jamaican culture. When asked about his favorite Dennis Brown track, the singer says he cannot pick just one — he has too many beloved songs from the legendary artist that shaped his own musical journey.