Mark Wonder

about

Since Wonder's first album Signs Of The Time was released in 1996 by Dutch label Zola & Zola, he has been heralded as one of the new crop of singers likely to fill the vacuum left by the sudden departure of Garnett Silk. But, even with two more albums under his belt, he is yet to win the acclaim his early career promised. Now Wonder thinks that he has found the right formula with his fourth."This album reflects what I've learnt since then and the lyrics come from those experiences," he says. "For example, I remember one afternoon prior to a summer tour of Europe, we were just jamming, the whole vibes for the song Kingston City came to me: Dutty tough a yard, some travel gone abroad, y'kno." He says that his numerous visits to Europe, especially Switzerland and Holland, have opened up his mind to things he never knew before. "I found a lot of people there who are opposed to the system, just like we are opposed to the system. In Rome, I met people who just love when Rasta criticise the Pope," he explained. Wonder says that for years roots reggae has been the favourite of the rebel types in Europe, or people who, he says, "share the same opinions as us". However, he admitted that with the advent of Shaggy and Sean Paul, the reggae net has been widened as there is now a large dancehall following. "Roots music is still dominant, but dancehall is making headway," he said. He says that Switzerland has become like a second home since he first travelled there in 1999, courtesy of Mi