Sting and Shaggy Announce New Collaborative Album ’44/876′
A little more than a year after the release of his 57th & 9th solo LP, Sting is just about ready to release his next project — and it marks another creative turn in a career filled with them.
Per official press release, the former Police frontman has teamed with reggae fusion artist Shaggy for 44/876, a new "collaborative, island-influenced album" that promises to honor "the duo’s mutual love of Jamaica — its music, the spirit of its people and vibrancy of its culture."
After being introduced by shared industry connection Martin Kierszenbaum, who currently serves as Sting's manager and once worked as an A&R exec on Shaggy's behalf, the pair hooked up in the studio to collaborate on what was supposed to be a single track — but the resulting song, titled "Don't Make Me Wait," convinced them that their partnership was meant for more.
"The most important thing to me in any kind of music is surprise," Sting told Rolling Stone. "And everybody is surprised by this collaboration – by what they're hearing. We're surprising."
Those surprises will be heard in full on April 20, when 44/876 is scheduled to arrive in stores. Described as "music that seamlessly blends Caribbean rhythms — in traditional and modern styles — with pop craftsmanship and rock energy," the set found Sting and Shaggy assisted by an array of Jamaican artists; fittingly, they debuted "Don't Make Me Wait" in Kingston, as part of a benefit concert raising money for a local children's hospital.
Current plans call for an official video for "Don't Make Me Wait," filmed in Kingston; in the meantime, curious fans can listen to the track below.