Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer

Peruvian singer Anen. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

Nine months is a very familiar time period for new life to make it into the world, but for Peruvian singer Anen, the end of the third trimester signals not the debut of a squalling bundle of joy, but drum, bass and lyrics.

Anen, named Antonio Ginocchio, lived in Jamaica for nine months to put his debut reggae album, Change, together. From Lima, Peru, to Kingston, Jamaica, travelling through Panama, is not a short trip, but Anen knows it was well worth it.

"This album is a dream for anybody who plays reggae," Anen said, noting that apart from Brazil's Gilberto Gil, very few persons from Latin America have recorded with Jamaican musicians in Jamaica. "The album took some time, because we use the top musicians in Jamaica," Anen said, naming Sly and Robbie, Sticky Thompson, Dalton Browne, Chinna Smith and Robbie Lyn among them.

And the 11-track Change, which will come out on the SPK Inc. label, was recorded at the renowned Harry J studio on Roosevelt Avenue/Herb McKenley Drive in St. Andrew.

Second trip to Jamaica

It is not Anen's first trip to Jamaica, as in 1994 he was here for four months. "Before, I came for reggae music to the White River Reggae Bash and after that went to Stephen Stewart and recorded four songs and released a single, Claudia," Anen said. Done with Don Youth, Anen said it was a big success in Peru, still getting airplay today. He also recorded the reggae song In This Time in Peru, as well as the 2001 Latin rock album La Gente Esta Borracha ('The People Are Drunk'), "but I always wanted to come back to record an album."

"When you come to Jamaica you touch the culture ... the people here really feel it when they play reggae. It is your culture, your music. Reggae, it is the only rhythm come from the soul. It is rich because it comes from the soul," he said.

Although the nine months are up, the fruits of hard labour are not quite ready for presentation to the public, as there are some collaborations to be arranged and done, but Anen had a lot to show when he left Jamaica for Panama on Monday.

"In Peru people love roots," Anen said, naming Burning Spear, Steel Pulse, Mykal Roze, Papa San, Yellowman and Buju Banton among the most respected performers. "We have a big, long winter and three months summer. In the three months, everybody turn Rasta," he said, saying that in those warm months of December, January and February there are lots of reggae shows.

So he heads from the warmth of Jamaica to the chilly but warming Peru with a new album in hand and the beginnings of a new language as well. With Change recorded mostly in Spanish mixed with English, Anen is hoping to go into new territory soon.

"I want to record one track in patois. I am beginning to learn now," he said.