Tarrus Riley - File

THERE is a virus in the air. And no, it's not the swine flu. "I would love for everyone to get it. I want everyone to catch on to something positive," says singer Tarrus Riley, referring to his newest album, Contagious, which should hit CD changers this summer.

The project, the third in his catalogue, is obviously a special one for the artiste. The smile on his face as he shares the journey which brought him to Contagious, originates from a heart filled with music.

"Mi really like how it sounds so far. We have good love songs, we have good reality songs; the lyrics and the melodies; good songwriting. Yeah, mi like it, mi nah tell no lie," he said with infectious enthusiasm.

Riley says he is pleasantly surprised at how much he has grown as a songwriter.

"I'm writing some good stories," he says. 'Stories' like S Craving, The Visit and Young Heart, all tracks from the album which he points out will not be a compilation of singles, but will offer "different tempos and collaborations".

Not just songs

"When the album comes out is new songs, it's not just songs you hear pon the radio and then get them on CD like a mixed tape."

Riley has again enlisted producer Dean Fraser's Cannon Productions, which presented his second album, 2006's Parables, which propelled him to iconic status.

With gems like Lion Paw and the cover of John Legend's Stay With You, Parables remains on the lips of music lovers. Riley is not surprised.

"The music I'm making is for people to keep listening; not just to listen today and tomorrow it is out of style," he stressed. "Me a mek it fi a lifetime. Me a do it so that our youths them can come listen my music."

And he has no problem singing it for them either.

"Me name Singy-Singy. I love to sing. I'm one of the people who are privileged to say my work is my play and my play is my work."

According to the dreadlocked Riley, many of the songs on Parables are just getting popular, so he will be singing them way into the summer when he leaves for his second tour.

Very creative

But can Contagious replicate the regal success of its predecessor? "It's for the people to listen and make their choice. It's very creative and people who love music and love to listen outside of the box will love it 'cause it's nothing regular," he reasoned.

Though fans have waited almost three years for another Tarrus fix, he says that's a good thing.

"An album is a personal thing - very intimate so you take your time. Mi nuh waan mek nuh fast-food music, mi waan mek health-food music and still mek it tasty; an mi want it last," he said.

The success of Parables introduced Tarrus Riley as not just a singer of potential but a complex weaver of musical tales. He has managed to keep grounded.

"I make music for the moods; I make people feel good, that is the best thing. It makes me work harder, makes me humbler," he says.