Iba Mahr keeps rising

• Album on the way, new production team promises much

Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer

He may have been a guest performer at the November 1 album launch of fellow singer Prophecy, but roots artiste Iba Mahr all but stole the show with a riveting 10-minute set.

Wearing a beret a la Latin American revolutionary Che Guevara, Iba Mahr did his latest songs, Will I Wait and Sound a Alarm, in a staccato-type delivery that had an appreciative gathering buzzing.

Both songs were produced by Born Rolling Productions which is headed by Roland McDermott and Jermaine Edwards. The duo did similar duties for Born Free, another new cut from the Afrocentric artiste.

The 24-year-old Iba Mahr wrote the songs which are a feeder for his debut album, expected to be out in 2012.

Will I Wait is about a rejected suitor while Sound a Alarm is a call for the populace to take issues into their own hands and stop depending on politicians.

"I love to express how I feel when I write and it can be about whatever inspires me at the time," he said. "There's nothing static about my writing, it's a dynamic thing for me."

Most ambitious

The recordings for Born Rolling Productions are Iba Mahr's most ambitious to date. They feature the rising Dubtonic Kru, Cutting Edge and Firehouse Crew, the last of the three being a big part of the success Sizzla and Luciano enjoyed during the last decade.

Prior to his link with Born Rolling, Iba Mahr had recorded for singer/producer Max Romeo, who produced his first song, Had It and Lost It, in 2007.

The following year he followed up with Where You Are for Phillip 'Fattis' Burrell's Xterminator Records.

Iba Mahr was born Mario Greaves in Cheesefield, a district in Linstead, St Catherine. He says ever since his years at Charlemont and Dinthill high schools, he was influenced by the message of Rastafarian artistes like Peter Tosh, Burning Spear and Hugh Mundell.

"They had something positive to say and that suited me. As a songwriter I try to keep things positive and real," he said.

Four years ago, Iba Mahr left Linstead to attend the University of Technology where he studied for a degree in computing and computer technology. He said financial difficulties caused him to leave while in the third year of the programme.

While he still hopes to complete his academic goal, Iba Mahr says he is also driven to record the kind of songs his heroes made back in the day.

And keep busy as a live act as well.

Iba Mahr is scheduled to perform with Lutan Fyah and Cali P on Friday on the Plug 'N' Play series at the Wyndham Kingston Hotel.