Never Ending is reggae artist Beres Hammond's nineteenth studio album, released on October 12, 2018. It debuted at number one on the Billboard Reggae chart. The 14-track album was recorded in Kingston, Jamaica.[2][3]
Background
Themes on the album include love, overcoming obstacles and celebrating life.[4]Never Ending includes a love song about Jamaica called "Land of Sunshine." The lead single, "I'm Alive", is a 21st-century 'roots' track with Hammond singing praises for life's simple and essential joys. "My Kinda Girl" is an example of modern lovers rock – a sub genre of reggae for which the artist is known.[5][6] Hammond is known to be in the studio three or four times a week when he is in Jamaica. He records songs based on events that happen naturally in life. He is known to visit people - whom he does not know – but who enjoy sharing stories about their lives with him. He internalizes those experiences and records them in song.[7]
The visual for the "Never Ending" music video was directed by RD Studios and portrays Hammond's childhood. Fans are shown the beginning of his love for music to his current-day performing in front of Harmony House – his recording studio on Dumbarton Avenue. Throughout the four-minute video, artistes influenced by Hammond make a cameo. They include Jah Cure, Alborosie, Romain Virgo, Christopher Martin, Shenseea, Jesse Royal, Bulby York, Kurt Riley, and Teflon Zinc Fence.[8]
Never Ending Tour 2019 of the United States and Canada started on July 27 from Danbury Connecticut, U.S.A., and stopped in Baltimore, Cincinnati, Chicago, Boston, Toronto, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Newark, Huntington (New York), Richmond (Virginia), Washington DC, Norfolk (Virginia), Charlotte (North Carolina), Atlanta, Orlando, and Fort Lauderdale.[9][10]
^Gardy, Kimberely (2018-10-30). "ALBUM REVIEW: BERES HAMMOND - NEVER ENDING". ReggaeVille. Retrieved 2021-03-17. As usual, the thematic direction is clear as well: of the 14 songs included, 9 circle around the subject of love and romance. "Land of Sunshine", also released as single, is a musical love letter to Jamaica, stressing the beauty of the island and its people despite poverty and ongoing political struggles. "Survival" is a rallying call for all the troubled souls out there, while "Lose It All" is a warning to not build your house on sand.
^Jackson, Kevin (2018-10-04). "Beres's Never Ending hunt for glory". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 2021-03-16. "The album features 14 songs, mainly about love and social issues.
^Small, Kimberely (2018-10-12). "Young crooners and music stalwarts celebrate Beres' 'Never Ending'". The Gleaner. Retrieved 2021-03-16. Fans may be accustomed to hearing the singer's sweet, romantic serenade, and they will get that on this new album. In addition, Never Ending also includes a love song about Jamaica in the form of "Land of Sunshine". The first single, "I'm Alive", is a 21st-century 'roots' track, with Beres singing praises for life's simple and essential joys.
^Johnson, Richard (2018-11-04). "Beres sends love". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 2021-03-16. "Over the years I have made it a practice to record three or four times a week, once I'm in Jamaica. I just make songs. I don't record like I am doing this concept and the album is going to be about these songs... no. Everyday of my life is a concept. You go outta street and you see people and you don't know what their thoughts are ... it's those things that log inna my head, so when I come into the studio I just let all that out, let it flow," he told the Jamaica Observer.
^Small, Kimberely (2018-10-12). "Young crooners and music stalwarts celebrate Beres' 'Never Ending'". The Gleaner. Retrieved 2021-03-16. The visual, directed by RD Studios, wanted to portray Hammond's childhood and the beginning of his love for music to his current-day performing in front of his Dumbarton Avenue studio - Harmony House. Throughout the four-minute video, artistes influenced by Beres make a cameo. They include Jah Cure, Alborosie, Romain Virgo, Christopher Martin, Shenseea, Jesse Royal, Bulby York, Kurt Riley, and Teflon Zinc Fence.
^Campbell, Howard (2019-08-30). "Beres wraps up Never Ending Tour". JamaicaObserver. Retrieved 2022-03-16. Beres Hammond closed his Never Ending Tour of the United States and Canada on Wednesday with a show celebrating his 64th birthday at Racket, a club in the trendy Miami district of Wynwood.
^SFCN, Editorial (2019-07-25). "Beres Hammond Embarks On Summer 2019 "Never Ending" Tour". South Florida Caribbean News. Retrieved 2022-03-16. Reggae legend Beres Hammond will begin his Summer 2019 "Never Ending" Tour this Saturday July 27th in Danbury Connecticut.