Caleb Hart, a talented performer known for his vibrant and diverse sound, is excited to release his seventh album, EMANCIPATION. Produced by Jamaican-Canadian musician Jayden Brown, this album highlights Hart’s creativity and love for music, which he has shared with fans worldwide for over 12 years. Born and raised on the beautiful island of Tobago, Hart has a natural gift for captivating audiences with his energetic live shows. With an impressive history of over 1,150 performances across Canada and countries like Australia, the USA, New Zealand, Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean, Caleb Hart continues to prove that live music is thriving.
Cocomyrrh: What inspired the album?
Caleb Hart: There are so many answers that I can give. All the songs are so unique. I think the number one inspiration for the album and how quickly it got done is probably how connected I felt with the producer, Jayden Brown. He’s almost a decade younger than me but one of the most talented and sweet humans I’ve ever met or worked with. As much as this was a collaborative effort, Jayden’s production quality and speed made Emancipation happen.
Cocomyrrh: How long have you been doing music?
Caleb Hart: My entire life. I was four or five years old when I decided I wanted to do music forever. It hasn’t been an easy road at all but I am thankful for the opportunity and longevity.
Cocomyrrh: When did you know you wanted to do music?
Caleb Hart: I was at Coaching School (football / soccer) in Tobago and heard the song ‘Hills & Valleys’ by Buju Banton blasting from a house or car nearby… the rest is history. That day I fell in love with music and knew I wanted to make people feel the way that song made me feel in that moment.
Cocomyrrh: Emancipation is your seventh album. Wow! That’s quite a milestone. What does reaching this milestone mean to you?
Caleb Hart: To be honest, it should / could be my fifteenth or twentieth album by now, if being an independent artiste wasn’t so difficult. Music flows out of me almost daily. I have dozens of unreleased / recorded songs, dozens of demos and hundreds of voice notes of ideas. I have also freestyled at least one song in every one of my 1160+ performances (since 2013) So, as much as Emancipation being my 7th record is incredible and I’m very proud of it – there is a lot more to come!!!
Cocomyrrh: What was your first album titled and how has your sound evolved since then?
Caleb Hart: My first album was a 5 song EP with Tasman Jude called ‘El Norteno’ – I was working at an authentic Mexican spot in Grande Prairie, Alberta at the time and that was the name. The customers and owner were extremely supportive of my music so encouraged me to record something, so my tips and a donation from James (the owner) ended up funding it, in exchange, we honored that by naming the album after the restaurant. I think my sound has evolved naturally; I’m better now than I was in 2013 when that record came out. Between that reality and always wanting to explore other genres, it’s inevitable to grow.
Cocomyrrh: What challenges did you face creating your first project? Does it get easier along the line? I mean the creative process.
Caleb Hart: Well, we recorded it in a basement that felt like I was trapped. I remember not being able to give as good of a vocal performance as I’d have preferred because of it. We did thing very grassroots. We had to. We wrote the songs in the farmer’s market where I worked and freestyled on stage etc. We couldn’t afford a rehearsal space or professional studio. So, we did what we could with what we had and that record ended up debuting #2 on the iTunes reggae charts! Once you’re a bit more established it becomes a little easier to execute the creativity, but at the same time, every year life gets more expensive. It’s a never-ending cycle, really.
Cocomyrrh: “Voices” is a nice track. Might actually be my favorite. What’s your favorite track in Emancipation? And why?
Caleb Hart: I’ve been thinking about this almost daily since the record was completed. They’re all so unique but if I had to choose, it would be a toss-up between Voices and Riddim Man. Voices is me in my most transparent lyrical element and Jayden’s production is absolutely preposterous on it. Riddim Man is my roots and that is made evident in the song as it’s completely freestyled. I walked into the studio and 5 minutes later, my part was done. It’s real and rootsy. I love it.
Cocomyrrh: Why reggae?
Caleb Hart: Reggae music is my first love. I love all the genres that I experiment with but at the end of the day, I always “forward to d roots” of reggae music. The musicality, lyricism, consciousness and feel… it’s just the sweetest music on earth, in my opinion.
Cocomyrrh: It’s really commendable that you’ve performed live so many times across the globe. That’s an incredible feat.
How do you manage to deliver captivating performance every time?
Caleb Hart: Performing is an extension of my being. When I get on a stage, I have the honour of showcasing my most authentic and vulnerable self. It’s intense but beautiful. The interlude on Emancipation ‘X-ray’ kind of touches on that reality.
Cocomyrrh: Can you share some of the countries you’ve visited during your tour and which location left a long-lasting impression on your music?
Caleb Hart: I’ve had the honor of playing shows in multiple countries. Australia was the place that showed the most love in the early days. We were performing for thousands one night and then dozens the next and it was all beautiful. Performing at home in Trinidad and Tobago has always been extremely special as well. If I had to choose one spot it would probably be the Kingdom of Hawai’i. We were invited by the King to perform in a part of Hawai’i that has not been colonized by USA (or anyone). It was right next to an active volcano and while performing, she began to erupt. It was so powerful.
Cocomyrrh: What next? Do you have any project or shows coming up?
Caleb Hart: Always! My new band Sonic Alley is dropping our first single in 2025. We’ll be touring extensively and continuing to record and release more music. I also have a ton of collaborations coming out in 2025 too. Genre blending gorgeousness. I’m excited for the world to hear it!
‘Emancipation’ is available on all major streaming platforms. Join Caleb Hart on this exciting new chapter as he sets the stage for a musical experience like no other.
More information, upcoming shows, and the new album, please visit https://linktr.ee/iamcalebhart
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