Renowned East African Artist
BRUCE MELODIE
Joins Forces with Reggae Icon
SHAGGY
For New Single ‘When She’s Around (Funga Macho)’
Bruce Melodie, one of East Africa’s most celebrated artists, has teamed up with global dancehall/reggae icon, Shaggy for a groundbreaking collaboration with their new track, ‘When She’s Around (Funga Macho).’ Fusing the best of African rhythms and reggae vibes, the genre-defying song – now available on all digital platforms via S-Curve Records – showcases the rich diversity of contemporary music and is accompanied by a playful music video, captured in Miami Beach and directed by Jay Will (M.I.A, Lee Scratch Perry, Kayne West, Shaggy & Major Lazer), which will premiere at 5PM GMT today.
‘When She’s Around (Funga Macho),’ produced by AJR, is a testament to the power of collaboration, transcending geographical boundaries to create a seamless blend of African and Caribbean influences, infectious melodies and rhythms. The song not only celebrates the unique talents of Bruce Melodie and Shaggy but also signifies a cultural exchange that invites listeners to explore the shared emotions and experiences that connect us all.
Poised to be the first breakout Afrobeats artist from East Africa, Bruce Melodie expresses his excitement about the partnership, stating, “Collaborating with Shaggy has been a dream come true. It’s an incredible opportunity to bring our distinct styles together. “When She’s Around (Funga Macho)” is a fusion of our worlds and I’m excited for fans around the world to hear it.”
Shaggy adds, “Bruce’s talent is undeniable and this collaboration opens up new horizons for both of us. I’m thrilled to be a part of this project and hope it spreads joy and happiness the world over.”
The duo recently made their live performance debut of ‘When She’s Around (Funga Macho)’ on the inaugural Trace Music Awards which broadcasted in over a dozen countries, further solidifying Bruce’s position as a rising star in the International music scene.
ABOUT BRUCE MELODIE:
Born and raised in Kigali, Rwanda, Bruce Melodie has cemented his name into East African music history with his diverse talents as a singer-songwriter, composer, and producer. Renowned for his distinctive blend of R&B, Pop, Afrobeats and Amapiano, Melodie has achieved remarkable success on the African music scene earning a multitude of accolades including multiple wins at The Choice Awards (2021, 2022) as well as participating in the Coke Studio Africa campaign in 2017. He has also won the Superstar Award from Primus Guma Guma, the most prestigious music competition in Rwanda.
ABOUT SHAGGY:
Born Orville Richard Burrell and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, Shaggy got his start as an MC in New York City’s burgeoning dancehall scene soon after moving to Brooklyn in his teens. Not long after serving four years in the U.S. Marines (including two tours of duty in the Middle East as part of Operation Desert Storm), he inked his first record deal and quickly scored a global crossover smash with ‘Oh Carolina.’
As the only diamond-selling dancehall artist in music history, Shaggy, managed by Martin Kierszenbaum/Cherrytree Music Company, has sold more than 40 million album units to date, in addition to landing 8 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 and 7 albums on the Billboard 200 (including 4 in the top 40). He has received 2 Grammy Awards and is among the top 3 streamed reggae artists of all time on Spotify.
Connect with Shaggy
My life is a soundtrack, i track my life through music, photography is my passion, my escape, my expression. Without both i have pieces missing, thankfully i’m blessed and get to combine both.
Born in Manchester, lived in Australia for 22 years where i was heavily involved in the Australian Music Industry, firstly in bands (Singer) and then managing bands (all original), I moved back to the UK, Wales specifically 10 years ago
