For Sheldon Shepherd, his birthday is as much about giving as receiving. Today, Friday, September 18, the Jamaican dub poet, actor, and multidisciplinary artist continues a personal tradition of marking his birthday by giving something of himself, with the worldwide release of his new album, Give Thanks.
“I started a thing years ago where I ‘give’ on my birthday as a way to show how grateful I am for the support I have received in this life,”
Shepherd explains. “It is more mystical and divine than anything else. I don’t take the credit for this album.” It came to and through me, as opposed to from me, like a conduit or vessel.”
That philosophy of gratitude leads the project, as the lingua – Give Thanks retains a distinctive Jamaican/Rastafari sound. The 11-track project features 10 dub poetry recordings and a special reasoning with the late Jamaican visual artist and cultural icon Neville Garrick.
Ahead of its worldwide release, Give Thanks was introduced to audiences through listening events in both London and Kingston. The London listening event offered an early international introduction to the project, followed by an intimate gathering at the Philip Sherlock Centre for the Creative Arts at The University of the West Indies, Mona, where Shepherd shared the album with a Jamaican audience and offered insight into the experiences and ideas that shaped the work.
Known internationally as a member of the acclaimed dub poetry group No-Maddz and for his work across theatre, film and the visual arts, Shepherd has built a creative practice that resists easy categorization. Through Give Thanks, Sheldon pays homage to Jamaica’s dub poetry tradition, honouring dub poets like Oko Onouro, Mutabarulka, Linton Kwesi Johnson, and Sheldon’s own father, Keith Shepherd.
The album’s release on Shepherd’s Earthstrong offers media and audiences a chance to join in that spirit of giving and gratitude. Radio presenters and DJs are being encouraged to mark the occasion by selecting a track from Give Thanks, sharing it with their audiences and sending Shepherd an Earthstrong greeting.
Rather than prescribing a single song, the initiative invites selectors to explore the album and choose the work that speaks most strongly to them, allowing different tracks from the project to find their way into the public space.
Give Thanks is available worldwide from Friday, September 18, on major digital streaming platforms.
