Reggae stalwart Bugle recently completed an action-packed promotional run in New York City and Hartford to commemorate the release of his brand new critically-acclaimed album Picture Perfect (An9ted Ent / VPAL Music). It was right off the flight from Kingston, Jamaica and straight to NYC’s Power 105.1 (owned by iHeartMedia) for an interview with the Urban contemporary station’s Sunday night reggae/dancehall jock, DJ Norie. Following the radio visit, Bugle attended a late-night album launch event at the East Village lounge Bar 13, where he treated the full house to a freestyle at the conclusion of the evening. The event was hosted by SiriusXM’s DJ Gringo, who would interview Bugle later in the week at the satellite radio giant’s midtown Manhattan headquarters. Bugle also met with SiriusXM The Joint’s Program Director Pat McKay to discuss the new album.
The week continued with stops at the Brooklyn basement studios of Power Of Reggae radio with Father German, an interview with K-Flash at internet station JA Irie Radio, a conversation with Splackavelli at Caribbean Power Jam Radio, trips to Connecticut for Energy Radio and Busy Radio, and multiple visits to NYC reggae mainstay Irie Jam radio, among others. Taking an interest in the business side of things, the singer also passed through the Queens headquarters of his distributor VPAL Music (a subsidiary of VP Records) and music streaming platform Audiomack to strategize on playlist and promotional campaigns.
The celebrations were capitalized with an album listening event at Sandz Bar and Grill, hosted by SoundChat Radio’s Garfield “Chin” Bourne, who also interviewed the singer at the venue, and later that week at SoundChat Radio’s Queens studio. Bugle capped off the party with a special performance of his new anthem “Life Savior,” where he was joined onstage by the song’s featured guest vocalists, Noah Powa and Norman Alexander. Never losing focus on the mission, Bugle then took a pre-dawn trek to Hartford’s HOT 93.7 for an interview on the station’s “Reggae Ride to Work” drive-time segment with the Hot Morning Crew (DJ Buck, Nancy Barrow, Stevey Newnez), before returning to NYC to spend the rest of the day filming the official video for “Live Savior.”
“We definitely had a solid, well-received week of promotion,” said Bugle. “We got the people’s attention and that’s what we were looking for. Thanks to all of the radio stations and everybody who participated to make this initiative work. Big up Irish and Chin, the whole An9ted team, Prism Marketing, VPAL Distribution, Spoonfed Entertainment — it mek me wah stay pon di road and promote more.”
Bugle’s team captured the full week of promo activities in a slickly-edited video that the artist released on his VEVO / YouTube channel. Fans and media can check the recap here: Bugle NYC/Hartford Promo Trip
Picture Perfect is a masterfully crafted compendium and arguably Bugle’s best work yet, in spite of the stellar effort on previous offerings Anointed (2014) and Be Yourself (2017). The project boasts a solid cast featuring Jada Kingdom, Kabaka Pyramid, Little Lion Sound (based in Switzerland) Noah Powa, Shuga, New York-based Norman Alexander, and Gramps Morgan. Even more impressive is the plethora of production virtuosos who contributed to the compilation — among them, Grammy Award-winning father and son duo Erroll and Shane Brown. Erroll Brown has worked with a cadre of reggae luminaries and was the chief engineer for Bob Marley (1978-1981), while Shane, who also boasts an impressive résumé, was instrumental in Shaggy’s Diamond-selling, Grammy-winning album Hot Shots.
Picture Perfect tracklisting:
- Intro (feat. Ras Shadaai)
- Educated Dunce
- Encouragement (feat. Gramps Morgan)
- Picture Perfect (feat. Jada Kingdom)
- Next of Kin
- Memories
- 24hrs
- Rise Again (feat. Kabaka Pyramid)
- Hungry Days
- Life Savior (feat. Noah Powa & Norman Alexander)
- Dancehall Style
- Zaddy
- My Way (feat. Little Lion Sound)
- Replay
- Stereotype
- Unbothered
- Celebration
- What is Life
- Focus
- Appreciation