Mark Da Urban says becoming a dancehall artiste was never about limiting himself. It was about giving people one sound to associate with his name.
Speaking to MC Casmir, the singer revealed that he records music across several genres, including Amapiano, Afrobeat, Lingala, Reggae, Rhumba and Bossa Nova.
Even with that range, he made a conscious decision to build his brand around dancehall.
I sing a lot of genres. I have songs in Amapiano, Afrobeat and Lingala. I do a lot of styles, but I chose Mark Da Urban to be a dancehall brand.
That decision has shaped how audiences see him, but it has not changed what happens behind the scenes.
Mark says he continues to explore different sounds and remains open to writing for artists working outside dancehall.
If anybody wants me to write them a song in Afrobeat, Amapiano, Reggae, Rhumba or Bossa Nova, I can write for them.
To Mark Da Urban, branding and ability are two different things. Dancehall is the identity he wants listeners to remember, while his songwriting extends well beyond a single genre.