On Friday 17th of September Peace of Mind by Blue Shepherd goes up on all digital platforms. It’s the second single released this year by North Italy-based musicians and sound system operators – following Kali Weed (ft. Ranking Delah) – and it represents an addition to the musical puzzle that Blue Shepherd has been making in the past two years. The release is to be interpreted as a part of the independent label Tuff Wash Records’ wider research process. After Afrodisia (June 2020) and Kali Weed (January 2021), Peace of Mind lets different kinds of aspects emerge from the same Jamaican inspiration. The major chords, Eddie T-Bone’s clean and distant trombone, and the more relaxing bpms make this release the brightest and most limpid in Blue Shepherd’s discography: the Caribbean’s in September, summer’s aftermath.

Peace of Mind was originally composed to be put in Reggae Against Cancer, a playlist released last April, a proud example of selfless collaboration and mutual aid. The venture, thought and managed by Riverside Sound System (Lugano, Switzerland), has been able to sell a limited number of copies of seven different 10” vinyl records – and an all-including digital playlist – to raise funds for Lugano-based Green Hope Association, that is dedicated to giving ill children and their families the chance to do some healthy sports activities and share untroubled moments. Peace of Mind opened a rich 10” vinyl that also featured Don Fe (Spain-based UK-born producer), Monkey Jhayam (Brazil), and SoulLion (Switzerland)ft. Sista Awa (Italy). Vinyl records went sold out in just a few days, but the digital playlist is still available on Riverside Sound System’s Bandcamp.

This single release comes with an inevitable dub version – otherwise, it would not be a reggae release –, Peace of Dub, where Dr. Mel really works with the mixer, in weeks in which touching that equipment evokes more than ever Lee “Scratch” Perry’s image. Recorded, mixed, and mastered by Dr. Mel at Mystic Laundry Studio, Peace of Mind promises a lighthearted distraction, and does not fail to keep it: it’s out on the 17th of September, and rumor has it that more news is to be expected sooner than November from Tuff Wash Records.