D’yani and Remus Burrell Set June Release for Reggae Single Journey

Reggae artiste D’yani has teamed with Kareem “Remus” Burrell, son of noted Xterminator Records founder Phillip ‘Fatis’ Burrell, on a new single both collaborators see as an important step in their careers.

The song, titled Journey, is set for release across digital services on June 5. It will introduce D’yani’s upcoming album, Live Life and Prosper.

For Burrell, who is building XTM.Nation while carrying forward a major reggae family legacy, the link with D’yani has felt purposeful from the start. “Working with D’yani on Journey was a special experience because there’s a genuine chemistry between us whenever we create music,” Burrell said. “Nothing feels forced. We trust each other creatively, and that allows the songs to develop naturally.”

Journey was recorded at Tuff Gong Studios. The production places D’yani’s emotive delivery alongside layered instrumentation and harmonies from Sherieta Lewis, Roselyn Williams and Tamekia Moncrieffe. Burrell said their contribution gave the record an expansive vocal lift. “The way they blended together was powerful. In a way, it felt much bigger than three voices,” he said.

The track is built around reflection, resilience and hope, drawing from D’yani’s own path through good and difficult seasons. “Journey is a very personal song for me,” the singer explained. “It came from real-life experiences — the ups, the downs, the growth, the losses, the blessings, everything that shapes you along the way. I wasn’t trying to force a story, I was simply speaking my truth.”

He said the aim was to make a record that listeners could sit with while still feeling lifted. “Sonically, we wanted it to feel uplifting and soulful, something people could reflect on but still feel good listening to.”

Live Life and Prosper is expected this summer through UK-based YE/Lizzy Records. D’yani said Journey pushes further into the feeling that helped widen his audience before. “After the love people showed to The Little Things, I hope Journey gives fans something deeper to hold onto,” he said. “I want people to hear it and feel encouraged through whatever season of life they’re in. Everybody’s journey is different, but we all go through moments that test us and help us grow.”

D’yani and Burrell have already found strong results together. Their earlier single, Live A Little, broke through with more than seven million YouTube views and over 3.4 million Spotify streams, while also reaching listeners outside Jamaica.

The record drew notice from DJ Khaled, the internationally known producer and media figure, who shared it several times with his large Instagram audience. “To date, Live A Little would be my biggest production commercially and in terms of audience growth, with 18 million streams across all digital platforms,” Burrell said. “The track established a clear creative direction for D’yani and laid the foundation for the album we are working on.”

Burrell’s rise also carries weight because of his father’s place in reggae history. The late Phillip ‘Fatis’ Burrell was a key producer in the digital reggae era, helping guide artistes such as Luciano, Mikey General and Sizzla, while making Xterminator Records one of Jamaican music’s respected labels.

Phillip Burrell died in 2011, but his son said the example he left remains central to how he works. “Growing up around my father, I had a front-row seat to the way he approached music and artists,” he said. “More than the hits and accolades, he taught me the importance of quality, authenticity and staying true to the message in the music.”

Remus Burrell said another lesson from his father was that music should give people strength. “As creators, we have a responsibility to contribute something positive to the world,” he said. “Whether it’s hope, inspiration, encouragement, or simply helping someone through a difficult moment, music can have a real impact on people’s lives.”

“Walking in my father’s footsteps is both an honour and a responsibility. While I want to build my own path through XTM.Nation, the values remain the same: creating timeless music, supporting great artists and making records that move people in a positive way.”

That outlook fits D’yani’s own direction as an artiste. Since breaking out in the post-pandemic period in 2022, he has been regarded among Jamaica’s emerging contemporary voices.

His wider recognition began with Feelings (Remix), featuring Jada Kingdom. He later grew his catalogue and fan base with songs including Señorita, Goddess, Birthday, Lock and Key and Ride It.

D’yani’s momentum has also put him on major stages in the region and overseas. His performances have included Reggae Sumfest, Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival, St Kitts Music Festival, Barbados Reggae Weekend and London’s City Splash Festival.

With Live Life and Prosper on the way and their studio partnership gaining more attention, D’yani and Burrell say this period marks only the beginning of what they are building. “I’m really excited for the coming months,” D’yani said. “Not just for people to hear more music, but for them to fully experience the world we’ve been building with Live Life and Prosper. There’s a lot more to come.”