Professor Trevor Smith has released his debut reggae album, ' What is Love' . Smith, a professor of marketing and consumer behaviour at The University of the West Indies, Mona, has combined his passion for music with his academic prowess, creating a unique blend of reggae and jazz influences that explores the complexities of love. Dubbed The Singing Professor, Smith has infused his academic smarts into his music.
"Music has become a source of happiness and completeness for me," he shares. Smith's unexpected journey into music began in May 2023 when his friend, DJ Floyd, dared him to sing an old tune. Shortly thereafter, what started as a light-hearted challenge quickly turned into a new-found passion.
"I decided to pursue music as a hobby and my initial plan was to sing just for fun. As such, it was never about pursuing music alongside my academic career," Smith said. His first song, Oh Mama , written in 2023, was a tribute to his late mother who passed on during the COVID-19 period.
Singing then became more than just a hobby. Interestingly, he draws a parallel between his love for mathematics and his music. "Mathematics has helped me fit beats and melodies to lyrics," he explains, noting the structural and patterned similarities between the two disciplines.
He sees both music and math as universal languages that require discipline, creativity, and precision. Despite his background in marketing and consumer behaviour, the Singing Professor admits that these fields haven't yet influenced his approach to music. "To be honest my background in marketing and consumer behaviour has not influence my approach to music - at least not so far, as to-date, this has been about fun and the love for music," he says, though he acknowledges that he is beginning to explore the music market more seriously.
Through What is Love , he conveys a message of love in its many forms. The album, released on August 8, features 10 tracks that explore themes ranging from romantic love to love for family and country. Songs like Something 'Bout the Music and Luv U Jamaica express deep affection for music and Jamaica, while tracks like Oh Mama and Daddy Did You Know pay tribute to his parents.
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