Ras-I announces Heart of Love album for May 15 release

Jamaican singer-songwriter Ras-I has set a clear date for his next chapter: Heart of Love, his third studio album, will be released worldwide on May 15, 2026. The announcement, made January 16, places a 13-track collection into the center of what promises to be a busy year for selectors, DJs, and reggae radio programmers looking for new roots-conscious material with contemporary energy.

Heart of Love maps a broad emotional terrain—romantic, spiritual, ancestral, communal and self-reflective love—while sonically weaving classic reggae traditions with contemporary Afro-Caribbean rhythms and soul influences. That balance keeps Ras-I on the conscious lane he’s become known for, but pushes arrangements toward a modern, playlist-ready sound that can sit comfortably between sound system sets and late-night streaming rotations.

Named guest contributors give the project regional heft. Featured artists include Kabaka Pyramid, Govana, Khalia and Nesta, signaling collaborations that bridge the conscious and dancehall-minded corners of the scene. Those pairings will be watched closely by DJs and festival bookers who follow cut timing and guest turns as indicators of how tracks will perform live and on radio.

The rollout has already begun. Single “Reggae Mountain” has been released to introduce the project, with “Forever and Always” and “These Are The Days” slated as upcoming singles. The album is available for pre-save on major streaming platforms, enabling playlists and chart tracking to pick up momentum prior to the May release. Pre-saving also ensures listeners get immediate access the moment the project drops, and helps selectors plan sets around confirmed download and streaming data.

Heart of Love follows Ras-I’s previous studio albums Tsojourna (2019) and Kingman (2021). Between records he has built a strong festival pedigree, appearing at Reggae Sumfest, Rebel Salute, Reggae Sunsplash, Tosh Fest, Reggae Geel, City Splash and SXSW London. That festival experience suggests many of the new tracks were road-tested or written with live dynamics in mind, a useful signal for promoters and sound systems booking shows this summer and fall.

For the community this release offers both immediate listening pleasure and practical opportunities. DJs can begin cueing singles into dubplates and mixes as soon as each release drops. Promoters should note the May date when aligning bookings for summer festivals and club nights. Fans who follow roots-conscious songwriting will find material to fit both mellow listening and high-energy stage moments.

What comes next is straightforward: pre-save Heart of Love, watch for the upcoming singles, and expect Ras-I to carry these new songs into the festival season. The album is positioned to deepen his catalogue and give selectors and listeners fresh, emotionally grounded reggae for playlists, sets and sound system sessions.