BERMUDA'S own "Reggae Torch" is burning brightly once again. Local musician Clinark Dill is having a launch party for his new album, Journey to Foreign, at Snorkel Park in Dockyard tomorrow from 12.30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Speaking about the new album, Mr. Dill said: "This album is the culmination of hard work and dedication that goes back years. The album has a number of collaborations on it. Some of the collaborations include reggae stars Luciano, Gramps and Peter Morgan from the band Morgan Heritage, Maxi Priest, Richie Spice, Irie Love and Bermudian Troy Anthony.

"VP Records, the world's largest distributor for reggae, is also going to distribute the album worldwide which is a real nice feeling."

Mr. Dill, who received the nickname "The Reggae Torch" after a line in his song Inspirational Prayer, is no stranger to the music industry having been making music since he was 15 and started his first band, Youth Creation.

Youth Creation was perhaps the most widely known Bermuda reggae band of the 1980s. They produced a single, Come in de Land, in 1985 and a full album, Jah is on Our Side, in 1987.

With such songs as We Must Fight Against Apartheid and World Wide Problems and Drug Population, Mr. Dill and Youth Creation put their name on the reggae map and helped to introduce Bermuda reggae to the rest of the world. They toured twice-yearly and opened for such big names as Ziggy Marley, Steel Pulse, Dennis Brown, and Tenor Saw.

In 1990 Mr. Dill left Youth Creation and started a nine-piece band called Studio Six. That group disbanded in 1993 and in 1995 Mr. Dill joined local reggae band Jahstice.

Jahstice dominated the music scene in Bermuda and opened up for numerous international reggae acts such as superstar Beenie Man.

Jahstice and Mr. Dill also played in the Reggae Ambassadors Worldwide Showcase in Salt Lake City, Utah, and North Carolina in 1996 and 1997. They have also been to Barbados and represented Bermuda at the Caribbean Song Festival.

In 1999, Mr. Dill left Jahstice because of a previous back injury which had now become such a problem that it left him unable to perform on stage.

In 2002, Mr. Dill was diagnosed with having an extreme form of vertigo, which for two years had affected him so severely he was unable to work.

Mr. Clark said his healh improved after seeing a naturopath, who treated him with natural agents such as air, water, and herbs and physical therapy.

The following year Mr. Dill was on the rebound and was asked by former Jahstice keyboardist and songwriter Antwon Pitt to form a duo called African Descendants.

At that time Mr. Dill decided to change his stage name to Dill-in-Jah and in December 2004 he released the hit single Dem Come, a song he describes as being about world peace.

The song was well received and fans labelled him "The New Garnett Silk" after the famous reggae star. Garnett Silk, known for his smooth voice and positive musical messages, who was killed in a house fire at his home in December 2004 in Jamaica.

In 2004 Mr. Dill was invited by his new manager, Juliet Edwards, to go to London to record a couple of tracks with drummer and producer Tony (Technical-T) Edwards and Rob Edwards, Jr.

The team quickly bonded and soon formed the independent record label Nurture Projects. During that time Mr. Dill went back to using his former stage name Clinark because people were confusing him with reggae superstar Dillinger.

In April, 2006 Mr. Dill took an 18-track demo he had produced to renowned reggae producers Mafia and Fluxy in London.The producers instantly recognised the talent they had in the form of Mr. Dill and quickly signed on to produce Journey to Foreign, a contemporary roots reggae and lovers' rock album.

Mr. Dill worked on a collaborative project with a six-piece band from Holland called Poor Mans Friend. They performed at the prominent venue Groene Engel in the Netherlands and recorded the concert for a live album entitled Clinark Live in Holland with Poor Mans Friend Band.

The success of the live album along with that of the hit single Dem Come put Mr. Dill back in the spotlight. Fans have been eagerly awaiting the release of Journey to Foreign.

The wait is over this weekend.

Tomorrow Bermudians are invited to the release party for Mr. Dill's new album at Snorkel Park.

Speaking about the launch party, Mr. Dill said: "On Saturday we are going to have a great time and people should come to the event. We have a number of notable guests flying in to perform with me such as Peter and Gramps from Morgan Heritage as well as rising star Irie Love from Hawaii.

"We also have a number of Bermudian artists who will be there performing which include Troy Anthony, Fire Kid, Zenji San and Buck Wild."

Mr. Dill wants people to know that if they attend his show they will still be able to make the Alicia Keys concert at the Bermuda Music Festival that night.

"The release party ends at 7 which will leave plenty of time for people to make the Alicia Keys gig," Mr. Dill said.

"People looking for a fun time with great music should come to the launch party. We have food and drink and there will be great music throughout the day. The party starts at 12.30 but the music will start at three and run till seven."

Mr. Dill said that if people are serious about getting into music. they should never give up.

He said: "I have always wanted to do music. I have a great love for it.

If people want to get into music then follow your dreams and follow your goals. You have to have a passion and love for it. Stick with it and never give up."