Ryan Mark

Stepping outside the box ahead of his sixth wedding anniversary and Valentine's Day, gospel artiste Ryan Mark has done a love song.

Mark said he decided to do the song, Very Special, after building a rhythm that he thought would be fitting for a song of this nature. Initially, he said the intention was to get a secular artiste to sing the song but changed his mind. "I am married. I have a wife, so if anyone should do this, it should be me," he said, noting that he would be celebrating his sixth wedding anniversary to wife Chrissy D on Valentine's Day, February 14.

While different from his other releases, Mark said the song was quite appropriate.

"All the songs I have done have been about Christ, but at the end of the day, this is still fitting his word," he told THE STAR.

positive response

Mark said that the song had been getting positive responses, although it had not been fully released.

"I have been getting some very positive feedback and I thank God for it. It is the type of song that a mother, father, and their teenage son and daughter can be in one car and listen to without changing the station because it is too much for the kids," he said.

"Some say the church will give me a flogging for it, but I am not concerned with what people have to say in a negative light. Love is a part of marriage. If anybody should be singing about love, it should be us. The love is inside of me, so all you are hearing is the love being expressed on record."

Coming back from a recent promotional tour, Mark said he also planned to release a one-drop reggae album, shying away from referring to the album as a gospel album. He also explained that he did not like what the 'gospel artiste' label represented.

"I want to break the gospel artiste stigma. People don't think we are good for a Sumfest or Rebel Salute. We shouldn't just be singing for Christians every day," he told THE STAR, adding that he had been producing songs for other acts like Prodigal Son, Kevin Downswell, DJ Nicholas, and Chrissy D.

On the philanthropic side, Mark said he was part of the Rescue Package Foundation and they would be undertaking their regular feeding programme in the near future in which they would be giving assistance to basic schools in Payne Land (Tavares Gardens) and Majestic Gardens. In addition, he said he planned to do a charity show called Liberation Gospel Concert soon.