The son of a music icon is taking an unconventional approach to his latest album release.
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Ziggy Marley is set to drop his new project, Brightside, on April 18. But not in the way fans might expect.
The album will initially be available exclusively as physical copies for Record Store Day. There will be no digital release until May 1.
Streaming Platforms Snubbed as Ziggy Marley Takes Old-School Approach
Speaking on Billboard's Take Us Out, Marley explained the thinking behind the decision to delay the album's arrival on streaming platforms.
A key influence, he said, was his upbringing alongside his father, the late reggae legend Bob Marley.
"I grew up around seeing records being manufactured, vinyl from the conception to the final product," Marley said. "That process and the quality and the discipline that is behind it. So I wanted to kind of push this record in that way."
The 57-year-old acknowledged that the move goes against the grain of modern music releases.
He noted that music today is "cheaper, easier and faster to make". He added that he wanted to approach this project "the slow way."
Marley's connection to vinyl runs deep. He is an avid record collector, with Michael Jackson's 1982 classic Thriller being the first record he ever purchased.
"The most important vinyl is the first vinyl I bought," he said. "The first time I had my own money, then I was like, 'Yeah, man, I'm going to the record store and buy a record.'"
Grammy-Winning Artist Continues Legacy With New Project
Before launching his solo career, Marley led the family band Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers.
The band released 10 albums between 1985's Play the Game Right and Ziggy Marley & the Melody Makers Live, Vol. 1 in 2000.
He transitioned into a solo career in the early 2000s, beginning with Dragonfly in 2003 under his Tuff Gong Worldwide label. Brightside will mark his ninth solo studio album.
Over the years, Marley has earned eight Grammy Awards along with a Daytime Emmy. Like his father, he has placed himself as one of reggae's most decorated artists.
He will perform in Honolulu, Hawaii on Saturday, April 11, with more shows planned throughout the summer.
His current run of performances will conclude at the Sea Hear Now Festival in Asbury Park, New Jersey on September 20.
