EXCLUSIVE: The most unlikely Reggae Rat Pack: Sting and Shaggy join forces again for new album 'Com Fly Wid Mi' with covers of Frank Sinatra - with hints of England and Jamaica - as they gush over their friendship at release party in New York

  • Reggae legend Shaggy and British rock icon Sting have teamed up again for a second collaborative album, Com Fly Wid Mi 
  • The new album, released May 25, was produced by Sting and features Shaggy singing the Frank Sinatra songbook in a reggae style 
  • DailyMail.com sat down with the duo at New York City's Blue Note Jazz Club ahead of their special one night only performance 
  • The chemistry between between the musicians was electric as they joked about the origins of their latest venture

It was the unexpected pairing that saw two musical worlds collide to create a Grammy-winning reggae album in 2018. 

And now Jamaican singer Shaggy, 53, and British musician Sting, 70, have joined forces once again for a second joint album that is even more eclectic than the first.  

ADVERTISEMENT

The pair's newest collaboration Com Fly Wid Mi, released on Wednesday, was produced by Sting and features Shaggy singing legendary Frank Sinatra's songbook - but with a reggae twist.

DailyMail.com sat down with the duo at New York City's Blue Note Jazz Club ahead of their special one night only performance celebrating its release. 

Seated across the table from one another, the difference between the two unlikely pals was evident, but the chemistry between them was undeniable as they joked about how the venture came about. 

Reggae legend Shaggy and British rock icon Sting have teamed up again for a second collaborative album, Com Fly Wid Mi
DailyMail.com sat down with the duo at New York City's Blue Note Jazz Club ahead of their special one night only performance

'It's his fault,' a playful Shaggy quipped, pointing to the English singer, who confirmed: 'It was my fault.'

The two explained the album was born out of a 'crazy idea' Sting had while on tour with Shaggy for their first joint reggae album, 44/876, a few years ago, in Oslo, Norway.

The two had rented a boat out in the Fjord to go swimming, to which Shaggy objected, saying: 'Jamaicans don't swim in the Fjord.'

Com Fly Wid Mi was released on Wednesday and features Shaggy singing legendary Frank Sinatra's songbook - but with a reggae twist

While Sting was in the freezing waters, Shaggy had been barbequing onboard and channeling Sinatra as he sang along to his greatest hits.  

'What's interesting is he has the same vocal range as Frank Sinatra which is a baritone tenor, but he was singing like Shaggy,' Sting said. 

'I just had one of these ideas in neon lights it said: "Shaggy sings the Frank Sinatra song but in a reggae style produced by Sting."

Sting said that after a few drinks, he managed to convince Shaggy the album was a good idea.   

ADVERTISEMENT

'Then earlier this year we went into a studio and made this crazy idea a reality,' Sting said. 

'You know, it's a surprising record and for me, the most important element in music is surprise. So we are surprising you yet again.'

The duo indeed surprised fans when they first teamed up to record 44/876 - which refers to the country calling codes for the UK and Jamaica. 

The album went on to win the award for Best Reggae Album in 2019. 

The music video for their first album single, That's Life, debuted ahead of the album's release and includes behind-the-scenes of creating the album. 

Sting revealed they recorded some of the album in Capitol Studios in Los Angeles where Frank Sinatra himself recorded much of his music. 

'He was looking down on us,' Sting said. 'He was smiling at us.' 

The new album, released May 25, was produced by Sting and features Shaggy singing the Frank Sinatra songbook in a reggae style
The two explained the album was born out of a 'crazy idea' Sting had while on tour with Shaggy for their first joint reggae album, 44/876, a few years ago, in Oslo, Norway

Shaggy added: 'One thing I can tell you about Sting, he's a perfectionist.

'I had no doubt that at the end of it, it would sound really great. In us doing it, we didn't know what it would sound like because it was really a risk of us to go in and just following our instinct and saying. ''Hey let's see where this takes us.'''

But Sting also emphasized that the reggae singer and his rendition of Sinatra's hits, is not intended to imitate the late crooner. 

'I mean he's not trying to sound like Frank. He sounds like Shaggy. And I think that's the magic of this record and he's in his own ecosystem of reggae. But the songs are difficult to sing. They're very technical so I was pretty brutal.'

ADVERTISEMENT

Shaggy said that this album blends the two genres and introduces a new audience.  

'Isn't that what music is about? It's about touching different, you know, people from different walks of life. And what is good about this is it introduces to different audiences. 

'A reggae audience that would not have necessarily been seen or heard Frank Sinatra songs sung this way. And really embracing it. And it's just lovely. I'm very very proud of the work,' he added. 

And while the pair's sibling-like dynamic makes it seem like they are longtime friends, the two revealed actually met just four years ago through their manager Martin Kierszenbaum who thought they would get along very well. 

Shaggy said: 'I had this song Don't Make Me Wait. Martin heard the song, he said, 'send me that song' and he sent it to Sting and while I was in LA, Sting walked in singing Don't Make Me Wait and he says (impersonating Sting in a British accent) 'Come Shaggy! This is a hit let's do it!' 

'Is that your imitation of me?' Sting said. 

'Yeah it's the closest I could get of it,' Shaggy said laughing. 'We ended up in a session having way more fun than even work. And at that point we realized, yea we liked each other and we liked each others' company. And it just kind of grew from that point on. 

'It feels like we've known each other most of our lives you know,' Sting said. 

The two artists also joked that while many would believe they are an unexpected pairing, they came to learn they have 'a lot of things in common.' 

ADVERTISEMENT

'We're both libras. Yea so that's a start… and we both don't clean our glasses,' Shaggy laughed. 

 'And we're both from small islands,' added Sting. 

Sting revealed that his favorite song is Angel Eyes, while Shaggy said his favorite is Luck Be A Lady. 

As far as any future collaborations between the pair, Sting said: 'We'll see how tonight goes, I mean it could be the end of our friendship!'

Most Read News

Gogglebox and Celebrity Big Brother star George Gilbey is dead at 40 'after work accident':...

Could Kate Garraway be forced to sell her £1.7m second home? Good Morning Britain host still owns...

Beckenham stabbing: Terrifying moment knifeman armed with huge blade attacks man on the train in...

London transport's 'night of carnage': Manhunt is underway for knifeman after passenger was stabbed...

Pictured: Scene where Gogglebox and Celebrity Big Brother star George Gilbey, 40, fell to his death...

Could these bombshell secret recordings FINALLY land Post Office bosses in the dock? Tapes show...

50 Cent's baby momma Daphne Joy is named as Diddy's 'SEX WORKER' in bombshell lawsuit from...

Is this Britain's most bitter neighbour dispute? Father-of-five who was jailed and handed £475,000...

UK weather: Storm Nelson batters the country with map showing where 70mph winds, heavy rain, hail...

The Gogglebox stars lost over the years: Famous faces on Channel 4 hit no longer with us remembered...

Primary school 'on lockdown' as armed police descend - with parents told to take students to main...

Nigerian woman faces seven years in prison for writing a damning online review of tomato puree

Storm Nelson arrives in UK with snow hitting Devon: Yellow warning is issued for snow in Wales with...

The bitter feud inside Britain's greatest ever comedy double act: As Eric Morecambe's wife Joan dies...

'It's a great sadness that I cannot be with you all': Charles vows to continue serving 'with my...

Barclays bank apologises to woman after sending her ex-husband details of how she was spending her...