Grammy award winner Ziggy Marley continues to make strides, breaking new ground with the re-release of his solo album Love Is My Religion.

Released last year, his second solo album garnered him a Grammy award for the best Reggae Album of the Year earlier this year.

His first album to be released independently on the Tuff Gong Worldwide label, Love Is My Religion was available exclusively at Target Stores and peaked at number six on Billboard's Reggae Charts.

With the re-release come three bonus tracks, as well as an independent distribution deal.

Marley told The Gleaner that "this was the first exclusive deal with Target. With the re-release the album will be more accessible to the public. We completely revamped the album, different technical things which make it kind of different. We also added three new tracks which mi really like. Dem lively and energetic. I've never done a more popular cover of my father's song (Jammin'); hopefully that will attract more people to the album".

Beyond expectations

Marley is throwing away the traditional record industry formula and big-name labels, instead penning a distribution deal between Tuff Gong Worldwide and Ryoko Distribution. The album is now scheduled for re-release and wide distribution on December 4, with the additional material including live recordings of Jammin', Dragonfly and Look Who's Dancing.

According to Ziggy, the whole experience of making Love Is My Religion and marketing the album without the links and money of an established record company was beyond his expectations. "We did good business. The tour did well, we got a Grammy, everyt'ing worked out well," he said.

The re-release of the album is but one of many new projects Marley will be doing for the Christmas and the New Year. Ziggy is also looking to release a live DVD, in early 2008. The DVD was recorded at Los Angeles' Avalon during the 2006 Love Is My Religion world tour.

He is still doing shows, recording music and looking forward to coming home.

"In February, there will be no doubt I will be coming home. It's been a long time and I'm excited. I'm coming to do something centred around Africa Unite in February, which is my father's birthday. Mi and mi brothers been talking about doing a Marley brother record. That's the next t'ing we doing together, with a whole tour," he said.