From Professional Football to Roots Reggae: Jah Decko Enters a New Chapter With Love Who Loves You Back
Artist: Jah Decko
Album: Love Who Loves You Back
Release Date: 5th October 2026
Love Who Loves You Back Streaming Link
Suriname-born artist, producer and roots reggae veteran Jah Decko steps forward with forthcoming album release“Love Who Loves You Back”
With more than two decades of experience in reggae as an artist, producer and creative force, Jah Decko is entering a new chapter with his forthcoming album Love Who Loves You Back — a roots reggae project built around authentic musicianship, consciousness, love, gratitude and positive energy.
Born in Suriname and now based in the Netherlands, Jah Decko brings a distinctive Surinamese-European perspective to roots reggae. His story stretches from professional football to music, from performing to production, and from the Dutch-Surinamese reggae scene to an increasingly international audience.
Importantly, Jah Decko is not a newcomer to reggae. His musical journey began in 2003 when he founded Dreddayouthz, an early project combining roots reggae with lyrics in Sranan Tongo and connecting his Surinamese identity with reggae culture.
He subsequently developed his skills as a producer through Dredda Records, working with artists including Joggo, Ziggi Recado and Miriam Simone. His production work also connected him to Modern Rockers Vol. 1, a project that received international reggae attention and featured Jah Decko alongside Jamaican reggae artist Turbulence on “Strong Like Lion.”
After years of working both behind and in front of the microphone, Jah Decko returned increasingly to his own releases, including the Rastafar-I Way EP and tracks such as “Take It Easy”, “Opposite of Good” and “Irie Vibes”. Now, Love Who Loves You Back represents a significant new turning point: an opportunity to bring everything he has learned as an artist and producer into one defining roots reggae project.
A Journey From Football to Roots Reggae
Jah Decko’s path into music was far from conventional. Before dedicating himself fully to reggae, he spent approximately 14 years as a professional footballer. Music eventually became his true calling, leading him to leave professional sport and pursue a creative career.
That transition is central to his story. Rather than entering the music industry solely as a vocalist, Jah Decko developed experience across the creative process, becoming a producer and helping develop projects for other reggae artists before returning his focus to his own work.
“Coming from professional football into music was a completely different path,” says Jah Decko. “But reggae became my real calling. Being able to create music, produce other artists, work with respected reggae musicians and still be making roots reggae more than twenty years later is something I am proud of.”
Rooted in Culture, Consciousness and Positivity
Rastafari is an important part of Jah Decko’s life and naturally informs his music. His work is not centred on party politics, but on messages of love, unity, equality, consciousness, respect and positivity.
His music also reflects the cultural journey between Suriname and the Netherlands. Rather than attempting to imitate Jamaican artists, Jah Decko draws from his own experience, creating music that respects the foundations of roots reggae while bringing a distinctly personal perspective to the genre.
With Love Who Loves You Back, that philosophy comes together through a project focused on genuine musicianship and positive energy. Jah Decko is particularly interested in the role of live musicianship at a time when increasingly digital production dominates much of the modern music landscape.
For Jah Decko, the purpose of the music remains simple:
“If a song can give someone strength, make them think, remind somebody to give thanks or simply give them positive energy, then the music has done its job.”
An Established Artist Ready for a Wider Audience
Jah Decko has already built a foundation of international reggae recognition, with coverage from platforms including Reggae Tastemaker, World A Reggae, Reggaeville, Reggae Festival Guide, Reggae Agenda and Ovejas Negrax. Dutch national media outlet NPO Soul & Jazz has also featured him through its Sound of Surinam series, while French station La Grosse Radio has supported his music with repeated airplay.
Now, the forthcoming Love Who Loves You Back album aims to build on that history and introduce Jah Decko to a much wider UK and international audience.
From Suriname to the Netherlands, from professional football to reggae, and from production to his own artist career, Jah Decko’s journey is one of reinvention without losing sight of his roots.
Love Who Loves You Back is the next chapter — and a statement from an artist who has been part of the reggae community for years, now stepping forward with his own voice.
Follow Jah Decko
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jahdecko
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jahdecko
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jahdecko