Listen: Mighty Mystic looks at loss through a reggae lens

This is an exclusive song premiere, part of WBUR's effort to highlight New England musicians.

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Three years ago, Mighty Mystic felt on top of the world. He’d just released an album, “Giant,” that would cement his place as one of roots reggae’s great lyrical storytellers. And with venues reopening, he was ready to return to the road, where he’s Boston’s reggae ambassador playing well over 100 high-octane shows a year.

But on the night of his album release concert at The Paradise Rock Club, he was surprised not to see Jared Hancock, who had co-produced the record. After th]0-e show, he learned that Hancock had suddenly died following an accident. Mystic, born Kevin Holness, was still recovering from the shock when, a month later, another longtime studio collaborator, Michael Cipriano, who had produced Mystic’s breakthrough hit “Riding On the Clouds,” died from complications from Crohn’s disease. And that June, Mystic lost his closest friend, Randy Isaacs.

“It had me questioning myself, questioning what do I want to do? Who am I? Do I want to continue music? Why am I here?” Mystic recalled.

Eventually, Mystic decided to capture those thoughts and write a song about grappling with loss, a topic rarely discussed in reggae, despite its tradition of reality lyrics. That process yielded “Lost My Friend,” which appears on his new album “Walk Tall,” out Friday, June 20.

While the lyrics deal with sorrow and memories, the uptempo beat is anything but dirge-like. “I didn't want it to be overly morbid,” explained Mystic. “I want people to still be able to vibe to it, digest it, and hear what I’m trying to say, but not feel like I’m trying to beat them up with a ton of sadness.”

Mystic hopes the uplifting groove will allow “someone to listen to it multiple times and relate to it. I want somebody to get some light out of such a dark time that I went through.”

The song didn’t come together quickly. “It took me a few years,” admited Mystic, who brought in his brother, Stephen Holness, to help him and has been a constant part of Mighty Mystic music from the outset. At various points, Mystic thought about leaving the track off the album altogether, but Stephen convinced him it was worth sharing with the world.

“Lost My Friend” appears, intentionally, near the end of “Walk Tall,” which is full of the kind of uplifting, assertive and even strident songs that are Mystic’s trademark, as well as appearances by dancehall pioneer Ninja Man, ska great Coolie Ranx, and Joanna Teters of the band Sundub. Putting it near the end of the record means the listener “has already absorbed a bellyful of a good foundation so there’s some balance,” he said.

Despite the existential crisis that losing so many close friends caused Mystic, he said it eventually “lit a fire in my soul. They are gone, but you’ve got to keep moving on. And that is why I decided to call the album ‘Walk Tall.’ We’re all going through some tough times, but you have to keep your head up and your shoulders high.”

After more soul searching, Mystic decided to send the song to the families of his three friends so they could hear it first. “It was tough for them, but they can feel the emotion in the song,” he said.

There’s still one place where “Lost My Friend” hasn’t yet found a home, and that’s on the setlist of the energetic live reggae parties that Mystic and his band perform from coast to coast.

“I don't know if I will ever perform it live,” Mystic shared. “Maybe down the line, but for now, I’m not ready. I think I would break down onstage.”

Mighty Mystic performs July 3 at SurfSide in Salisbury Beach and Aug. 15 at City Winery Boston.